Control arm/ Wishbone

[230ceBruno]

I am looking to change the Wishbones and motor mounts on my w124 coupe and I am condidering some non MB manufacturers.

I am considering Leomforder, Febi bilstein and meyle. Does anyone have experince with these?

Which is the best.

 

[kth286]

230ceBruno

I think you will find they all manufacture parts for Mercs.

I would always buy from the Merc dealer as I am guaranteed that any mods that have been subsequently incorporated into the part (and they are always evolving, for eg. the various rear suspension links were upgraded to 210 model spec even after the W124 went out of production) will be a feature of the part I buy. (always take your VIN)

Why do you want to change the wishbones ?

Any connection to your previous post regarding a need for a lower suspension ?
It would be a good time to change the pads whilst the suspension is apart.

Did you see my late answer to you regarding the pads and how to identify them ????????

 

[230ceBruno]

Originally by KTH286 Did you see my late answer to you regarding the pads and how to identify them ????????

Thanks all got it, I decided it'll be the right time to change them when I saw the diagram from Malcolm on the RU website.

More comments pls if anyone has them.

 

[eric242340]

Thanks all got it, I decided it'll be the right time to change them when I saw the diagram from Malcolm on the RU website.

More comments pls if anyone has them.

I would say bilstein, but as someone asked why change the wishbones?

 

[230ceBruno]

........why change the wishbones?

I am experiencing some clonking and loose steering....indie suggested ball joints and wishbone bushes but wishbones come with all that.

Originally posted by eric242340 I would say bilstein,

When you say bilstein you mean "febi bilstein"?

I don't know if they are the same as the shock and spring supplier. Do you have experience of related supension products from any of the manufacturers I mentioned?

 

[eric242340]

I am experiencing some clonking and loose steering....indie suggested ball joints and wishbone bushes but wishbones come with all that.



When you say bilstein you mean "febi bilstein"?

I don't know if they are the same as the shock and spring supplier. Do you have experience of related supension products from any of the manufacturers I mentioned?

You can buy the wishbone bushings and have an indie change them (needs special tooling for this). and the lower joint is a press fit too. You dont need to buy the whole wishbone, just extra cost for nothing. Companies like bilstein supply Benz, so nothing to worry about there. Benz dont make all their own parts, they buy in. Sometimes they have parts manufactured and shipped in like the ABS units made in the Phillipines, and most of them whent wrong. But Bilstein have a very good name. I would take your indies advice if i were you but dont change the wishbones.

 

[bigasotonuk]

Hi,
I replaced my complete lower wishbones because of slight wear in the bushes the bush kits were about a third of the price of the complete wishbone. The Bushes to replace are an absolute pig even if you have the correct tooling (reminded me of my old Cortina void bushes). It worked out cheaper to replace the whole arm.
If yours is the same as mine the lower wishbones have no balljoints on they are separate items, the only consumable parts on my lower wishbones were the inner bushes.

 

[eric242340]

Hi,
I replaced my complete lower wishbones because of slight wear in the bushes the bush kits were about a third of the price of the complete wishbone. The Bushes to replace are an absolute pig even if you have the correct tooling (reminded me of my old Cortina void bushes). It worked out cheaper to replace the whole arm.
If yours is the same as mine the lower wishbones have no balljoints on they are separate items, the only consumable parts on my lower wishbones were the inner bushes.

Sorry but your wrong here, the lower wishbone is one unit and both busshings and the lower swivel joint are press fit. Hence no need to change the whole wishbone

 

[eric242340]

And as an after thought, ive never seen in my life, a lower control arm with no swivel joint

 

[television]

Sorry but your wrong here, the lower wishbone is one unit and both busshings and the lower swivel joint are press fit. Hence no need to change the whole wishbone

bigasotonuk gave his reason as to why he changed them, why argue over this.

Malcolm

 

[lakeside]

On a 124, if both the balljoint and the control arm bushings need replacing, it's cheaper to replace the whole arm, as it comes with bushes and balljoint fitted, and takes less time.

 

[eric242340]

On a 124, if both the balljoint and the control arm bushings need replacing, it's cheaper to replace the whole arm, as it comes with bushes and balljoint fitted, and takes less time.

Thats a matter of location, here its cheaper to do a repair than change the whole unit.

 

[television]

Thats a matter of location, here its cheaper to do a repair than change the whole unit.

You said eric that you do not have 124,s in china, ???????????????

Malcolm

 

[kth286]

malcolm

Any number of Mercs use the wishbone design, not just 124's.

 

[television]

malcolm

Any number of Mercs use the wishbone design, not just 124's.

I know kth I will explain later.

Regards Malcolm

 

[230ceBruno]

My indie did say changing ball joints and the associated bushings are a female dog to fit thats part of the reason for new wishbones. Isn't there a corresponding labour charge for something thats that much of an f-dog??

 

[bigasotonuk]

Hi,
Just for information the 202s lower balljoint is separate assembly as shown here,

http://www.detali.ru/cat/MB/B33030000022.0784.gif

the only replacement parts are the inner bushes and are a pain to replace, The new bushes £20, removal replace lower arm £20 labour, new lower arm £60. With garage hourly rates and though the garage would fix a price for removal and refitting of the arm wouldnt fix the price to replace the bushes.
So best option i believed was to replace the complete assembly.

 

[kth286]

bigasotonuk

Whilst both 124 and 202 uses wishbones the suspension layout is different and so your experience is not necessarily applicable.

 

[eric242340]

On the 124/140/220/221 models the repairs to the lower control arms are basically the same.