W124 anti roll bar wear

[MotardMan]

Thanks to everybody here who gave me advice on the clonking from my front susp. I got the bushes from ECP, and set about fitting them. ALL ther bolts came off with an air ratchet, no problem, except for the last one I tackled. Why is that? :twisted:

Anyhow use of a deep socket that drives on the flats, rather than the corners of the nut, had the offending item removed. Phew I dropped the anti roll bar off and removed the old, worn bushes. It was now that I could see how bad the wear on the bar was. I have lost about 2-3mm meat off the bar where the bush seats. I had no choice but to fit the bar and hope that the bushes would compress enough to quiet down the clonking. All of the bushes except for one, were a reasonably snug fit on the bar, and at least repositioning them in the cups was an easy task on refitment of the assy.

I now have quiet suspension, but wonder how long it will be before the darn things start to clonk again :?:

I guess that the next thing is to hunt for a Sportline anti roll bar. Could this be fitted w/o modifying the rear roll bar also? I have noticed the steering is noticeably more precise and the car leans and rolls less now, as expected. An unexpected bonus is the added stablity on the motorway. Very nice indeed and for £16, good value.

Best,

Jim.

 

[Orlando 300E]

Hello Buddy, how you doing?

I?m in exactly the same boat, but a bit further down stream! My roll bar is wasted the same as yours, replaced my bushes late last summer -they are now shot again!

I am also thinking of the Sportline anti roll bar. From Mercedes they are (approx) £40 for a standard one and wait for it...........£60 for the sportline! Plus the vat, plus the different bushes (the sportline bar is thicker than the standard one). Unfortunately I did not price out the rear anti roll bar at the same time.

From my previous post I have gleaned from others that the front Sportline anti roll bar does just bolt on instead of the old one. Also it was suggested that I change both front and rear at the same time -saying that it would upset the balance.

Reading up on how to change the rear anti roll bar, in the Haynes it looks quite complex -"removal of sub frame and differential may be required"!!!

Presuming that a rear sportline anti roll bar will just bolt on the same as with the front is it really that hard to get the old one out & the new one in?

Cheers for now
Orlando

 

[andy_k]

http://www.mercedesshop.com/sportline_suspension.htm

OK it's a US based site but they may well be able to provide you with some good information.

Andy

 

[MotardMan]

Hello Buddy, how you doing?

Good thanks mate, you? Fixed that floppy headlamp wiper yet?

I?m in exactly the same boat, but a bit further down stream! My roll bar is wasted the same as yours, replaced my bushes late last summer -they are now shot again!

That is what I am worried about. I guess as soon as the water and grit gets in there, it will grind the bar down even more and need re-bushing, again :roll: . That will be when I overhaul the front end completely. New shocks, roll bar, bushes etc.

I am also thinking of the Sportline anti roll bar. From Mercedes they are (approx) £40 for a standard one and wait for it...........£60 for the sportline! Plus the vat, plus the different bushes (the sportline bar is thicker than the standard one). Unfortunately I did not price out the rear anti roll bar at the same time.

That is a bargain! Thinking about it, if the oil leak froim the diff needs a dealer visit, then it may be as well to get them to fit the front and rear anti roll bars when the diff is done, and save on some labour?

<snip>

Also it was suggested that I change both front and rear at the same time -saying that it would upset the balance..

Agreed, prolly a good idea to do both. I bet it is even more of a bastid job on the TE with all the self leveliing gubbins on there..... :roll:

Reading up on how to change the rear anti roll bar, in the Haynes it looks quite complex -"removal of sub frame and differential may be required"!!!

Presuming that a rear sportline anti roll bar will just bolt on the same as with the front is it really that hard to get the old one out & the new one in?

You can bet it is going to be pricey at the dealer. Perhaps we could ask Andy Gayle for a quote? :idea:

Cheers for now
Orlando[/quote]

 

[Orlando 300E]

Wiper still floppy!

Just a thought, my diff was also leaking, that was from the side seals for each drive shaft. Whilst the specialist was under there he noticed that the diff mounts & sub-frame bushes were shot. I ended up with over double the bill I thought I was going to get! So be prepared for the worst.....

Back to the roll bar, if I finish early enough tomorrow I will price out the rear roll bar as well. Now the last question I need answering by the forum is:

How difficult is it to change over the rear Anti Roll Bar?

Keep on rolling!
O.

 

[MotardMan]

Wiper still floppy!

Just a thought, my diff was also leaking, that was from the side seals for each drive shaft. Whilst the specialist was under there he noticed that the diff mounts & sub-frame bushes were shot. I ended up with over double the bill I thought I was going to get! So be prepared for the worst.....

Back to the roll bar, if I finish early enough tomorrow I will price out the rear roll bar as well. Now the last question I need answering by the forum is:

How difficult is it to change over the rear Anti Roll Bar?

Keep on rolling!
O.

I have emailed Andy Gayle asking for a quote for the diff repair, and the rol bar upgrade. I'll let you know when I get a reply.

Best,
Jim

 

[Orlando 300E]

Hello Jim,

I don?t think Andy Gayle?s garage is any use to me, remember I'm in Scotland!

I did manage to price out the rear sportline anti roll bar: £56. Decided to push the boat out and ordered all the gear from Martin, my local dealers parts man last Friday, everything in the UK except for the rear anti roll bar that had to be sent in from Germany. Martin phoned me up, first thing on Wednesday morning, saying everything had arrived! -I still cant get over how quick they are, even when I needed a new key, less than a week.

I picked up the stuff today, the total cost for both bars, new bushes and a few nuts was £156.

I can only comment on the front bar- having seen my original one off the car before -the sportline, as expected is a lot chunkier. Will fit it tomorrow and report back after I have put some miles on it.

Whilst at the dealer I took the opportunity to ask the workshop manager about how difficult removal of the rear bar would be. the long and the short was he had not done one before! -getting the feeling it will be a garage job, that is unless someone can tell me what is involved to get it done?

all the best
Orlando