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My car is low and has about -2 degrees of camber. My factory rubber bushings were torn and I looked for a poly replacement to help with feel and feedback. The options were Kmac, Powerflex, or Armstrong for what I was looking for. I decided to try the Armstrong and it has been a nightmare. I installed them on Sunday and by Tuesday the lip on the left side rear bushing had torn allowing the arm to move back and forth. So I send as message and the company is perfectly willing to send a new set and say they’ve never had a problem. Since we only have two cars at the moment I had to take it to work today and the front bushing on the left side had completely split and the metal sleeve had cracked when I braked for a stop! I was almost to work and just limped it in (I work at an import specialty shop). I would never recommend these to anyone ever. The material is way too soft and the lip does not hold the car. I installed them the correct way and lubricated them. I made sure there were no burrs anywhere to tear the bushing also. I told them I want a refund and nothing more. They were fine with that and paying shipping. I want to believe they’re just defective but I don’t think that’s the case. They’re customer service has been good but the product is not.
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)
That is totally unacceptable even if you have a hefty negative camber. Is this justified by the use of race tyres? Mine also has some negative, by how much I've never measured it.
You need to check these poly bushes: http://www.strongflexuk.co.uk/mercedes/c/w202.html
They are used by our "Ring" driver on his heavily modified C43/55. Might be worth getting in contact with him and get his comments/recommendations.
I looked the brand up and couldn’t find much on them but no one said anything bad so I gave them a shot. They were by far the cheapest option out there for poly and now I see why. I have seen the strong flex stuff and it all looks good too but I didn’t know anyone using them. They make some sway bar bushings and upper control arm bushings I’ve been eying. I ended up going with the Powerflex ones since I need the car back ASAP. I went with their race spec front and rear so we will see how these go. As I said I push the car regularly so I want the more solid feedback and feel
Got the Powerflex ones today. I’ll be putting them in later. They are massively more beefy. The sleeve is close to a pound if not a pound. The poly itself is much harder as well. Should have done this the first time 😂
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 looks beefy. BTW are they greased? If not, I recommend you doing so when installing with special grease (silicone?). That should keep the squeaks away
They came with two little tubes of it so they are definitely lubed. The inside where the sleeves sit is webbed so it catches the lube it looks like. I love how the car feels with them. I can’t believe people thought the Armstrong’s were too rough based off the very few reviews I could find. Those were much much softer
I don't know why people mess around with that junk. Use OEM. The guy who bought my car could not believe how nice it ride and handled. Mercedes knows what they're doing.
To each their own. OE definitely wasn’t giving me what I was looking for out of front end feel not to mention they tore very quickly on the caster bushings so I would corner hard and caster would change so the car never handled predictably. It depends what you’re doing with the car and for me the Powerflex was definitely the right choice.
The KMAC front kit not only replaces the existing OEM bushings but also has all the features you would expect from a company that has the experience of manufacturing performance Bushings and Strut adjuster kits longer than anyone else!
1.High performance elastomer for improved brake and steering response. Hardened steel, nickel chromed centers with spiral grease grooves (massive two and a half times the load bearing area of OEM). Proven in all out competition racing to ensure long term strength, noiseless and maintenance free. With unique fail safe lock system.
2. Same time importantly including "Camber" and "Caster" adjustment as well (as there is no OEM adjustment). While installing the inaccurate "one offset position" fluted bolts provides a minimal 3mm (1/8"). KMAC PROVIDES UP TO 5 TIMES THIS ADJUSTMENT RANGE AND IS PRECISE.
3. The KMAC patented design revolutionizing how adjustment is made. "Precise single wrench on car" accurately under load (direct on alignment rack). No more the time consuming need to remove bushings and trial and error repositioning at a new adjustment setting.
4. LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST - supplied with bush extraction tool. So can be fitted without the need for arm removal and press to remove/install new bushings. (See attached instruction sheet)
W202 Front Camber & Caster bush kit #502016 J $380
Similar Rear KMAC adjuster kit providing Camber also for the 1st time (and extra Toe Adjustment to compensate). #502026H $320
KMAC rear kits instead of moving "top of tire" out diminishing all important clearance to outer fender - move bottom inwards when wanting to resolve costly, premature inner edge wear.
OTHER REAR KIT MANUFACTURED - Uprated Performance bushings for the '6' multi link arms.
Less twitch/flex, loss of traction, especially when applying power to lane change/overtake #501528 K $480
Delivery one kit $30 （$20 each extra)
PayPal, Visa or M/Card
The KMAC front kit not only replaces the existing OEM bushings but also has all the features you would expect from a company that has the experience of manufacturing performance Bushings and Strut adjuster kits longer than anyone else!
1.High performance elastomer for improved brake and steering response. Hardened steel, nickel chromed centers with spiral grease grooves (massive two and a half times the load bearing area of OEM). Proven in all out competition racing to ensure long term strength, noiseless and maintenance free. With unique fail safe lock system.
2. Same time importantly including "Camber" and "Caster" adjustment as well (as there is no OEM adjustment). While installing the inaccurate "one offset position" fluted bolts provides a minimal 3mm (1/8"). KMAC PROVIDES UP TO 5 TIMES THIS ADJUSTMENT RANGE AND IS PRECISE.
3. The KMAC patented design revolutionizing how adjustment is made. "Precise single wrench on car" accurately under load (direct on alignment rack). No more the time consuming need to remove bushings and trial and error repositioning at a new adjustment setting.
4. LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST - supplied with bush extraction tool. So can be fitted without the need for arm removal and press to remove/install new bushings. (See attached instruction sheet)
W202 Front Camber & Caster bush kit #502016 J $380
Similar Rear KMAC adjuster kit providing Camber also for the 1st time (and extra Toe Adjustment to compensate). #502026H $320
KMAC rear kits instead of moving "top of tire" out diminishing all important clearance to outer fender - move bottom inwards when wanting to resolve costly, premature inner edge wear.
OTHER REAR KIT MANUFACTURED - Uprated Performance bushings for the '6' multi link arms.
Less twitch/flex, loss of traction, especially when applying power to lane change/overtake #501528 K $480
Delivery one kit $30 （$20 each extra)
PayPal, Visa or M/Card
You do get what you pay for but understand that over $300 more is no easy decision to justify.
Remember to include into the equation with KMAC not only are you doing the job once having long term maintenance free performance bushings (with bush extraction tool also included to eliminate the labor/time consuming need to remove arms for bench press removal).
But more importantly KMAC for duration of ownership kit incorporates “ongoing” cost savings in the inclusion of “CAMBER and CASTER” adjustment as well.
This further justifying initial outlay through resolving costly, premature, edge tire wear which over time is a major cost issue. With OEM only providing basic Toe (directional) adjustment front and rear. Now the ability to “correctly resolve” steering pull, dial in extra Pos. or Neg. Camber. Increase Pos. Caster for improved directional control, quicker turn in, less dive, lift under brake and acceleration, increased steering response.
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