Stock Suspension Questions
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Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 90
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From: Eastern Washington State
2000 clk 320 cabriolet
Stock Suspension Questions
I stopped into the stealership to have the top looked at the other day. They fixed the top in 5 minutes - and then sucked up the next 55 minutes looking the car over in an attempt to generate more service dept. revenue (that pissed me off).
They did come up with a couple of things. They said I needed a wheel bearing "service" and I needed to replace the lower front ball joints. The car is bone stock with 140K on it.
I had recently replaced the shocks with Bilstein HDs front and rear. Now, I'm noticing some noise when I rock the steering wheel back and forth. I also notice a little noise when doing speed bumps and when driving through town. The steering has a vibration in it at about 60-70 mph. I do get a little wiggle (but no noise) from the wheel bearings.
I've ordered a new steering damper (the original is still on the car and looks like it's leaking). I bought the $60 Star Classic CD from M-B, but it doesn't provide a procedure for R&R of the ball joints nor for the control arm bushings. I also wonder about changing the tie rod ends and bushings and the sway bar bushings. The last thing I would want to tackle is the lower control arm bushings or the upper control arm/ball joints.
My plan is to replace the steering damper, do the wheel bearing service (repack and adjust), and replace the sway bar bushings.
Any thoughts?
They did come up with a couple of things. They said I needed a wheel bearing "service" and I needed to replace the lower front ball joints. The car is bone stock with 140K on it.
I had recently replaced the shocks with Bilstein HDs front and rear. Now, I'm noticing some noise when I rock the steering wheel back and forth. I also notice a little noise when doing speed bumps and when driving through town. The steering has a vibration in it at about 60-70 mph. I do get a little wiggle (but no noise) from the wheel bearings.
I've ordered a new steering damper (the original is still on the car and looks like it's leaking). I bought the $60 Star Classic CD from M-B, but it doesn't provide a procedure for R&R of the ball joints nor for the control arm bushings. I also wonder about changing the tie rod ends and bushings and the sway bar bushings. The last thing I would want to tackle is the lower control arm bushings or the upper control arm/ball joints.
My plan is to replace the steering damper, do the wheel bearing service (repack and adjust), and replace the sway bar bushings.
Any thoughts?
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From: Nebraska
99CLK320,
with 140K on your car you probably need some suspension part replacements. if you start with one you will probably end up doing them all to get the front end tight again, especially since you put new stiffer springs and shocks on. I had the same experience with the dealer trumping up bogus repairs. I new better because I only had 32K on mine. But, in your case, with that many miles, one thing always leads to another. Find a good indy in your area.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 90
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From: Eastern Washington State
2000 clk 320 cabriolet
Thanks for the input. By the way, springs are original.
Yeah, I soon got the impression that this stealership was out for their bottom line - first and foremost - because they just moved into a shiny, new, expensive-looking service building andshowroom.
Who'd a thunk it, huh?
Yeah, I soon got the impression that this stealership was out for their bottom line - first and foremost - because they just moved into a shiny, new, expensive-looking service building andshowroom.
Who'd a thunk it, huh?
Last edited by gorgerider; Sep 29, 2011 at 02:39 PM.
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From: Los Angeles
2013 FIAT Abarth 500
I'd probably replace the lower ball joints, control arm bushings and entire center link.
At the bare minimum, I'd do the ball joints and center link to tighten up the front.
At the bare minimum, I'd do the ball joints and center link to tighten up the front.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 90
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From: Eastern Washington State
2000 clk 320 cabriolet
Also, when you say "control arm bushings", I assume you are talking about the lowers only.
Twinsin: I just re-read your post on diagnosing the vibration in your car. I've been wrestling with the same thing for over a year (that's why I changed out the shocks). I'm up in the boonies of Washington/Oregon with the closest Benz wrench (indy or stealer) about 100 miles away. Suspension is all original equipment (as near as I can tell) except what I've changed out. It looks like I'll be doing the same kind of trial and error as you for the next couple of months.
Last edited by gorgerider; Sep 29, 2011 at 02:57 PM.
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From: Nebraska
99CLK320,
the bushing for the 94-01 C is the same for the CLK. try this http://stores.autowearhouse.biz/-str...MBZ/Detail.bok
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 90
Likes: 3
From: Eastern Washington State
2000 clk 320 cabriolet
LCA bushing kits are all over the place, as are individual bushings. I thought you mentioned being able to purchase a new (or remanufactured) control arm with new bushings installed.
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From: Los Angeles
2013 FIAT Abarth 500
Forgive my ignorance in not being able to speak fluent Benz. I'm guessing that the "center link" is the center link in the steering linkage to include both rubber bushings.
Also, when you say "control arm bushings", I assume you are talking about the lowers only.
Twinsin: I just re-read your post on diagnosing the vibration in your car. I've been wrestling with the same thing for over a year (that's why I changed out the shocks). I'm up in the boonies of Washington/Oregon with the closest Benz wrench (indy or stealer) about 100 miles away. Suspension is all original equipment (as near as I can tell) except what I've changed out. It looks like I'll be doing the same kind of trial and error as you for the next couple of months.
Also, when you say "control arm bushings", I assume you are talking about the lowers only.
Twinsin: I just re-read your post on diagnosing the vibration in your car. I've been wrestling with the same thing for over a year (that's why I changed out the shocks). I'm up in the boonies of Washington/Oregon with the closest Benz wrench (indy or stealer) about 100 miles away. Suspension is all original equipment (as near as I can tell) except what I've changed out. It looks like I'll be doing the same kind of trial and error as you for the next couple of months.
Yep, except mine is complicated by the fact that I may have my Eibachs installed wrong (my car slightly leans to the driver's side), my bigger wheels, plus I just don't know what more I can do. I'm working on getting the whole drag link replaced along with the idler arm bushing. Next after that is the LCABs and maybe the sway bar bushings.
I was under the assumption that if you order a new LCA, it comes with the LCAB and the ball joint preinstalled? Might need someone else to confirm.
