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W221 rear ride height sensor ball joint arm clip fallen to bits
Hi,
After loads of messing around, the rear ride height ball joint sensor clip attached to the anti roll bar had fallen to bits. The clip(bracket) with the ball joint on had totally disintegrated, unable to get a new clip and then finding I needed a crimp to put the thing on, I felt that the only option I had was drop the rear axle or strip down one side, removing the half shaft etc, after some thinking I choose the latter. Fabricated a new fitting using a large wing nut jubilee clip with a hole drilled in one of the wings for the control arm ball joint, I have no idea of the angle of the control arm to the sensor. What I am desperately looking for is a picture of one in situ on a car. At the current moment the ball is at the bottom of the anti roll bar somewhere near 4 o' clock with the ball facing to the left and the arm is attached to the ball on the sensor facing outwards towards the passenger, i.e both ***** are facing to the left. It somehow makes sense to me that the ball would be at a 6 o'clock position on the bar. What I fundamentally want to know is what position is the ball on the bar for this to work effectively(I do have a STAR system and can recalibrate the sensor up to a point) I just need to know a close approximation, i.e 3, 6 or 12 o'clock would suffice, I cannot mess around as it entails putting the half shaft back in and getting it back on the ground. Which for me makes it impossible to get at it again without going through the hassle of removing the half shaft again to get at it. (this is the worst bit of design I have met on any car)
Thanks,
W221 320man
Last edited by W221 320man; 09-01-2022 at 02:21 PM.
Reason: Bits missing
the 4 metal links snap one by one due to the link rod plastic ball joints seizing up - there is a flat on the ARB to indicate the correct fitment and to reduce its ability to slip out of place - you can run for thousands of miles with it seized so long at the road is reasonable smooth and the load in the back of the car doesn't change much - as more links snap you get more "compliance" and it limps on and on, till one day that last one gives up and it smashes to the floor
part 10 BUT what is the other version - looks like there was once / or is a different easy iteration that uses part 60 too ???
If you look carefully at the anti-roll bar you will see a small flat section where the original bracket was fitted. The ball must be adjacent to the flat on the right hand side of it. Here's a photo of the bracket I made recently - you can see that it is bolted across the flat area of the anti-roll bar.
If you look carefully at the anti-roll bar you will see a small flat section where the original bracket was fitted. The ball must be adjacent to the flat on the right hand side of it. Here's a photo of the bracket I made recently - you can see that it is bolted across the flat area of the anti-roll bar.
it should have came like this from the factory, great modification here.
Hi Lotus GT
I am making an attachment to do as you have done but using something called a half coupler to attach to the ARB.
Could you clarify please that once I find the flat spot on the ARB, which side the ball goes, is it to the right when lying on your back looking at the ARM with your feet sticking out the rear of the car, which is effectively the left hand side of the car, or did you mean it sits on the right hand side of the car - drivers side for us in UK?
Thanks - so far tried the fancy clip the new item comes with, difficult to close when no where near the car, tried jubilee clips to hold in position and good old ty wraps, at the moment the sensor is taped in a position that has fooled it into thinking it's low, so nice and high to work under.
09-01-2022, 01:42 PM
