has anyone changed their lower control arm bushings themselves
 

has anyone changed their lower control arm bushings themselves, and if so, can you provide any pointers. i will be changing my broken bushings for a polyeurethane ones.

I replaced the rear lower control arm busings with Lorinser adjustable insterts. It's not easy to do, but if you have the right spring compressor and the correct press for the old bushing, it makes the job a lot easier!

yeah i am going to be changing out my front lower control arm bushing. from the looks of it, it is not going to be that easy. does anyone know what size torx bit the bolt that goes through the bushing is?

Linuxfoo (or anyone who has done this mod)

I just ordered some poly bushings from LPD Auto Parts in Duarte, CA. Are these what you installed? Any feedback or issues with your poly bushings?

Hi chappy,
its been some time now, since i bought those, but that name sounds familiar, the ones i bought were from ebay and they were yellow poly bushings. i would recommend you also buy the bolt kit from the dealer, there not too expensive and its almost a must. make sure to lube the bushings well, not sure if the lube that came with it was sufficient as i can hear little creaking sounds from my bushings now, when time permits, i might need to get under the car and re-grease them with better lube, so make sure to lube it well while installing. for me the hardest part was actually pressing the old bushing out, if all possible, it might be worth while to take the lower control arm once apart and take it to a machine shop for them to get it out for you. once the old bushing was out, installing new bushings was no problem.

I really appreciate the quick feedback! My shop will be doing the work, along with the SS brake lines I just ordered.

Do the urethane bushings work well? Any vibration on the highway?

for me, they seem to work very well - solid, no vibrations at all on the freeway, other than the slight creak when leaving the drive way, i like them. also it might be just me and can't speak for others who also have them, but steering response seemed to improved, but them again, that might be because of many factors, such as my new tires, or my old bushings being cracked???

Thank you. This is exactly the feedback I'm looking for! :bow:

I did'nt know the bushings go bad. What are the signs and how long they usually last?

bout 70k miles they are done.

Well chappy, I just ordered mine too. I really don't have any problem maybe an ever so slight shake at 70 so maybe this will be that ticket. What did they quote you to install at your shop?

:zoom: on

Chap I have them on my Talon! The car has a much tighter confident feel steering handling and all. I have the polyurethane bushing on every control arm and sway bar on the car. Remember this is my race car{Talon). I can only expect excellent results on the Benz but make sure they grease these bushings well or they will squeak and drive you crazee.:y Time for me to get on the phne and order mines this morning.

PS Did you order the SS brake lines from the same place?

No. I did a Buy It Now on ebay with gforcebrakes...they're shipping from Canada. Rich bought the same ones for his cabrio AMG and told me they fit perfect. :y

I didn't get a quote as I'm having several things done all at the same time in preparation for the AMG Track Day in Alabama next month.

- Super ATE brake fluid
- SS lines
- Install new bushings
- Remove 18s and install 17s
- Inspect brake rotors and pads, r/r as necessary
- Oil change
- Coolant flush
- Diff. fluid change
- Tranny fluid change
- (possibly) - custom brake duct cooling mod...we'll see :naughty:

After the bushings are in, I'll have the car aligned and make sure the tires are balanced well.

Excellent. tim for me to do my Spring time maintenance as well.


Gotcha on the brake lines. Now the bushings I'll assume were ordered from Ebay or straight from the Lpd Co.?

PS post links if you can again for me for the brake lines(ebay) and bushings. I'm still a lil confused as to where to get the bushings!:y

By the way did you read my post on the Kleemann (W208 W202) headers that came? Give me an honest opinion neg or pos! Thanx!

Both mine and Rich's bushings were ordered on ebay. At the time, there were only two sets listed, so I guess we got them both. I haven't looked to see if any more sets have been listed, but it may be just as easy to got straight to LPD to order. It looks like Zoom On just ordered some (Zoom - did you get them on ebay or order them direct?)

SS lines....do an ebay search for "Mercedes Stainless lines" and pick the ones suited for CLK. The company I ordered from was gforcebrakes out of canada. There's another one on there too, also from Canada....same price as well ($70.99). Rich is doing my install(s).

Have looked at the headers thread yet....

Here's some pics
 

Here's pictures of my lower control arms in their current state. I had spoken with energy suspensions and Prothane about building these and sent plans. Prothane was willing with a large order. Energy wouldn't hardly even communicate and I gave up trying to deal with them. Chappy found these for me as I was resided to installing the factory ones and would have if Chappy hadn't called me two hours later. I have to get the car ready for the track meet in April.
I have a 2000 c280 in the shop right now getting some stock ones. She (the owner) laughed and told me she had planned to visit her tire store to have the tires ballanced after I told her the symtoms of these broken bushings. i get that response all the time and usually includes "I've had the tires ballanced several times and it's still shaking".
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/4...746medpzm3.jpg

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/2...747medpnf5.jpg

For sus bushings!Links links!:nix: :y

I see a listing for the C43! is there a difference?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/99-00...spagenameZWD1V

Got mind from them direct 46.00 each.

Carl,

Here's the ones I ordered:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Stain...spagenameZWDVW

There are no more bushings on ebay (that I saw). You'll have to go to www.lpdauto.com and order direct.

Sorry, none left on ebay. Go to www.lpdauto.com to order.

You saved $4 ea. over what I paid on ebay....congrats! :y

That seems backwards?:word: :word:

where does one find the polyurethane bushings?

I've found the regular ones here at a pretty good price. Great shop too.