Strut Arm Emergency
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Member
Joined: Apr 2006
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2000 S430
Strut Arm Emergency
Emergency!!! Techs say my strut arms are the cause of my vibration on 2000 S430. $1700 for tires/alignment and replacement. Sound legit? Should I just replace tires and do alignment? Thanks.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 158
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2000 S430
The vibration is constant but seems isolated to the front driver side. I know I need new tires so I know that is part of the problem. I am going to go with the 18" staggered. Will that have any affect on the life of the tire or the ride?
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 689
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From: So Cal
07 GL450, 91 NSX, 12 Prius
It can be a bad tire. perhaps there is bubble forming at the tire. Change tire first.
It can be a bent wheel but OEM 16" and 17" wheel hardly bent because oem tires sidewall is pretty tall. It would protect the wheel on most impact. If you damaged a 16" & 17" Oem wheel at impact, it would be a pretty major impact that you will definitely worry if your car is damaged.
check the suspension arm. If it is obvious, the suspension arm may have worn out bushings. check the bushings for cracks and deteriorated rubber than can cause lateral movements. but sometimes bushing failure may not be visible until the arm is removed.
Ball joint on the suspension arm is pretty hard to check. This will be your last resort if vibration couldnt be eliminated.
It can be a bent wheel but OEM 16" and 17" wheel hardly bent because oem tires sidewall is pretty tall. It would protect the wheel on most impact. If you damaged a 16" & 17" Oem wheel at impact, it would be a pretty major impact that you will definitely worry if your car is damaged.
check the suspension arm. If it is obvious, the suspension arm may have worn out bushings. check the bushings for cracks and deteriorated rubber than can cause lateral movements. but sometimes bushing failure may not be visible until the arm is removed.
Ball joint on the suspension arm is pretty hard to check. This will be your last resort if vibration couldnt be eliminated.
Almost a Member!
Joined: Nov 2006
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Had that issue..
I had the same vibration, isolated to the front driver side. It was the tires, the right rear tire was visibly worst.
Change tires first.
Regards,
esprit
Change tires first.
Regards,
esprit
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 158
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2000 S430
Thanks all. I paid 144.00 to the dealer to be lied to. I took it to a great Mercedes independent shop in High Point NC and he told me the strut arms were ok. Just needed some new tires. Went with a set of Yokohamas. Rides perfectly. I won't take my car to the dealer anymore. I said that before but now... definitely won't take it there anymore. When they changed to tires they saw where the wheel has a bad dent. I have 16s. I am searching ebay now for a used one.
Last edited by jmiaebrown; Nov 27, 2006 at 03:16 PM.
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Joined: Dec 2010
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2001 S430
Ok Guys! I'm back again, Got 2001 S430. Have been having some issues with vibration, it feels like suspension is dampering the bumps. I took it to MB workshop not the stealership guys. I have my both uppper control and lower control arm changed, after changing that I was told that I need to change both my "Lower Ball Joint" and both "Thrust Arms", let me say this, I often buy my parts and take it to the workshop. I was looking on to buy thrust arm and found different pictures shown as Arms. Went to the stealership site to check the real picture for Thrust Arm but I couldn't find anything listed as Thrust Arm, what I found was Lateral Arm. Could Thrust Arm and Lateral be the same thing? Does thrust arm is part of the front suspension of rear suspension? The same picture I found online on partgeeks as Thrust Arm was listed on Stealership site as "Track Bar"/Ft Lateral Arm. Pls need your help on this ones fellows and all the good techs out there in the forum......Thank you all for your time.
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Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 31
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2003 S430
non-ABC part numbers for "Thrust Arms"
Ok Guys! I'm back again, Got 2001 S430. Have been having some issues with vibration, it feels like suspension is dampering the bumps. I took it to MB workshop not the stealership guys. I have my both uppper control and lower control arm changed, after changing that I was told that I need to change both my "Lower Ball Joint" and both "Thrust Arms", let me say this, I often buy my parts and take it to the workshop. I was looking on to buy thrust arm and found different pictures shown as Arms. Went to the stealership site to check the real picture for Thrust Arm but I couldn't find anything listed as Thrust Arm, what I found was Lateral Arm. Could Thrust Arm and Lateral be the same thing? Does thrust arm is part of the front suspension of rear suspension? The same picture I found online on partgeeks as Thrust Arm was listed on Stealership site as "Track Bar"/Ft Lateral Arm. Pls need your help on this ones fellows and all the good techs out there in the forum......Thank you all for your time.
The MB part numbers for the non-ABC arms are 2203308907 (left) and 2203309007 (right).
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