Baum tools b202-0043 review
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Super Member
Joined: Dec 2011
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From: Oregon
'97 c36
I asked around, but couldn't find a guy with coveralls and a ginormous wrench. Just naked people with slashes through them so I had to install the rear lower control arm outer bushing myself.
Baum tools offers a driver for exactly this at around $200 bucks.. Comes in a pretty cheesy case with a plastic hinge. BUT the tool it's self is really quite nice. It has thrust bearings on the pressing cups and the machining and finishing is excellent. worked very well and bushings can be pressed on the car. Might be a little pricy at 200 bucks but worth the money.
Baum tools offers a driver for exactly this at around $200 bucks.. Comes in a pretty cheesy case with a plastic hinge. BUT the tool it's self is really quite nice. It has thrust bearings on the pressing cups and the machining and finishing is excellent. worked very well and bushings can be pressed on the car. Might be a little pricy at 200 bucks but worth the money.
Last edited by Super B; Jun 29, 2014 at 11:30 PM.
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From: Land of mountains, cheese, chocolate and watches
12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG + Ultima Can-Am sold)
Indeed that's a serious looking piece of tool. Nice find 
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,889
Likes: 323
From: Land of mountains, cheese, chocolate and watches
12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG + Ultima Can-Am sold)
Sure is and will be certainly cheaper on the long run than getting a shop to do it
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2011
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From: Oregon
'97 c36
No I didn't, the last tool I priced through them was a plate style spring compressor and it was a lot more than I could afford. Had to go to eBay on that one. But maybe I should have given mb a shot again. Mercedes is funny like that. Some parts are really reasonable on the price like the C32 front brake disk. But then others, like the c36 cross over tube makes you wonder if they ever sell that part.
Last edited by Super B; Jun 30, 2014 at 02:28 PM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2011
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From: Oregon
'97 c36
It would be awesome to just drop the car off and come back and the jobs done. I just can't afford it. Plus It's still fun turning wrenches since I don't do it for a living.
(well car sized wrenches) with that said I never really worry too much about spending a little extra money on a specialty tools. Not with all the money your saving by doing it yourself. Plus now you have the tool forever for next time on your buddies car. I wonder what the book price would be for a full multi link rebuild plus new shocks and spring installation.. It would probably be shocking.
Last edited by Super B; Jun 30, 2014 at 02:31 PM.
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Joined: Oct 2012
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C43
That bushing tool looks really nice. I wonder if that works on any other Mercs if you switch out down the line.
I was planing on fabbing up a plumbing pipe, washer, long bolt setup for the front lower control arm rear bushing since I don't have a press at the moment. That tool is pretty much a properly sized/ designed version of that.
I like to get nice tools when I can afford them, they're worth it in the time you save and generally it tends to make a cleaner install of said part.
I was planing on fabbing up a plumbing pipe, washer, long bolt setup for the front lower control arm rear bushing since I don't have a press at the moment. That tool is pretty much a properly sized/ designed version of that.
I like to get nice tools when I can afford them, they're worth it in the time you save and generally it tends to make a cleaner install of said part.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2011
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From: Oregon
'97 c36
Yeah looks like a does a couple other bodies. Not sure why they don't have the w202 on the list or the w208. But any ways.. Yeah sounds like a plan with your bushings. when you do it take a picture. Always neat seeing all the different ways to overcome the same problem. But you are so right on the time savings with the proper tool. I removed and replaced this rear bushing in literally 10 minutes.
When I did the fronts, I did it the old fashioned way of drilling the rubber, twisting the center out with vise grips, then carefully cutting the remaining bush with a hack saw then splitting it/driving it out with a chisel and a punch. Little time consuming but it works if it's Sunday and all the stores and machine shops are closed.
When I did the fronts, I did it the old fashioned way of drilling the rubber, twisting the center out with vise grips, then carefully cutting the remaining bush with a hack saw then splitting it/driving it out with a chisel and a punch. Little time consuming but it works if it's Sunday and all the stores and machine shops are closed.
Last edited by Super B; Jul 6, 2014 at 02:49 PM.
Junior Member
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C43
You know, I'm glad you mentioned that. I've used that trick in the past and I had forgotten about it. It's slow but generally less drama than the other budget routes. I need to order bushings but it's tough knowing when to quit for me. While you're at it's can turn a bushing job into a suspension overhaul with a couple of mouse clicks.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 549
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From: Oregon
'97 c36
Ha, yeah I hear ya. your thinking you're already there... And the spring is out.. Hell why not. But you know after just replacing everything in the rear, the only thing that was wore out was the outside bush on the lower control arm. Everything else looked pretty good.. Worn but good.
Last edited by Super B; Jul 12, 2014 at 01:52 AM.
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C43
I know those front lower control arm rear bushings are torn. It's not clunking or anything but they're not good. It's so hard to say for sure what is bad until you get it apart. But then you either have to put it all back together and order parts or the car is down for weeks while you wait for them.
