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I was under the car performing some spring time maintenance and noticed the poor condition the sway bar link boots are in. Seems to just be the boots visually, I dont notice any knocking/clunking like they are worn.
I had replaced them less than 2 years ago, August 2022 due to the old Mercedes links being totally worn, the boots were torn and grease had washed out. I decided to buy Febi links from FCP, figured if they fail i can always use the life time warranty.
the top boots look good but the bottoms look cracked all around. I dont see any grease so dont think they are leaking. They are cracked but dont appear fully torn, yet.
Im a bit disappointed.
I just looked and the prices of the links has gone up. I have the 4matic and for some reason seem more expensive than RWD links.
- Left was $36.99 Now $40.99.
- Right was $29.99 Now $36.39.
So to get the warranty i need to buy the exact same links. $77.38 Free Shipping. Install the new links then ship back the worn links, figure $10 Priority mail Flat rate padded envelope. Once they get the worn links they will issue me store credit for the original price paid, $66.98.
So to replace the links will cost me around $20. Im not complaining in no way about FCP, its great they even offer the warranty. Im a bit bummed about the Febi links and in this situation I do wish I could buy the Mercedes brand links and still get credit for these worn links. But I read the warranty and new it only covers the same exact items. Then again I have no idea how Mercedes links will hold up.
I do plan to do the brake pads and rotors at some point which I also bought from FCP, so i guess i can use the credit for them. Ill have to plan it out so im not stuck with a bunch of store credit, buy the fronts first then get that credit then buy the rears with it. Thats another thing im bummed about, i bought the regular semi-metallic pads but seeing how filthy the rims get wondering about getting ceramic pads. But the car does stop extremely well.
I am hearing a creaking under there so i sprayed everything down with some silicone lube. the sway bar bushings have seen better days but dont think they are totally failed. Not sure i want to buy a new sway for for around $180 and it not make a difference.
I think i found where grease is leaking from my passenger cv axle boot and i figured out how it got damaged. I think when i was replacing the front struts I dropped the strut down and it must have pinched the boot. The bottom edge of the strut does line up with were the boot looks crushed. The hole must be so small, i cant find an opening. im guessing when the axle heats up the pressure pushes to grease out. i even noticed grease collecting on the inside of the rim in line with the damage. I even think the grease caused some wheel weights to loosen fall off. Took some photos after i had the grease cleaned up.
Unfortunately the sway bar bushings are baked on to the bars and not servicable.
Ive been researching all day and now im pretty confident in replacing the outer cv boot. Just have to track down the clamps. Its on the passenger side which it seems is the easier side of the car to do.
Can probably get away without removing the axle, just pull the hub away, remove the old boot, seperate the axle joint, slide the new boot on, grease, then push the hub back on. Read a few threads on other Mercedes models that look similar.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
You're a creative guy. Could you cut the rubber bushings away from the sway bar and find some that may fit aftermarket? I think replacing the bar is going to be a pain, cost aside.
Im not really sure where the creaking is coming from this time. It comes and goes and not worried about it. I wouldnt even attempt to modify the sway bar since i see it only coming out worse. $180 for a new sway bar isnt that bad if i did feel I needed a new one. Looks like a pain to replace, reaching the top nuts may be a project.
I was looking around and found a photo of the sway bar link i posted above, photo was from only 6 months ago and the boot looks to be in good condition.
05-05-2024, 11:56 AM
