SL55 - Shockabsorber Lower Ball Joint Play - What are my options?

[Monky]

Hi all,

My front O/S shockabsorber was replaced by the previous owner due to lower ball joint ware, his bill not mine!

The N/S shockabsorber lower ball joint now has excessive play / movement and needs attention.

I know a new shock for one of these is £1000.00 + and that you can't buy the ball joint as a separate part, what are my other options?

I found some old posts on here with people suggesting buying a 350 shockabsorber, pressing the 350 lower ball joint out and using on the old SL55 strut. Has anyone actually done this with good results as my mechanic is a little apprehensive!

And are there any other options, any companies in the States specialising in this type of issue?

The thread I found was nearly a year old so was hoping someone had come up with a solution since then, I'm all ears!

Thanks all,

T

 

[Monky]

Doh just noticed another thread on this below mine!

Don't think anyone has come up with an answer yet? Gonna post my thread on one of the USA sites as well.

T

 

[cfoster]

Are you sure they can't be purchased seperately? Have you a diagram of the shock and hte lower joint? I may be in the same boat as you as i'm getting an ever so slight knock on the front drivers side corner when going over a bump (I feel it through the steering wheel), someone did suggest to me (a merc tech) that it could be the lower steering arm?..... Mine is an SL500 but has the ABC suspension (unfortunatley!!)

Chris

 

[drmw]

Quite sure - I've two perfect (apart from ball joints) ABC struts in my garage as of last week - had a really good look at them on Saturday - they are not removable.

However, I am trying to get hold of these guys - http://www.balljointrestorers.co.uk/ - they did the job on another forum member's car about 6 months ago,, unfortunately I can't get an answer from the said other member as to whether the fix worked, lasted etc., so on advice, I'm trying to get to the guy who did it.

But he's not answering his phone at the moment!

 

[cfoster]

Wonder how much they charge to do the ball joints, just read his thread and i'll be fine removing mine! May as well get a pair done!

 

[Monky]

Yeah that is the company I also spotted, found this on Pistonheads:

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/xforum...Ball+Joint+Repair+@+www.4wheelalignment.co.uk

That is the same company that did his, he also supplied some pictures.

So at present the options are:

1) Fit 350SL bushes (press out and re-fit) - Who has actually done this?

2) Use a company like the above one to resin fill the old ball joints - Been done but noone knows if it lasted?

3) Replace the shock with a new unit at £1000.00 +

Think thats it yeah?

T

 

[drmw]

Just spoke to the guy in Liverpool - very switched on.

He charges £65 per strut (plus vat) and warrants the fix for 12 months.

He said he's done quite a few now and if the grease nipple he fits is used as designed, then 5 years should not be a problem so the 12 months doesn't bother me.

 

[cfoster]

lol ive just got a mail back from him as well quoting that! think i'll make an effort and get them done.

What other bushes / arms are there at the front that are worth changing whilst the shocks are out?

 

[television]

Not much else fails at the time being, at least the struts are easy enough to take off

 

[Mic]

Watching with interest.

Mic

 

[television]

Watching with interest.

Mic

I cannot think why :roll::roll:

 

[orb the Impaler]

That was me that posted the original stuff and the instructions.

I can confirm that the fixes (I have had both struts done now - I also posted the stuff on PistonHeads) have worked 100% perfectly and I'm a very happy camper.

An interesting thing that did happen as a result of the balljoints being done was that it highlighted wear in the inner camber arm bushes - these were a pretty cheap fix though.

So now I have silent, smooth suspension.

 

[television]

Thanks orb for giving peace of mind and sleep to so many

 

[drmw]

Mine also had a new caster arm - advisory last year on rubber boot, now a fail.

Apart from that is was bone dry & knackered!

The difference having had the struts done is quite noticeable - some rattles I was putting down to other (unidentified) things have gone - car feels much tighter.

 

[television]

Mine also had a new caster arm - advisory last year on rubber boot, now a fail.

Apart from that is was bone dry & knackered!

The difference having had the struts done is quite noticeable - some rattles I was putting down to other (unidentified) things have gone - car feels much tighter.

I think David that you can send yours away and have them done then sell them, or if you ever give up on the warranty then keeps them

 

[drmw]

One further question - I see on mine that they have "AMG" stickers both at the offending ball joint end to show right & left (despite which, MB sent two left handers to Harrogate!) and also on the body of the strut itself as part of the part number sticker.

Is there any difference between those on say an SL55 and an SL500 or is it just a money making scheme like "MO" tyres?

 

[television]

None at all David, the AMG version have slightly different characteristics, hydraulically

 

[Monky]

Sorry for the late reply I have been flat out at work.

Need a bit of advice before I start removing shocks!

Is it worth me sending both front shocks to this chap as opposed to just the one that has the issue? What I don't want to do is repair the one that is faulty, make it uber stiff and then have another shock which isn't quite the same resulting in odd handling?

Let me know your thoughts, maybe it's best to send the both even if the other one is fine?

Also do the rear shocks have the same ball joint at the bottom? If so will send all 4 of them, awaiting your answers!

The rear end of my car doesn't feel 100% right either, I get a lot of side to side movement going over pot holes and it doesn't settle correctly, possibly worn shocks or bushes?

Let me know all,

Cheers

Toby

 

[drmw]

re the fronts - both for sure. At that repair price & as the car's off the road anyway, it would be false economy. I've never heard of the same problem with the rears, but that's not to say ....

 

[Monky]

Cool David, hopefully Malcolm can post up an EPC diagram of the rears so that we can see if they have the same ball joint / bush. If they do I will send all four, if not just the fronts.

Where is he when we need him