skipsantos

As always, looking to you guys for guidance. I have a squeak, but not all of the time. When exiting a driveway it will make noise, but if you push on the front fender to re-create it will not happen.

I have been told that it is the torsion bar, but nothing further than that. I imagine this might just be the bushings on the torsion bar, so I am looking for input from the forum. I have read several threads, but they all stop short of giving complete information.

I have attempted a few different jobs on this car and all has gone well. Is this the kind of job that someone with limited tools and okay ability should attempt?

If it is, what should be checked/changed while I am doing this?

I have a 99 E320 with 93M miles on it. Any input would be appreciated.

loubapache

Your car has two bushings (to sub frame) and two links (to lower control arm).

Just go under the car (no need to jack up the car) and grab the torsion (sway) bar and try to move (shake) it around. It should not move. If it does (you may hear the noise), then that is the source of the noise.


Parts are cheap and it is also easy to replace them.

skipsantos

Thanks for the reply. I did as you said. Initially, there was no movement, but on the the second or third tug, the bar moved about a quarter of an inch. It did not make any noise, though when I did it.


Does the movement indicate that the bushings need to be replaced?

loubapache

You have 93M miles on the car. Are the bushings/links original?

Also the force you used to move it is much less than the 3500 lb car making a turn/twist.

You can take a look at the center holes of the bushings to see if they are enlarged.

If I were you, I would replace these as they are cheap and also your car is at near 100k miles unless you can pin point another part that is making the noise.

skipsantos

I bought the car with 46M miles on it and I have not changed them, so I would think they are original.

I think I will give it a shot. Would you recommend changing anything else while I do this?

loubapache

I would not touch anything else now unless you are sure other parts are causing the noise.

The sway bar bushing/link are the most common wear items in the front suspension for this car.

You can get some plumber's grease (hardware store) to make the installation of the bushing much easier. It will not deteriorate the rubber like some other types of grease,

skipsantos

Good enough. Two links and two bushings. Thanks - I will follow up after I complete the job. Soccer and school activities for the kids may prevent me from doing it this weekend, unless it does not take too long to get done. Any estimation of how long this should take?

loubapache

I forgot a little tip.

You can save some time by doing one side at a time so you do not need to take the whole sway bar out and put it back on with two hands.

Just disconnect both links and slide one bushing out. Leave the other bushing in but loosen the bracket. Then you just do one at a time.

It should not take very long. Get the kids to do it. and buy them some Adidas shorts afterward.

skipsantos

Good input, thanks. While you are offering tips - I am seeing crazy price differentials for the parts. The links at Autohaus are around $14 per side. There is a 4 bushing sway bar kit for $22. Does this sound right?

Since I have not gone under the car yet to see, do you recall needing any special tools? Thanks for your help with this.

loubapache

No special tools.

That price does sound right. If they sell a kit it is always cheaper.

The left and right links are different. The bushing should be $5-7 each.

aardvark

A side note on the plumbers grease.
Use dishwashing soap. It serves the same purpose as a lubricant, and after the first rain it is washed off. We used to use it for farm machinery and dirt bike chains. It stopped chain breakage, because at the end of the day you could hose everything down and re-lubricate.

Squeaky clean, BUT... You gotta like the Lawrence Welk Show , for the bubble action.

Aardvark.

skipsantos

I have not had a chance to get under the car and take a good look at what I have to do, but I have looked at several forums regarding changing the bushings and links. On one site, a DIY shows that the tie rods need to be removed, but a diagram that I looked at does not show this. Can someone let me know which is accurate?

loubapache

No need to remove tie rods.

ejsheltra

Do not remove tie rods. Bushings are split in the back and slip right off with little effort. Do as suggested above and remove/replace one side at a time. You also may want to consider poly graphite bushings as a replacement. Much more durable and firms it up quite a bit. just a another thought.

skipsantos

.

skipsantos

Thanks for the input. I have been looking for the bushings, but have only located a couple of places that have them. Autohaus does not have them for the 99 E320. Do you know who carries the the poly graphite bushings?

TMAllison

OEM front sway bar bushings aren't split; the rears are.

loubapache

The Autohaus catalog is not the best.

If you punch in 1403230985, it should be there.

skipsantos

I actually called and spoke to someone at Autohaus AZ who said they did not carry it. Any thoughts on the polygraphite bushing?

***Just called Autohaus AZ again, the 1403230985 is for the 96-97. Almost. Thanks for the help.

loubapache

Just punch it in.

http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pro...ber=1403230985

skipsantos

Funny how this works - spend $50 of time to find a $5 part.

loubapache

I think the person you talked to was doing exactly what you did, i.e., searching the catalog.

skipsantos

I actually called and talked with someone. He could not locate the part, so I gave him the part number you provided. That's when he told me it was for the 96-97.

loubapache

You are right.

2103231785 is the number for "from 06/99" and they do not have it.

Then you just need to get them from these online dealers that sell on the Internet. Mercedes of Annapolis is one of them.

Sorry, I pulled the number from my 1997 E320 file and thought they were the same pre-facelift cars.

skipsantos

Importecparts.com seem to have all of the parts - roughly $6.50 per bushing and $12.50 per link. Free shipping for orders over $50, so I will throw in an oil filter to get there. Thanks to everyone for the input.

I will follow up with how the job goes after it is done.