justinp95

How do you replace the upper control arm on a 06 E55? Ive got mad clunking and squeaking and I cant find anything that has any info on replacing the upper control arms...

Dat Carguy

This is for a CLS but I'm sure it's the same steps as the CLS is just an E-class with a sexier body... sorry E-class guys don't too buthurt about that comment
http://www.mercedesmedic.com/diy-how...m-e-cls-class/

Rocman8

It's probably the lower ball joints and lower bushings.

justinp95

When I bought the car I was lead to believe the lowers were replaced. And I was told the mechanic said it was the upper.

StarvingArtist

I've replaced the upper ball joint in 7 minutes, you don't even have to take the tire off. Three bolts and a pickle fork.

gjunon

Very easy just screw the three bolts on top and the lower bolt in on the bottom. Don't forget to use loctite.






Use a ball joint separator instead of a pickle fork. Also probably better to take off the tire and check your other joints to see what else may need to be changed.

gjunon

You can buy the separator at harbor freight tools

justinp95

Ended up getting everything apart on the driver side and couldn't get the control arm out because of those damn nuts that spin in the engine compartment. Why in the world are not those welded in? Their was no room for me to get anything down there to hold them from spinning. Especially on the firewall side! Put it all back together and accomplished nothing.

verminator

Justin...i sense your frustration but you are yet a young mechanic and these cars are sometimes challenging to work on. My suggestion would be to separate the upper control arm ball joint and wiggle the control arm by hand. If it squeaks than it is the upper control arm bushing and if you can't remove it spray it with some grease/motorcycle chain lube or something similar. If it is clunking or it feels like the bushing is shot than it needs to come out. Search the posts on front end clunking and there are some long discussions on this with grease options. If there is no noise i would change out the ball joint. Gjunion has it pictured above, 3 bolts on the end of the upper control arm and off it goes. Install a new one (with loctite as suggested) and at least that can be eliminated from the list of possible problems. Harbor freight has a front end kit that has all of the tools you need to separate the ball joint and reassemble. It is not the nice hardened steel separator he has in the picture but it will work a few times before it yields...step by step you can make progress here. Good luck.

justinp95

Ya, Ive already replaced the upper ball joint and forward control arm but not the lower control. In all actually its most likely not the upper arm, but I happen to have it laying around. I have a new sway bar end link also. I may just swap that out considering its so simple.

gjunon

If you're hearing a squeak going over bumps buy some high temperature spray grease and grease the sway arm bushings.