has anyone changed their lower control arm bushings themselves
bad wheel balance - hard to detect, normally in my experience, i had a wheel that was not balanced properly and they only shook at around 70mph +.
non-hubcentric wheels - some wheel manufacturers provide hub centric rings for specific model wheels for specific model cars IF the wheels require it. if you don't use the rings, some wheel will shake whether its balanced correctly or not.
bent wheel - easy to check, jack up the car and spin the tires, front mostly as this is where you will feel the shake.
lower control arm bushings - torn bushings will cause noise and shake as some have stated. i've changed mines early enough not to experience any shake or vibration issues.
check those out and see if any fits your criteria. good luck
ON
ONMine go in next week, but Mbenzman has installed his already on his 55 cabrio and his feedback is good.
Bolts will go in if needed....Rich and I had a chat about this, but the technical side of things got above my head (camber/caster/toe). Fortunately, he's patient with me.
I'm not a DIYer....tried i the past on other cars, but kept breaking things, plus I just don't have the time, tools or diagnostic equip. It's less costly and aggravating in the long run for me to work with experts. Last edited by Chappy; Mar 30, 2007 at 07:17 AM.
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
mbz > 1999 > c-class > suspension:

i've searched the years '98 thru '00 and received the same results. I don't know about you, but i don't see any LCA bushings there
Click on the link. Then scroll down (look in the lower right for the page numbers) and go to Page 4. Voila! The bushings are yellow in the picture, but come in black (at least mine did). Part number ADUS 597.
Is there a general list of shops that carry performance and OEM parts for our cars?
Thx
ON
Last edited by Zoom On; Mar 31, 2007 at 02:28 AM.
You asked me to call you that, I just followed your wishes. What's a doit anyway?
I haven't called anyone an idiot. I was surprised that the fact he responded to Chappy's three post up comment with a request for further clarification. Since I do this for a living, I may believe everyone is very knowledgeable and therefore make certain assumptions. I couldn't help myself in having a laugh in this case, no offense intended.
So to clarify in the absence of a better picture, I pointed out the respective bushings and the details. It's the rear one and the websites picture is showing yellow but they do say it will only come in black now.

Last edited by mbenzman; Mar 30, 2007 at 11:48 PM.
i've searched the years '98 thru '00 and received the same results. I don't know about you, but i don't see any LCA bushings there

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Merce...mZ130095725298
Owen, you wanted some, did you get a pair yet? He's obviously reloaded. First come, first serve.
Anyway thanks again for the additonal info!
ON
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Merce...mZ130095725298
Owen, you wanted some, did you get a pair yet? He's obviously reloaded. First come, first serve.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Merce...mZ130095725298
Owen, you wanted some, did you get a pair yet? He's obviously reloaded. First come, first serve.

Last edited by ProjectC55; Mar 31, 2007 at 08:45 AM.
You asked me to call you that, I just followed your wishes. What's a doit anyway?
I haven't called anyone an idiot. I was surprised that the fact he responded to Chappy's three post up comment with a request for further clarification. Since I do this for a living, I may believe everyone is very knowledgeable and therefore make certain assumptions. I couldn't help myself in having a laugh in this case, no offense intended.
So to clarify in the absence of a better picture, I pointed out the respective bushings and the details. It's the rear one and the websites picture is showing yellow but they do say it will only come in black now.


Chappy actually located these. I had been trying to have them made (dealt with two companies) since I never was successful in locating any suitable polyurethane ones already out there. I was going to replace them with the factory ones when Chappy located these and therefore rescued me.
The lack of an external shell is not a concern as the thickness of the control arm is more than sufficent. It would stiffen them up more to have a outer shell as it would reduce the thickness of the urethane which gives versus metal which would have any give. They are more stiff than the factory installed bushings but you wouldn't notice it. They are not as stiff as the earlier style W124's for instance use in their similar control arm suspension.
Believe it or not that rubber front lower control arm bushing is at least as stiff, if not a lot stiffer than that rear is in urethane. It is layers of steel and rubber in between. I would have been fine with one of those in the right size instead of urethane. It's what they used to install in both bushing locations of the front lower control arms (like the W124's, W201's etc.) before they decided to try and make the suspension softer for us with those flimsy style thrust bushings.
The lube that comes with them should be sufficent, I don't know because I have giant tubes of the stuff at the shop and used that liberally and then some.
Here's how I feel about them. I would have been willing to pay at least $300-400 for the two bushings to avoid the factory ones. The factory thrust bushings are garbage and have no buisness in our cars as they are the cause of major tire wear, vibrations, and the resultant customer complaints.
As far as driving goes, the car seems less upset through bumps and ruts and follows the steering more accurately. I expect perfect tire wear and less sensitivity to tire defects and brake disc runout.
I have fixed many BMW's with very fussy owners and expensive tires with the urethane bushings permanantly. They argue when told the about my fix that it will ride too rough. I've told them I'll take them out if they're not happy. Never had one come back and say they are not happy. I just notice the lack of complaints later from these people. I call that a fix.
The big problem is sourcing any aftermarket parts for Mercedes. No one takes us seriously, there seems to be no one supplier we can get our trinkets from regularly and affordably. I only find someone making one here, there and whenever.
I've been trying to get a more sets of these cool adjustable rear camber arms (non-spherical rod end style) from a previous supplier since last year. I have multiple sets on order but he won't hardly respond. I don't care about the price so much as just getting them, but they seem as hard to pull out of this world as hen's teeth.
So get your bushings while you can before this one dries up, I have promised the guy repeated orders to try and keep the supply going.
Last edited by mbenzman; Mar 31, 2007 at 09:05 AM.
Last edited by mbenzman; Mar 31, 2007 at 11:50 AM.








Best to leave it alone.