Help please - 2003 SL350 Front camber arm bushes and other work

[gramey]

It's been a while since I've been on here but I would appreciate the advice of the knowledgeable members on this forum.

I'm told that I need new front camber bushes but in order to do this I have to replace the complete arm as the bushes are not available separately. Is this true, replacement arms are apparently only available from Mercedes and come in at £225 + VAT each!

Both front nearside upper and lower ball joints - I have a ball joint separator.

Rear hub rose joint, not sure which side but presumably the same process regardless.

Fuel filter needs replacing.

All told with labour it comes to quite a sizeable bill so my question is are any of these DIY jobs, I have decent axle stands to get the car up off the ground and a good selection of tools.

 

[LostKiwi]

Part number for the bush for rear arm is A2113332914 but you'll need a press to replace it.
Front arm bush is A2203308607 but again you'll need a press.

Part numbers here but please double check.
http://mb-teilekatalog.info/view_Su...&catalog=65P&model=230458&group=33&subgrp=030

 

[Wighty]

Can’t remember if you use Alex Crow for servicing , but he would know what can be done ?

 

[Wighty]

I did my CLK last year with new upper and lower control arms , and I’ve done both the drop links a couple of years before . These were all first time jobs for me as a learning diy’er .
They were done on the drive/road with axle stands and jacks , probably took a day each side , I would do them again on other cars if required . I also happily buy the necessary tools so I have them for “next time” .
With the warmer weather coming up it’ll be an easy enough diy project if you can get the parts

 

[gramey]

Part number for the bush for rear arm is A2113332914 but you'll need a press to replace it.
Front arm bush is A2203308607 but again you'll need a press.

Part numbers here but please double check.
http://mb-teilekatalog.info/view_Su...&catalog=65P&model=230458&group=33&subgrp=030

I should be able to get access to a press when and if the lock down is over, I'm not sure if we're talking about the same thing, the part I'm told is a front camber arm rather than a control arm? Alistair I see that bush at the front goes to number 90 in the part diagram but are you looking at 500 parts as I see Black Line and ABC suspension listed but not my lowly 350?

 

[gramey]

Can’t remember if you use Alex Crow for servicing , but he would know what can be done ?

I have used Alex Crowe once and he did a very good job but Prestige Car Repairs who I've used for years and specialise in Mercedes re just down the road from me so I tend to go there. I just need to know if it's something I should be able to do or if it's best left alone, I don't mind putting in some effort or getting my hands dirty.

 

[LostKiwi]

I should be able to get access to a press when and if the lock down is over, I'm not sure if we're talking about the same thing, the part I'm told is a front camber arm rather than a control arm? Alistair I see that bush at the front goes to number 90 in the part diagram but are you looking at 500 parts as I see Black Line and ABC suspension listed but not my lowly 350?

I'll try and take a look at my copy of EPC later.

 

[LostKiwi]

Ok EPC looks like this (specified 230.456 as Chassis - SL350):


Maybe send me your VIN to refine further.

 

[gramey]

Ok EPC looks like this (specified 230.456 as Chassis - SL350):
View attachment 57844

Maybe send me your VIN to refine further.

Ok EPC looks like this (specified 230.456 as Chassis - SL350):
View attachment 57844

Maybe send me your VIN to refine further.

Apologies for the late reply, work and more pressing issues with my bike took my attention away from trying to sort my car out, Alastair you were correct with the parts diagram, 90 is apparently the camber control arm.

I've just emailed Prestige Car Repairs to see why they're quoting me for replacing the while arm rather than just the bush which is considerably cheaper. I may be doing them a disservice but I'm assuming it's convenience, or they don't have a suitable press, but i would hope any workshop worth their salt would have a press for such work?

With regards to the upper ball joints it would appear that they're held in with simple nuts and bolts looking at the diagram so presumably fairly straight forward to change?

Is the lower front ball joint a press fit or is that held by a nut please?

 

[LostKiwi]

Lower ball joint is press fit from memory.
Pressed into arm, nut to hub upright.

 

[gramey]

Is this suitable for an R230 or has anybody bought such a tool that they could recommend, there don't appear to be many branded ones such as Draper on fleabay and I don't wish to waste money buying one that's likely to snap ?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10pc-Bal...=264660947681262e862cfb3a4dafa380e5c67c8a1b10

 

[LostKiwi]

I wouldn't think it would cut it. I seem to recall it's a 10 ton press required.
Removing the bottom arm is a right ball ache - the ball joint holding the strut is a pig due to the curve in the arm. Took me 3 hours to get mine out when I swapped the front strut.

 

[gramey]

I wouldn't think it would cut it. I seem to recall it's a 10 ton press required.
Removing the bottom arm is a right ball ache - the ball joint holding the strut is a pig due to the curve in the arm. Took me 3 hours to get mine out when I swapped the front strut.

I can understand a 10 ton press for the camber arm bushes, if needs be I can get a friend to do those, just looking at doing the ball joints, was I right in thinking the top one is an unbolt and bolt in affair?

 

[LostKiwi]

Yes correct.

 

[gramey]

Ok so I may regret this but I'm looking at doing both top and bottom ball joints and the camber arm bushes myself, I do get a sense of self satisfaction when I do. If push comes to shove I can leave my car on axle stands and take the control arms to a friends small engineering company to get things pressed out but I can buy a decent Draper ball joint press and one of these for less than the price of the labour to do them at my local indy. That said has anyone actual experience of using one of these?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Vehical-Pro-Bush-Bearing-Removal-Insertion-Tool-Press-Pull-Sleeve-Kit-27PC/383556914602?_trkparms=aid=555021&algo=PL.SIMRVI&ao=1&asc=20190711100440&meid=6bd55f362eff499a9ef7c7b3775622f5&pid=100752&rk=3&rkt=15&mehot=co&sd=223749642000&itm=383556914602&pmt=1&noa=0&pg=2047675&algv=SimplRVIAMLv5WebWithPLRVIOnTopCombiner&_trksid=p2047675.c100752.m1982

 

[wizzman]

Buy some threaded rod and nuts and also a few washers. If you have a decent selection of sockets you can nearly replicate that kit for very little money. Worked for me when I was stuck.