mike430sport

How much would it run to fix a lower control arm issue on my car 2000 e430?
This would be on both left and right sides

TMAllison

~$700-800 at an Indie using OEM LCA's; they come with bushings (properly) installed.

ohlord

in parts including the B joints excluding your diy labor and of course the mandatory hunter alignment when all buttoned up.

why not just replace the bushings?About $100 in parts both sides.
Do the drop links at the same time.

TMAllison

Pay someone else to do it if you dont have a Klann spring compressor, 25 ton press with fittings so you don't crack the bushings, ball joint press, help, expirience and a free weekend.

New LCA's are so much simpler; is also the way that most dealers do them.

aardvark

Price the lower control arms and you'll opt for the bushings, dude!
Bushings are about $70 a side. You need a torch to cut out the old ones though.
A friend did mine for $100 in labor, and I gave him $150, just for his efforts, and was still big dollars ahead.

Aardvark

citruspilot

aardvark, what kind of ride difference did you get? I am still looking at doing this project "or" I might just get another car.....like a 2000+ E430. If I decide to do that I'll keep the E420 and use it on rainy days and as an airport car with the old bushings.............

Thanks,

Jeff

TMAllison

CP - LCA bushings do not affect ride height.

Aard - There are 4 bushings which run about $250 vs $500 for 2 new LCA's which come complete with bushings factory installed. Labor is the same with the exception of the labor to remove and re-install the 4 (15min x 8 = 2hrs) bushings. I had an indie mech go that route on mine as it DID seem cheaper (for me) on the face of it. THAT indie will never do a W210 that way again as in the end the LCA wouldn't fit up on his press and messing around with the bushings took him much longer than he anticipated. If you are a DIY'er the new LCA's is the way to go IMHO; and, its a tough enough job then even if you've got the correct spring compressor and air tools, which most folks don't.

aardvark

Citruspilot.
I somewhat agree with TMAllison and somewhat don't.
The bushings were $70 a side through RockAuto.com A sizable difference from TMAllisons source. The job is a pain in the A to do, and I didn't have the necessary spring compress tool or torches to remove the existing bushings ( he heated them out , and it made removal faster). A friend mechanic did the job for $100 total and I gave him another $50 for his efforts. It was labor intensive , and I agree it is not a good DIY job if you are not set up for it. I must admit I did get a sweet deal on the labor .
For $300 I was back on the road. Compare that price to the control arm price alone and I am HUGE dollars ahead. Bolts came with the bushings.
TMAllison is also correct that ride height is not affected, since this is a parts replacement, not modification.

Someone define Indie Mechanic for me . Were "Shadetree Mechanics" out here unless it snows in Chicago. Pulled a few muscle car engines on the branch of an old oak tree, in the early years.

Aardvark

aardvark

Ohlord
I have done all of the parts you have recommended. Ball joints and control arm bushings.
When I got it back on the road I noticed no tracking issues or tire wear over the past 3 months and about 4000 miles of road time. No alignment was necessary for me, and no tolerances (that I noticed) were changed. If anything, the loose bushings being replaced may have brought it back closer to specs. Was I just lucky?

Janis Joplin reference is great, and I also had the Porsches , But....
A "72" 911T
Aardvark

TMAllison

Aard - Indie = Independent MB mech. Shadetree is what us fools do out of necessity or for sadistic fun.

UROparts.com (manufacturer of the bushings you used) is not OEM which explains the diff in cost of parts.

citruspilot

Update: I replaced the front shocks on my E420 with new OEM's over the weekend. Nice positive change in the ride, crisp response, and a vibration I had is now almost gone. (Could be the rears need replacement now.)

I guess I'll put my LCA bushing job back on the shelf for awhile.

Thanks for your input..............

Jeff

aardvark

Without the bushings or control arms, you risk a little uneven tire wear. The car isn't dangerous, however, unless they are "really" bad. They will have a direct effect on the feel of the car. Sorta corrected a slight wandering feeling in my own. It's tighter as a result (And I like tight, from my pseudo luxo/ sports car. does both well.)

Indie / Independent (duh). I should have caught that. Thanks.
Density is not a virtue.

Gog be with you, and twisty roads with hi speed limits and no flashing lights.

Aardvark

aardvark

Gog? No God!
Aardvark.

This is not a Conan flik

citruspilot

aardvark:

"May the forks be with you!", Shoot, I mean: "May the Fords be with you!", Crap:, "Gods speed......................."

Jeff

What the heck were you doing up at 4:00AM this morning posting in here? (And I thought I was an early riser.............)

aardvark

It's a time of day I can get things done before the phone starts ringing at 7 or 8a.
A chance to check messages, suck down french roast and a few eggs, and get semi organized.

Aardvark