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Front sway bar mounting — bushings or not? + clunking noise
Hey everyone,
I have a 2003 SL350 R230 (230.467, Japan spec) and I've been chasing a front clunking noise for a while now. Noise only happens on speed bumbs, uneven roads, cobblestones a lot, or when one wheel moves more than the other. Disappears a bit on smooth roads and highway. Also get 2-3 clunks at full steering lock and a squeak when landing after a speed bump although im not sure if it's the same issue or something else.
What I've already replaced:
Front lower control arms with integrated ball joints and bushings (~1.5 years ago, no change)
Front sway bar end links (left and right)
What I haven't touched yet:
Strut top mounts (still original as far as I know)
Upper control arms (might be the culprit too?)
My main question: Looking at the parts diagram for my VIN (TORSION BAR FRONT section), there are no bushings listed - just the bar itself (part number 10) and the end links (part number 50). But looking at the diagram closely there appear to be two mounting brackets (or bushings?) on the sway bar (10) itself, and I'm wondering if those brackets have an integrated rubber bushing inside / what they are.
Image below.
Asking because I also made the mistake of buying the wrong sway bar bushings. Bought Lemförder ones (39082 01, 20mm, for C-Class) which I thought would fit and said they don't fit - which makes sense since that's the wrong car entirely. But does the R230 SL350 front sway bar use any rubber bushing at all in its central mounting, or does it bolt directly to the subframe with no rubber?
If there ARE bushings, what's the correct part number and where do you source them cheap? I'm in France, usually buy from Autodoc (FEBI / Lemförder budget range).
Also open to thoughts on whether strut top mounts or upper control arms are more likely to be the culprit given my symptoms.
I can not answer your question directly, as have a 500, but on a CLK I had, the rubbers were molded onto the bar, and not replaceable.
Its possible these are bonded onto the sway-bar in the same way.
On the CLK, poly bushes were available, and you had to cut off the old rubber, but I would not recommend it, as they squeaked like mad when driving, even after greasing!
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Front sway bar mounting — bushings or not? + clunking noise
