ARB Links On W210 320cdi estate 2002

[craigm5]

To eliminate the clonking noise from the rear suspension,
I am about to attempt a change of the rear ARB links on my E320cdi Estate W210. After reading several threads on this forum, it should be a doddle!
Just a couple of questions before I commence:
1. Should I fit MB ARB’s or pattern parts?
2. Are the rear ARB links the same as the front ones?
3. Will a trolley jack and a socket set be enough tools?

Thankyou in anticipation

 

[230K]

Hi

They are simple enough to change but unlikely that that changing them will eliminate the knocking noise. (I have tried for years)
They are not the same as the fronts.

Jack up rear of car and place on axle stands.
Remove the platic covers ro the wishbones
Undo top and bottom of droplinks.
Replace with new ones.

Good Luck

230K

 

[hmang]

front drop links are worth changing...i'd use merc parts then if the knocking is still there you won't be doubting the quality of their pattern counterparts.

i doubt if rear drop links will make any difference

check out the rear shocks...on the estate they have a kind of ball joint built into them at the bottom.

i'm convinced this was the cause of my clunking which drove me mad for ages.

replaced with new shocks from euro parts at £150 each for elegance spec( avantgarde were dearer)....job done no more clonking.

keep an eye on the springs as they snap ...usually at the bottom but that makes a different noise.

if your knocking noise is noticably less when the car is full of luggage and people in the back i'd suspect this shock wear.

what's your mileage ?

if this was on a saloon i'd say make sure the one lower shock bolt was good and tight

 

[craigm5]

This is begining to sound expensive!

The mileage is 95k and it is the Avantgarde model with self-levelling suspension.

I shall try loading the rear and see if the noise reduces.

thanks for your help

 

[hmang]

good luck

don't forget to post your findings as this has been a mystery for many folks

 

[230K]

hmang

Did you have the clonking like a parcel shelf rattling type of noise? I have had it for ages and kinda given up getting rid of it Did you replace your spheres when you replaced the shocks?
You didnt by any chance have a vibration from 70+mph that seems to go through the body? Tried everything other than replacing driveshaft for getting rid of that but kinda given up on that too.

230K

 

[hmang]

hmang

Did you have the clonking like a parcel shelf rattling type of noise? I have had it for ages and kinda given up getting rid of it Did you replace your spheres when you replaced the shocks?
You didnt by any chance have a vibration from 70+mph that seems to go through the body? Tried everything other than replacing driveshaft for getting rid of that but kinda given up on that too.

230K

230k

yes that's exactly what i had
it's a 2001 210 avantgarde estate with self levelling suspension

it started clunking about 100k....

... replaced

...the spherical bearing on the rear hubs...they wear and rust anyway so that was a good place to start

... front subframe bushes ...cos they looked old

...diff mounts

...accumulator "spheres" (euro parts £60 ish each)

it just seemed that the suspension was too hard so i bit the bullet and got elegance springs, spring pad fubbers and shocks all round.

the springs and pads were merc to ensure the right parts...it's a mine field !!

she's lovely now

 

[230K]

Hi

Did you replace all at once? Or what made the difference? Spheres? Shocks? Spherical bearings?? What are these spherical bearings?

To date i have replaced arb rear links, front subframe bushes, camber rods. I have a little play in the outboard bushing of the nearside rear wishbone but it passed the MOT.

Thanks,

230K

 

[type49]

The only thing I've known to make knocking noises on the rear of a 210 estate is subframe mounts &, more likely shockers.

 

[hmang]

Hi

Did you replace all at once? Or what made the difference? Spheres? Shocks? Spherical bearings?? What are these spherical bearings?

To date i have replaced arb rear links, front subframe bushes, camber rods. I have a little play in the outboard bushing of the nearside rear wishbone but it passed the MOT.

Thanks,

230K

did the spheres 1st

but the big difference was the shocks.
i changed the shocks and springs together as i went to elegance spec from avantgarde.

the spherical bearing i refer to is pressed into the rear hub. the lower rear suspension arm attaches to it. i think this might be the outboard bushing as you call it.
play in this will surely result in noise regardless of it passing mot

 

[hmang]

The only thing I've known to make knocking noises on the rear of a 210 estate is subframe mounts &, more likely shockers.

the mounts didn't help mine.
they were one of the 1st things i went for as they looked so tatty.

 

[230K]

Hi

Rear (frontal) subframe bushes didnt help mine either.

Might try the spherical bushings defo has play in both nearside more so.

Were you able to press them out and in without removing the hub from the car?

230k

 

[hmang]

Hi

Rear (frontal) subframe bushes didnt help mine either.

Might try the spherical bushings defo has play in both nearside more so.

Were you able to press them out and in without removing the hub from the car?

230k

press them out...no

i used a drift and a big hammer. and a friend on the other side of the bush holding a heavy lump of metal.

take your time.
suss out drifts , large sockets etc
get a friend.

it can be done quicker than removing the hub and putting in a press.
if you get your new bits 1st you'll be able to suss drift and spacer sizes etc

 

[230K]

Thanks will put it on my "To do " list. Currently doing 800 mile a week so dont get many opportunities to do anything other than routine service items. Thats a Saturday job by the sound of it.

230K

 

[hmang]

mine's 5k down the line and still lovely