Front Control Arm bushings
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2015
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From: Miami, FL
2003 CL 600
Interesting, I've done replacement spherical ball joints in place of bushings for the Cobalt and now the Sonic guys, because the lower control arm bushings were a weak point and the only aftermarket polyurethane options were trash, I went through three sets in my personal car in a year before I gave up and made custom bearing type replacements. I could do the same for this market if the demand is there.
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Joined: Aug 2011
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From: Kitchener, ON
2010 C63 AMG
What do you mean there's no point? You don't think changing a $30 ball joint (of the same quality) is better than having to change the whole $700 arm when the joint fails? Most high performance vehicles have serviceable ball joints on their control arms.
Don't care if you believe it or not. Many have had to replace both arms, including myself because of a failed ball joint. Do a search, you will see...
Don't care if you believe it or not. Many have had to replace both arms, including myself because of a failed ball joint. Do a search, you will see...
Where do you think the grease goes after you inject it under the boot? It goes INTO the joint where it's needed via a thing called gravity. It doesn't just sit on top hanging around at the water cooler.
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From: Los Angeles
2012 P31 C63 Coupe Trackrat, 2019 GLE63S Coupe Beast
What do you mean there's no point? You don't think changing a $30 ball joint (of the same quality) is better than having to change the whole $700 arm when the joint fails? Most high performance vehicles have serviceable ball joints on their control arms.
Don't care if you believe it or not. Many have had to replace both arms, including myself because of a failed ball joint. Do a search, you will see...
Do said cars have a joint inches away from a massive heat-sync with the exact same geometry? If so, they probably have better hardware.Don't care if you believe it or not. Many have had to replace both arms, including myself because of a failed ball joint. Do a search, you will see...
Where do you think the grease goes after you inject it under the boot? It goes INTO the joint where it's needed via a thing called gravity. It doesn't just sit on top hanging around at the water cooler.
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Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Texas
10 C six trizzle
Its not a flawed design. There is no need to even upgrade either one of these bushings to poly or spherical ball unless you're doing serious track duty. Any balljoint will fail over time or wear. Are any of ya'll seriously upset when a 10yr old rubber part fails? I also dont think the lower control arms are 700$ each. Im pretty sure its maybe 2-300/each. sure serviceable balljoints would be nice. However i can say the benz's with serviceable balljoints seem to fail alot more frequently than these. These cars are getting old and things wear out. Do them as they come, otherwise they'll keep on piling up and the car becomes a run down p.o.s. with 5k$ in necessary repairs.
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Joined: Aug 2011
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From: Kitchener, ON
2010 C63 AMG
Any balljoint will fail over time or wear. Are any of ya'll seriously upset when a 10yr old rubber part fails? I also dont think the lower control arms are 700$ each. Im pretty sure its maybe 2-300/each. sure serviceable balljoints would be nice. However i can say the benz's with serviceable balljoints seem to fail alot more frequently than these. These cars are getting old and things wear out. Do them as they come, otherwise they'll keep on piling up and the car becomes a run down p.o.s. with 5k$ in necessary repairs.
https://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-w...dangerous.html
Price was CAN (3-400USD). They're nearly $700CAD after tax.
A ball joint having complete failure after 6 years is not normal. It's either too small, didn't have enough or the right type of grease, or poor cup design.
The obvious poor design is a non serviceable joint. I'd much rather replace a $30 ball joint more often than the whole arm at 20+ times the cost.
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From: Los Angeles
2012 P31 C63 Coupe Trackrat, 2019 GLE63S Coupe Beast
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Los Angeles
2012 P31 C63 Coupe Trackrat, 2019 GLE63S Coupe Beast
Already have -3.5 in front. These will actually reduce that a bit as I’m replacing the inner adjustable KMAC bushing with these sphericals.
With 295’s up front I’ll be able to afford less neg camber. Theoretically.
With 295’s up front I’ll be able to afford less neg camber. Theoretically.
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Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Los Angeles
2012 P31 C63 Coupe Trackrat, 2019 GLE63S Coupe Beast
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Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 522
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From: Bondi Beach , Australia
2013 W204 C63 AMG P31 Estate wagon
Are yours different from the normal H/D ones SDW sells with the orange plate around the bush or is the plate just decoration.
Mercedes suspension – SyncroDesignWorks
Mercedes suspension – SyncroDesignWorks
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,372
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2010 C63 AMG
Are yours different from the normal H/D ones SDW sells with the orange plate around the bush or is the plate just decoration.
Mercedes suspension – SyncroDesignWorks
Mercedes suspension – SyncroDesignWorks
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2019
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From: Bondi Beach , Australia
2013 W204 C63 AMG P31 Estate wagon
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Los Angeles
2012 P31 C63 Coupe Trackrat, 2019 GLE63S Coupe Beast
Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 77
Likes: 1
From: St. Paul
2012 C63 (P31)/2006 CLK350 Coupe
I'm curious how you find the NVH with both sets of bushes now being bearings. Unless you've already given your thoughts elsewhere on here, then I'll dig around. My first thought when I first heard of the SDW thrust arms was "and how about the lowers?" Lol
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From: Los Angeles
2012 P31 C63 Coupe Trackrat, 2019 GLE63S Coupe Beast
Thanks. No impressions yet. Car has been out of commission since my last track day in early March. Hope to be able to report back by end of summer.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2015
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From: Miami, FL
2003 CL 600
In the applications I've used them on, the difference is quite minor as far as any negative, you get more "road feel" due to less give in the suspension, but not really harshness or noise. You can better feel what the front tires are doing, which is the point of this mod. If you are looking for OEM softness and smoothness, then go back with an OEM bushing, it's not a big deal to have to replace them once every few years, rubber parts are a consumable on a car of this caliber.
Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 77
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From: St. Paul
2012 C63 (P31)/2006 CLK350 Coupe
In the applications I've used them on, the difference is quite minor as far as any negative, you get more "road feel" due to less give in the suspension, but not really harshness or noise. You can better feel what the front tires are doing, which is the point of this mod. If you are looking for OEM softness and smoothness, then go back with an OEM bushing, it's not a big deal to have to replace them once every few years, rubber parts are a consumable on a car of this caliber.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4,037
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From: Miami, FL
2003 CL 600
The thrust arm bushings were a common failure when I was at MB, but yes on the other arms the ball joints usually go first, as they are subject to far more load than the bushings on the associated arms.
Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 77
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From: St. Paul
2012 C63 (P31)/2006 CLK350 Coupe
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Los Angeles
2012 P31 C63 Coupe Trackrat, 2019 GLE63S Coupe Beast
