ML 270 torsion bar to control arm Link UPGRADE

[kebo57]

Hi I answered a thread regarding TORSION BAR TO CONTROL ARM LINK

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=46645

At the time I didn't realize that another one of mine had broke as well so I made this upgrade.

One piece stainless steel 10 mm threads see pictures below

Might be worth mentioning that if both links brake loose then the TORSION BAR could rotate and dig in to the rear tyres

Kevin

 

[Stomper]

Hi Kevin (kebo57), could you tell me did you make the bushes to fit your link bar or can you pick them up on their own without having to purchase the complete bar ? If you did purchase them seperately was it a dealer part or factors ? Thanks Dave.

 

[Uncle Benz]

VW Touareg suffer a very similar problem to this on the rear. A mate of mine has a V10 TDi one, and the broken link gets dragged into the rear outer driveshaft CV joint causing a right old mess. He had a new hub and driveshaft (under warranty, thankfully). Come to think of it, the whole vehicle has been a heap of trouble. He has recently had the second turbo replaced (the first one failed at under 20,000 miles) and it was an engine out job.

Not particularly relavent to the OP, but I often think that this area of the forum gives a negative view of Mercedes reliability. Others have faults too!!

 

[Stomper]

Checked with dealers but they do not sell the bushes on their own (surprise surprise). For some reason the aftermarket or upgrade bush people eg Powerflex, Ploybush, Superflex etc. don't seem to cater for Mercedes (or very limited). Looks like it will have to be the complete arm from the dealers and swap over bushes onto the stainless ones I'm making.

 

[kebo57]

Hi Kevin (kebo57), could you tell me did you make the bushes to fit your link bar or can you pick them up on their own without having to purchase the complete bar ? If you did purchase them seperately was it a dealer part or factors ? Thanks Dave.

Hi sorry I've only just seen this I made the whole thing bar/link and the bushes, bushes are made from ptfe, bar is stainless I had some squeaking from those bushes to start with till I got the tension correct with the nut. I think I've got some more material left. thoes bushes are a bit shorter that origional as the ss bar that I had was only the length that you can see.

Kevin

 

[S.Speed]

Once again Kebo. I take my hat off to your engineering skills...
Now just imagine all the suspension components in high grade stainless !!!
Mmmmmm

 

[Stomper]

Hi Kevin, got home yesterday and the misses presented me with a shiny new arm complete as she got a bit nervous when I told her I was going to make parts for the ML's suspension. Think I will still go down the road of putting the bushes onto my arms though as I think it should be stronger and wont rust like the originals.
My plan had been to make the bushes out of rubber from a 'spider' (Fenner coupling insert to go between coupling halves on electric motors/gearboxes). This is quite a hard rubber designed to take repeated compression and I found it turns down quite well in the lathe. The arms themselves I've made by turning down some 'spare' stainless bolts that I happened to find lying around in work.
I just won't tell her which ones I've used and we'll both be happy LOL.
Cheers Dave.

 

[kebo57]

Hi Kevin, got home yesterday and the misses presented me with a shiny new arm complete as she got a bit nervous when I told her I was going to make parts for the ML's suspension. Think I will still go down the road of putting the bushes onto my arms though as I think it should be stronger and wont rust like the originals.
My plan had been to make the bushes out of rubber from a 'spider' (Fenner coupling insert to go between coupling halves on electric motors/gearboxes). This is quite a hard rubber designed to take repeated compression and I found it turns down quite well in the lathe. The arms themselves I've made by turning down some 'spare' stainless bolts that I happened to find lying around in work.
I just won't tell her which ones I've used and we'll both be happy LOL.
Cheers Dave.

I think the main weakness is the original bolt diameter of 8mm I made mine 10mm I think that the 8mm just brake off, if you have the original bushes you might be able to modifie them to take a 10mm bolts

Kevin