SUSPENSION FRONT WISHBONE BROKE AWAY.

[HERBIEMERCMAN]

Hi Guys, I did not see the 5 inches deep pot hole and the car went with a hell of a thump into it. I pulled over and took a quick look and at the time i could not see any damage. I drove for another 8 miles and the car seemed normal.
The following morning i tried to turn right out of my driveway and there was a gouging noise and the front of the car went down on the N/S, i got out and the tyre had crumpled the front of the wheel arch and the tyre stuck there, what a F---K mess. I felt like ringing the local Council to come and sort it out.
Apparently the damage was a crack where the bottom ball joint and trackrod end are welded to the end of the lower arm / wishbone, this must have fatigued on my 8 mile drive home following the thump and then continued to propagate overnight, detaching completely when i made the right hand turn the following morning.
Luckily i got 'Green Flag' out and the car was taken to my 'Inde', he took a look and said that there is a 6mm hole at the joint to drain away any water and many of these block up, so a pool of water is there most of the time, the subsequent corrosion weakens the suspension. I am glad it happened on my door step and not in Stranraer where i visit my boat.
The main dealers said a replacement wishbone was 375 pounds + vat, BUT no longer available.
My immediate thought was s--t my car has finally died on me!
My 'Inde' came to the rescue and found a German after market part for 94 pounds inc.vat, how chuffed was i, he said many thousands of my model of car are all across the globe will have this kind of failure, and the after market parts manufacturers got onto this. What do you think? Herbie.

 

[Oldspanners]

Go for it. If it is a German part it will be TuV approved and if it lasts half the time of the original you'll hardly be worried.
P.S. Throw the old one through the local council office window with a note attached!

 

[om613]

I've got some new old stock Lemforder / Febi 210 LCAs still available for cheap-ish.

 

[HERBIEMERCMAN]

Hi om613, Thank you for the offer of the parts i would have "snatched your hand off" prior to my "Inde" purchasing the German after market ones, i was so pleased to be able to save "my baby" from being scrapped, all be it i can see in the near future this crazy mixed up government will do that for me.
Old spanners i will seriously consider your suggestion. lol. Herbie.

 

[Dean Fletcher]

I definitely write to the council I went over a pot hole and sheared a bolt in my inlet manifold cost be over 1500 smacked so far with the repair a emission issues so far.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Sorry to hear this Herbie and glad you’ve managed to find a spare looks like something I need to check on mine this summer. There is a tremendous load on the bottom ball joint it’s not unknown for the ball joint itself to shear in two if water gets into it.

Anyway good luck with the car and keeping it on the road mine doesn’t get much use nowadays but I still enjoy driving it

 

[HERBIEMERCMAN]

Hi malcolm (the second), Thank you for the comments, Yes i really did think this was the "end of the road" for my old bus, i do not know why i did not think of "after market" spare parts, especially "TUF" approved in Germany! I am also grateful that i got the parts prior to our imminent disaster when we leave the EU. Herbie.

 

[jp williams]

Hi malcolm (the second), Thank you for the comments, Yes i really did think this was the "end of the road" for my old bus, i do not know why i did not think of "after market" spare parts, especially "TUF" approved in Germany! I am also grateful that i got the parts prior to our imminent disaster when we leave the EU. Herbie.

Just had mine serviced and MOT`d @236505 miles.
Spent two grand all in with rear shocks and a front wheel bearing--all genuine MB parts from Germany too.
Car is too good not to look after it.