First posting, but I have learned a ton on this site, so want to give back.
I have a 2005 S500 Sport w/4Matic (rare combo) that I bought 8 years ago with 15K miles. Now has 117K, like new, but after 8 years slamming Chicago potholes (since moved to S CA) the handling sucked, airmatic droopy, lost that fun feel.


jacked up car, inspected all front and rear components with a pry bar, fore lower control arm bushings had 1/4" of play, everything else tight. Purchased new MB Lower control arm assemblies from ECS Tuning for $1200 all-in and new Airmatic Arnott units from 1A auto, both great prices and solid outfits.


Replaced the hole shooting match in ~6 hours and then took to MB for a 4 wheel alignment and ride height calibration, car rides like NEW, I **** you not!


Key things to remember when doing this:


- be really careful and patient with the airmatic plugs
- get a truck-sized ball joint separator as the lower control arm to knuckle ball joints on this beast are massive and pop loose like a rifle shot
- don't tighten control arm bolts until weight on wheels or you will preload bushings and tear them up quickly; set up stands so you can get ramp stands under tires when done and have enough room to tighten the 4 big bolts
- the C-shaped forging that connects the front lower airmatic unit to the knuckle is attached to control arm ball joint with two large set screws that have Loctite on them. Do not try to losen before applying a propane torch to them for a couple of minutes...doe not take a lot of heat and doing this loosens them up...strip on of these and you are going to have a terrible day, this might be the single biggest gotcha!
- have large wrenches and sockets for working with control arms or you will be struggling
- remove front sway bar and you don't have to disassemble anything on front brakes, just have a floor jack under the rotor so you don't rip out wires or brake lines
- be in a position to close your garage door so if you do find any additional worn parts once everything is taken apart that you can close the door and chill...my upper control arm bushings and ball joints and tie rod ends were like new after 117k...the lower ones are massive and take all the pounding apparently


I had replaced the pump and relay 2 years ago when it crapped out during a -16F cold snap, so now everything is like new....this plus new tires and I am loving my old Benz again, will drive for another year or two and when I am done paying last year of private college for son will buy another almost new one!


Let me know if I can help anyone, this was a fairly easy project that yielded huge results.

 

Awesome writeup. Congrats in the great work and taking the time to share with the forum.

 

Thanks msavitt, i will do this job also, did you do any alignment with the camber while installing the new lower control arm?

 

Thanks for the writeup. I'm certain it will help many others.

 

MikeKerr7 - yes, after completing the job I took car to MB dealer (Foothills Ranch - good outfit) for a 4 wheel alignment and airmatic leveling calibration...added $300 but let me tell you it was worth every penny, even though I used genuine MB control arm assemblies which don't have camber adjustment (this is done via upper arms) that the alignment was definitely not right, afterwards it was amazing!

 

Can you explain how the camber adjustment is done with the upper control arm? I just completed the same job and did not notice any camber adjustment on the upper control arm.

 

if like most cars, camber is adjusted by loosening and moving the upper control arm bolts within eccentrics...didn't touch these as no play in bushings or ball joints and wanted to leave things "as is" since was replacing bottom arm assemblies with new MB units so I knew it would be "close", then brought it in for 4 wheel alignment

 

Ok, I looked further into this and there is only one adjustment for camber. It is a bolt kit that replaces the lower control arm bolts so the lower control arm can be moved in or out. Here is the part number 220 990 00 99
Each kit contains 2 bolts, enough for one control arm.

Did your car have these adjustable bolts when you replaced the control arm? Did the dealer install them for you?

 

Is there a part number to adjust the rear camber ? I'd like to get my rear wheels tucking in more on top

 

Maybe some aftermarket company makes something for the rear. Nothing from Mercedes that I know of.

 

learned something new about my S! upper control arms tight, didn't touch them, just assumed an eccentric on top since none low. dealer must have done me in the rear , def night and day after they did alignment! love driving it again!

 

THERE IS ONLY FRONT AND REAR TOE ADJUSTMENT OEM!


WE SAW THE NEED AND MANUFACTURE PRECISELY ADJUSTABLE (SINGLE WRENCH, ON CAR) FRONT CAMBER AND CASTER AND REAR CAMBER (WITH EXTRA TOE) KITS.


WITH K-MAC THE STATEMENT – “FULL FRONT AND REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT” ACTUALLY MEANS WHAT IT SAYS”.


YOU CAN NOW ACCURATELY RESOLVE STEERING PULL OR COSTLY/PREMATURE EDGE TIRE WEAR.


The result of curb knock damage, altering height, load carrying or fitting wide profile tires/wheels. Added bonus is these 4 front and rear K-MAC adjustable bushings also replace the highest wearing suspension bushings at the same time with twice the load bearing area and improved brake and steering response.



For the rear - you can purchase adjustable Camber rods but to reduce inner edge tire wear unlike K-MAC lower arm bushings – these rods need to adjust top of tire outwards which reduces all important clearance to outer fender. K-MAC kits also include extra Toe adjustment necessary to compensate for this new rear Camber facility.


For the front (only) - there are available fluted Camber bolts. But these are inaccurate (one only position) bolts offering a minimal .3 of one degree (1/8”/ 3mm) and require labour intensive disassembly each time. While the K-MAC unique patented design provides single wrench precise/ongoing adjustment capability – on car, accurately (under load) direct on alignment rack.


With 3 times the adjustment range of the one position fluted bolts. It means you fix it right the 1st time - no more ongoing visits to dealers or alignment shops because of lack of full/precise adjustment.


Front kit $480
Rear kit $480


This month’s special delivery price for MB World members USA/Canada - $30 one kit or $40 front and rear.


Payment can be made by Visa, MasterCard or PayPal.


See link for latest 2015 catalog http://K-mac.com/mercedes

 

Can you explain how your bushings work? Any photos specific to our w220 4matic?

 

Diagram below sets out the ease of adjustment.

Also forum member HeissRod https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/518431-k-mac-bushing-install-guide-w211-airmatic.html has kindly provided step by step pictures re use of the pressing tools included re removal and replacement of the front bushes.

For the rear the actual bushes are not in arms but frame so this bush extraction tool supplied is designed so rear can be installed on car.


See link for latest 2015 catalog http://K-mac.com/mercedes/