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Noticed that the front sway bar has moved all the way to the right. The left side is rubbing up against the lower control arm. After inspecting the sway bar links I can see the rubber is a bit worn on the bottoms of them. They are not blown out yet and the sway bar bushings are in good shape.
I understand that the sway bar will move left to right a bit from time to time, but wonder why it moved all the way to the right? Will new sway bar links fix this if the sway bar isn't bent? The 4-Matic links are over a $100 each. Ouch. With the wheels off the ground I tried to pry the sway bar back over but it must have a decent amount of friction in the rubber bushings or the bar is still loaded.
I see on some of the Jeep forums where this sideways movement of the sway bar is common and folks add steel split lock collars on one side of each sway bar bushings to keep the sway bar centered.
Ok...Looking at the sway bar again from the front on the vehicle with the wheels lifted off the ground, it may be bent a bit more upwards (10mm) on the drivers side than the passenger side (on the bar ends). I'll have to disconnect it at the bottom of the links to confirm this as I'm not sure the wheels droop the same with the airmatic when the wheels are up off the ground.
Never had a vehicle with a bent sway bar, but I guess it's possible. Wow, the sway bar on this E500 is about the same thickness as the one on my 1 ton Dodge Diesel truck. This car shows no sign of front impacts, but I'm sure it's had it's fill of Pennsylvania Potholes
Last edited by Sleeper Benz; Sep 29, 2017 at 10:07 PM.
W211 have sway bar bushings vulcanized to the bar, meaning they never suppose to move sideways unless BROKEN.
I am afraid your only solution is new bar.
W211 have sway bar bushings vulcanized to the bar, meaning they never suppose to move sideways unless BROKEN.
I am afraid your only solution is new bar.
there are aftermarket sway bar bushings available now on Amazon by Febest I believe
Make sure they fit.
I bought couple of such couple years ago and they had totally different shape.
Than scraping old rubber can be quite an issue.
Lastly ... clamp-on bushings will slide.
Good information. I would never have assumed the rubber bushings where vulcanized to the bar since they broke loose & slid so cleanly without any residue left on the bar. Quite a few suppliers sell just the replacement bushings but it seems it would be susceptible to sliding again unless I used lock collars.
I'm not having much luck finding a new (or used) 4-Matic/ Airmatic front sway bar replacement state side.
Husker https://www.mbdirectparts.com/
never fail to deliver the parts even if they had to come from Germany.
Very good prices and communication as well.
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