W211 lower control arm (caster arm) DIY?

Troon

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A big one
I had my front balljoints and n/s/f lower control arm replaced by an indie a few weeks ago.

Parking up in the garage last night, child#1 says "Daddy, your car's leaking oil". A brief inspection confirms that the o/s/f lower control arm fluid-filled bush has just let go and shed its fluid over the surrounding area. She has a good eye for car problems, it seems. Just need to teach her some diagnosis skills next...

The car still drives fine, but I like to fix stuff up as soon as there's a problem, particularly if there's a risk of increased tyre wear. Now, it looks to me like the arm is a moderately easy replacement. This guy's done it, as well as his balljoints:

http://diyw211balljointchange.blogspot.com/

...using what appears to be one of these to separate the LCA ball joint:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BERGEN-Pr...rator-Dual-Position-30-50mm-NEW-/130603402162

The part is available from ECP:

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/M...spension-arm-and-suspension-joints/?610220990

...so all in, with ECP forum discount, I reckon I can do the job for about £70, compared with £180 at the indie.

I'm up for having a go at this: anything I should be aware of? No SBC on my car, and I can presumably set alignment by measuring a couple of points before and set it to match after.

tia.
 

scotty2hotty81

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Not a major job really if your good on the spanners, forget the ball joint splitter and buy a hammer instead. The arm you have linked to is fine.
 

ELGRINGO

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e230 c180 sl280 brabus a190 smar cart
Hi if your car is 211 eclass it as sbc as standerd no exceptions, never come a cross leaking fluid from thrust arms just delaminnation of rubber bush.
 

AlastairD

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2004 S211 E270 CDi Elegance 100k+
Thanks, this thread has been a great help to me identifying the parts I needed.

I've brought the control arm that I know needs replacing and it's being fitted on Friday. I've read the thread again and I think I should also do the ball joints while everything is in bits.

It looks like the ball joints are only about 22 quid each, is it worth replacing them as well, will there be much more labour?
 


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