myfirstbenz

Son of a female dog, Last year, about this time, I was driving my TE and I heard a clunking noise in the front end. Now I know that I need to replace some tie rod ends, but they never made noise like this. Upon further inspection I found that the drivers side swaybar bracket had snapped. This is the thin steel bracket that holds the sway bar off of the chassis, essentially it is on the bottom of a sub frame rail. I thought this was odd and had never heard about it before and so I picked one up at a parts yard.

Now, on my way back from a research project session, I was leaving a parking lot and heard a loud snap and boing sound like a spring breaking... I was thrilled. Come to find out the other side did it. SOB. Has anyone ever heard of this happening? I am really dumbfounded as to why this is going on. The car is not rusty, it is from cali, I don't have lowering springs, I have HD bilsteins, and that is the only mod. It is really really odd.

It's an easy fix if I have the part, but I just don't understand what is going on and I have never heard of this happening before. In two weeks when I get my tax return, I am rebuilding that damn front end.

CDP

Do you have stock sway bars or have you upgraded to 500E's?

myfirstbenz

Should be stock, I haven't touched it.

bjay51d

What kinda job is it?Do you have to weld in new brackets or are they bolt ons?

mbenzman

I see one about every two years. They just unbolt to replace, the frame bolts are blue loctited and can break off sometimes though. Cold weather helps things break, but I've seen it happen during summer months too.
Rich

myfirstbenz

yeah, these have both snapped in cold weather. I had it welded yesterday but it broke right away. Oh well.

shadowgriffen

they are bolt on.

CDP

Yup, They bolt on top of the bracket and on the bottom side.

Eliot

I've seen it come up several times on the Mercedes Shop forum.

CDP

Eliot,

did you ever get my PM? Read it - It's kind of urgent.

Eliot

Sorry! check your PMs.

MediumKahuna

My brackets are fine but the ends of the front sway bar have joints that are booted. My boots are toast so the joints will go any minute. I heard there's kit with new joints and boots but I can't find it. Dealer only?
My left for a link.

CDP

MB offers a kit for the sway bars which includes new bolts, brackets and bushings.

if you're interested I'll send you the Part Number for the kit on Monday when I go back to work. It's not pricey at all and most dealerships should be able to get it.

MediumKahuna

Thanks I want to replace the bushings too but...
If its not expensive its probably not the parts I need.
My car (92 TE 4matic) has ball joint like things on the ends of the front sway bar and they're covered with little rubber boots.
I hope to get my manual today and I'll post a pict.

MediumKahuna

***** my manual din't come but I have the "Illustrated Parts Catalog" and it shows the 4Matic front sway bar is different from all other models.

Smokiesman

When I went to install my E500 bars on Bigblue I found out that the pass side bracket had been broken! Wondered why she wallowed in the the tight turns! The shop that installed my bars had the brackets and they told me that they will break!! So if yer car is handling like crap ! Check yer brackets


Smokie

myfirstbenz

Well I am glad I am not alone, this issue really confused me

MediumKahuna

Ok my manual came but it shows 4matic front sway bar is same as non-4matic (crappy manual). My Illustrated Parts Catalog shows the 4matic as different and it matches what I see under the car.

So, yes please, Chris can you get me the part number of a 4matic front sway bar rebuilt kit?