W124 Ball Joints

[kid-jensen]

Guys,

Need to replace both ball joints on the lower control arms (wishbones) on my 1993 320CE...

It looks like the easisest way is to take the wishbones off and hammer them out with a ****** great hammer and some spacers.

As manuals are prone to saying "fitting is the reverse of the removal".

Is there anything that could screw my operation completely? I'm planning on compressing the spring with a pair of spring compressors. but it looks pretty tight for space in there. Is there a simple way of preserving the camber setting? I guess you have to disturb the eccentric adjusters, though I'd rather not, I may not have a choice.

If a suitable extractor tool was available, it could all be done in situ, anyone know of somewhere I can hire one?

I've checked that I haven't got the wellded-in type, so replacement SHOULD be possible... Anyone done this job and lived to tell the tale?

 

[kth286]

PaulG

How did you check you have NOT got the welded-in ball joints ??

I ask because the 320 should/will have the welded in type.

So, new wishbones at approx £220 EACH (last count), plus fitting.

Cannot take springs out with conventional tool. Has to be a special, with adjustable column up through spring interior and 2 plates - very expensive.

However it will all last another 15 years.

Get your best price for complete job and let me know before you instrut anyone and I might be in a position to off you a significantly better deal. And be able to check Camber before and after dismantling.

Have the knowledge and experience.

If you post your VIN I can look it up on Merc EPC and confirm they are welded or otherwise.

 

[E320C]

Wishbones

Hi PaulG,

I did my wishbones couple of months ago along with the idler arm. I bought Febi-Bilstein OE spec £114 each plus vat from ecp as MB dealer wanted @£300 odd each plus vat if I remember rightly. I didn't want to pay big bucks but its up to you. The FB's looked very good quality and for the money IMHO can't go wrong. Quinton and Hazel also do wishones for it too, around the same price as FB's.

It can be done at home and was relatively easy on mine as I have eibach springs so they are alot shorter than MB original. If you have normal ride height suspension then its a nightmare without proper tools as the spring is very long and very strong. My normal diy £15 spring compressor which I did various hot hatches in my youth would never be able to do it.

If you have lowered springs then:

Basically if its diy you have to get it high enough on stands. I chiseled a two marks on the ecentric washers and the chassis mounts front and back. Mine were in the middle. Put a jack under the ball joint and undo the ball joint nut and lower the jack slowly and let the wishbone down as far it would go to pull the spring out. After that just unbolt the wishbone bolts and pull it out. Fitting is the reversal, lining up the up the two ecentric washers marks to the two chassis mount marks. I waxoiled/underseal the chisel marks after.

Don't cringe, but I never bothered camber setting at a specialist as mine drives spot on as it did before wishbone change, no pulling to left, even weighted steering left and right corners and steering wheel in the 9-3 position.

Best of luck

Regards

E320C

94 E320 Coupe
Alfa Berlina
Alfa Spider S4
Golf GTI mk4 - family use and good mpg

 

[kid-jensen]

Guys,

Thanks for the help, though most of what you say is a bit depressing. £220 each, plus other bits n pieces, would probably write my coupe off!

I had a look at the Ball joints, and if they are welded, I certainly can't see any evidence of it, they just look pressed-in, no weldin blobs or molten metal...
I'm at work at the moment so I don't have access to the VIN. I'll look it out later at home.

I'm concerned that my old general-purpose spring compressors probably won't be any use, though I pretty much saw that coming. Are the proper spring compressors available anywhere for hire? Can't see any point in buying a tool I'll only use once.... Mind you I AM married!

Did a bit of research on the net and sure enough, there's a tool that can extract and press-in the ball joints in situ, once you select from a set of spacer rings. The only problem is, this was an American site and they seem to be a bit more orgainsed over there about Tool Hire, though I doubt they'll deliver to Banstead....

E320C, how did you get your standard springs out in the first place?

I'd really rather do the job myself, if that's possible, but it sounds like I'll need a proper E-series specific spring compressor or this legenadry ball joint tool..

I'll do a bit more research

 

[Richard Moakes]

PaulG,

I bought Febi-Bilstein lower control arms from these guys http://www.autoteilemann.de for a lot less than GSF or ECP could do them for.

kth286 is making you a good offer, with the correct tools and experience it isn't too bad a job, but without them you are heading for a world of pain and/or danger with those springs.

Cheers

 

[E320C]

Hi PaulG,

Done springs 3 times. Once on a 230ce using h&r's, 300ce 24v using sportlines and E320 Coupe using eibach's.

On the 230 CE and E320 Coupe a local alloy wheel tyre place put the springs in as when I read up DIY it seemed a nightmare. But when they did it they just used a trolley jack under the ball joint, unbolted the ball joint and lowered the wishbone as far as it would go and then used a ply bar to lever the spring out.

The 300 CE 24V was DIY just like above.

I don't know about putting back original's as as never done it but from memory it looks like about an 1" maybe 2" worth of compressing?

Best of luck.

E320C

 

[Richard Moakes]

Hi PaulG,

On the 230 CE and E320 Coupe a local alloy wheel tyre place put the springs in as when I read up DIY it seemed a nightmare. But when they did it they just used a trolley jack under the ball joint, unbolted the ball joint and lowered the wishbone as far as it would go and then used a ply bar to lever the spring out.
E320C

...and having done these myself a number of times using the proper compressor, IMHO they are taking their lives in their hands, not sensible at all

 

[star]

Another issue might be the removal of the wishbone as the bolts sometimes sieze, ball joints can be done in situ with the proper tools.

 

[kth286]

Another issue might be the removal of the wishbone as the bolts sometimes sieze, ball joints can be done in situ with the proper tools.

Yes - I had to saw my NS wishbone front bolt off as it was seized in the wishbone joint.

Ball joints are welded in the 320 wishbones.

One of the benefits of new wishbones is that at least you will get two new wishbone bushes and a new ball joint, so the whole thing will last another 15 years (if they are genuine Merc parts used). Do not know about credibility of copy parts.