Any advice please for my 2003 CL500 front suspension control arm

[Tony7]

Hi everybody, I have a 2003 CL500 with ABC suspension and the ball joints that go into the suspension strut are worn. I was wondering if this is a hard job to do and where is the best place to buy the complete arm assemblies.As my car has done a lot of mileage, I thought it would be best to change the complete arm as the inner bushes will probably be worn as well
Any advice will be greatly appreciated

 

[LostKiwi]

The ball joints are integral to the strut from memory - there are some independents that can inject the strut with resin and give it a new ease of life (and fit a grease nipple to slow future wear). You'd be best to find one who does this. Star in Reading does it but its a trek.
Maybe Welwyn Merx or perhaps Wayne Gates in Harrow?

 

[Wighty]

You have Clive at Benzworx at Tolleshunt darcy (back of maldon ) and Alex Crow in Stowmarket as well , both respected Indys who could answer your questions .

 

[John Laidlaw]

Ian at Star does these himself as LK says, not sure if the rest do or indeed send them up here to who did mine on the SL (Wheel alignment & ball joint centre Liverpool). Benefit with Ian is that he would do yours 'while you wait' - with Liverpool they don't remove the struts so you'd have to do that and get them shipped up/resined/shipped back/refitted. And the Pipes/hoses/quick connectors can be a real pain to remove.
For me you'd be best to spend a day or even overnight in Reading at Star - that's if Ian is still offering that service
The lower ball joint is indeed part of the strut by the way, so the alternative is strut replacement, even a remanufactured/exchange strut will be c£1200 each!

 

[Naraic]

I do not think the CL is the same as the SL...doesn't have integrated ball joint on the strut. The ball joint is in the arm.

There are videos from Mercedessource which show changing the arm on a W220...which is the same.

Get parts on Ebay...not an expensive part.

 

[John Laidlaw]

I do not think the CL is the same as the SL...doesn't have integrated ball joint on the strut. The ball joint is in the arm.

There are videos from Mercedessource which show changing the arm on a W220...which is the same.

Apologies- went off half cocked, read 'SL' in my mind instead of 'CL'....ignore my crazy ramblings please!

 

[Craiglxviii]

Btw I'm pretty sure that Star are still offering ball joint refurb at £90/ corner. Including greasy nipple too!

 

[John Laidlaw]

Btw I'm pretty sure that Star are still offering ball joint refurb at £90/ corner. Including greasy nipple too!

you'd know though Craig, is the CL strut the same?
I've seen a picture I'm sure which looked different from the SL, but I may be rambling again!

 

[LostKiwi]

Apologies- went off half cocked, read 'SL' in my mind instead of 'CL'....ignore my crazy ramblings please!

You and me both!!!

Damned dylsexia.....

 

[Craiglxviii]

you'd know though Craig, is the CL strut the same?
I've seen a picture I'm sure which looked different from the SL, but I may be rambling again!

I believe they are similar structure but with detail differences. The CL 215 has 3 different models of strut dependent on what year the car is though, none of which are interchangeable so....

 

[Naraic]

This is the R230 strut with the ball joint built in:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-...062895?hash=item46656892ef:g:UKcAAOSw0j9ZQG-U

This is a CL strut without ball joint:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-...793187&hash=item3f7df9fe6d:g:4AIAAOSwuspY~wJa

 

[John Laidlaw]

Should have looked where I normally do!
https://aerosus.co.uk/mercedes/filter/fitting_models/cl/p_construction_year/2003.html

 

[star]

Thanks, we still re resin SL strut joints but the cl has a different set up.

 

[m2287]

Those bottom arms are a right pig, they have 2 pins attaching them to the strut - good luck getting them out!

 

[m2287]

Pretty sure mine were around £150 from mercedes

 

[Submariner1]

If it helps, as Craig said there are lots of options on the C216 like there are on the C215.
On mine the ball joint came on the new Strut that replaced this leaking one.


But I suspect yours is different.

 

[Naraic]

As I said...it is different why confuse the poster?

 

[Submariner1]

As I said...it is different why confuse the poster?

On the contrary, instead if just having the usual "go" ... Read the ****ing post ... as I said there are various options for struts on the CL 216, and like Craig said same on the C215 ... its vin specific on mine.
I thought it might be helpful, if when he looked at his, and it looked like this then he would realise there are different types.
I.e. it potenially could look like this?

 

[Naraic]

On the contrary, instead if just having the usual "go" ... Read the ****ing post ... as I said there are various options for struts on the CL 216, and like Craig said same on the C215 ... its vin specific on mine.
I thought it might be helpful, if when he looked at his, and it looked like this then he would realise there are different types.
I.e. it potenially could look like this?

It may be vin specific but the method of attaching to the arm is the same in all cases...so you are adding to the confusion. It's why I posted the correct answer. But hey...post away and read the ****ing posts yourself.

 

[m2287]

On the contrary, instead if just having the usual "go" ... Read the ****ing post ... as I said there are various options for struts on the CL 216, and like Craig said same on the C215 ... its vin specific on mine.
I thought it might be helpful, if when he looked at his, and it looked like this then he would realise there are different types.
I.e. it potenially could look like this?

I think the point is that the 216 and 215 have completely different struts so your post was a bit pointless! The 215 struts all look the same.