Rear Suspension
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From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
Rear Suspension
After losing my 2013 model I finally found a replacement, which is a 2012 model made 8 months before the 2013 I had was.
The car s in good shape other than I need to replace the lower control arms for the worn out ball joints. I knew this when buying the car but for the lack of test driving it on bumpy road I did not know about the real problem.
The car is very unstable at rear. It gives sideways “shaking” when I hit just a slight imperfection on road. It feels the car leans a lot at turns and the “shaking” is scary at times on high speed.
Do I have just worn out air struts in rear or has my rear sway bar broken?
The car s in good shape other than I need to replace the lower control arms for the worn out ball joints. I knew this when buying the car but for the lack of test driving it on bumpy road I did not know about the real problem.
The car is very unstable at rear. It gives sideways “shaking” when I hit just a slight imperfection on road. It feels the car leans a lot at turns and the “shaking” is scary at times on high speed.
Do I have just worn out air struts in rear or has my rear sway bar broken?
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W212 FL
My dad's car (not a Mercedes-Benz but exactly a same problem besides a sway when veering into lanes ) had a shaking as well. It turned out to be a rear struts were caput .
Hope you get it sorted out which I believe must be an easy one to diagnose
Hope you get it sorted out which I believe must be an easy one to diagnose
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
I sure hope it is the struts snd not the sway bar. Struts is easy for me especially when I already have the parts. Was in process of changing all air struts on the ‘13 but never got to do the rear ones. Part should be the same between ‘12 and ‘13 models.
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S500
the bushes holding the diff in place wear out (special German designed to last 3 minutes rubber), its a 6 hr job and specialist tools or drop the whole axel
other than that, may be the wrong load rating or unsuitable rear tyres
other than that, may be the wrong load rating or unsuitable rear tyres
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
I will get under the car and check it out. I will change lower load bearing control arms and rear air struts. Hopefully the sway bar is ok.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,141
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From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
So, replaced both of the front load bearing lower control arms. The ones that the car had were new looking and I did not find any wear on the ball joints, but the arms looked weaker design than the Lemförder parts that I had already purchased. What was a very surprising and alarming find was the right-side tie rod ball joint being very loose. The nut was moving when shaking the hub. Obviously, this was not a very good and safe condition.
I did notice the squeaking sound from the front suspension went down a bit, but I still have some and I think this is the sway bar bushings. I kind of proved this as in a big parking garage driving both front wheels over a speed bump makes the sound but when I drive either side front wheel alone over the bump there is no sound.
I remember reading about re-gluing the bushings but would need direction where to find this instruction. Or should I use lubrication instead and let the sway bar rotate freely in the bushings?
I did not look at the rear suspension yet.
I did notice the squeaking sound from the front suspension went down a bit, but I still have some and I think this is the sway bar bushings. I kind of proved this as in a big parking garage driving both front wheels over a speed bump makes the sound but when I drive either side front wheel alone over the bump there is no sound.
I remember reading about re-gluing the bushings but would need direction where to find this instruction. Or should I use lubrication instead and let the sway bar rotate freely in the bushings?
I did not look at the rear suspension yet.
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Joined: May 2019
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2007 S550
So, replaced both of the front load bearing lower control arms. The ones that the car had were new looking and I did not find any wear on the ball joints, but the arms looked weaker design than the Lemförder parts that I had already purchased. What was a very surprising and alarming find was the right-side tie rod ball joint being very loose. The nut was moving when shaking the hub. Obviously, this was not a very good and safe condition.
I did notice the squeaking sound from the front suspension went down a bit, but I still have some and I think this is the sway bar bushings. I kind of proved this as in a big parking garage driving both front wheels over a speed bump makes the sound but when I drive either side front wheel alone over the bump there is no sound.
I remember reading about re-gluing the bushings but would need direction where to find this instruction. Or should I use lubrication instead and let the sway bar rotate freely in the bushings?
I did not look at the rear suspension yet.
I did notice the squeaking sound from the front suspension went down a bit, but I still have some and I think this is the sway bar bushings. I kind of proved this as in a big parking garage driving both front wheels over a speed bump makes the sound but when I drive either side front wheel alone over the bump there is no sound.
I remember reading about re-gluing the bushings but would need direction where to find this instruction. Or should I use lubrication instead and let the sway bar rotate freely in the bushings?
I did not look at the rear suspension yet.
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S500
you can buy after market ARB bushes - gluing old worn ones likely won't be very successfully - you could lube for now whilst sourcing after market bushes and the right glue, then wait for better weather (if you can be bothered)
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2007 S550
The bushings are bonded to the bar. I did it and it worked out pretty nicely. New sway bars are expensive.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
Senior Member
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2007 S550
If the problem is the bushing is no longer bonded to the sway bar, the epoxy won't cut it. A new bar will be required. Really, the epoxy is just a space filler to make up for the decreased size of the bushing.
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S500
originally the car's were made with separate non bonded bushes - with the bushes available as an OEM spare - not long after they brought out a repair to bond them to the arm to reduce noise.... but this was to bond 6 month old bushes to a newish arm (as a cost saving warranty bodge up imitative)
what I said was gluing the old bushes wasn't a great idea. At 10 plus years, they will be old, hard, shrunk back, half failed bushes not worth wasting your effort on. Plenty of places sell non OEM bushes and it would be far more sensible to use new pliant, flexible std size non worn replacement bushes - in-between lube the junk that's left
Senior Member
Joined: May 2019
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2007 S550
originally the car's were made with separate non bonded bushes - with the bushes available as an OEM spare - not long after they brought out a repair to bond them to the arm to reduce noise.... but this was to bond 6 month old bushes to a newish arm (as a cost saving warranty bodge up imitative)
what I said was gluing the old bushes wasn't a great idea. At 10 plus years, they will be old, hard, shrunk back, half failed bushes not worth wasting your effort on. Plenty of places sell non OEM bushes and it would be far more sensible to use new pliant, flexible std size non worn replacement bushes - in-between lube the junk that's left
what I said was gluing the old bushes wasn't a great idea. At 10 plus years, they will be old, hard, shrunk back, half failed bushes not worth wasting your effort on. Plenty of places sell non OEM bushes and it would be far more sensible to use new pliant, flexible std size non worn replacement bushes - in-between lube the junk that's left
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S500
just now ebay.com typed
w221 front anti-roll bar bushes
alternatively type
w221 2213230060
interesting didn't know anyone made these
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224034391847
w221 front anti-roll bar bushes
alternatively type
w221 2213230060
interesting didn't know anyone made these
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224034391847
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2007 S550
Thread Starter
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From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
I replaced the tires and the stupid "sideways dancing" of the rear stopped. Those Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tires are just garbage. I cannot find any good word to say about them. How can some people recommend them to anybody?
This is yet another time I find Michelin tires well less quality than what their name should suggest. What a joke...!
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W212 FL
I prefer Michelins but I have also heard that not all of them offer same quality as other Michelin products .
For instance : Michelin Pilot Super Sport Series should superior than Michelin Pilot Sport 3
Anyway, I'm glad you fixed it by just replacing tires
For instance : Michelin Pilot Super Sport Series should superior than Michelin Pilot Sport 3
Anyway, I'm glad you fixed it by just replacing tires
