W124 Rear Bushes

[turnipsock]

I had a look at my rear suspension as my back end seems to be getting loose. It may be my driving or the slippy roads though.

I can't see any bushes that are obviously faulty.

There is 10 bushes per side and I'm going to start replacing them. What I need to know is which ones are the more likley to wear and would give the biggest improvement if they were replaced?

 

[andy_k]

I'd start by looking at the upper radius arm, the originals wear out and heve been upgraded by MB.

Fitting the new version can transform the car.

HTH

Andy

 

[turnipsock]

I'm not sure which ones you mean. There are three arms on the front bit, I think you mean one of these, but which one? Upper, middle or lower?

(I know you told me this before, somewhere)

 

[andy_k]

here's a link to a thread on benz world - with pics as well

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=1167359

 

[turnipsock]

any idea when these were ugraded? The ones on my car look like the newer ones.

 

[andy_k]

I can't answer that question but the earlier ones used hex nuts to fix them whilst the later ones have an allen key. That should help you determine which are fitted.

There's also the official "MB Bodge" - don't laugh, they welded a plate to the arms to give more rigidity but didn't change the bushes .

Andy

 

[turnipsock]

There is a plate welded onto the big top one.

The arm I have on the front upper one is the same as the one on that other site, that is it has the end cutaway.

 

[turnipsock]

I bought a couple of new arms and the bolt kits to go with.

Bolt kit A 210 350 45 06.

Do I need a special tool for the bolts?

Why is there three bolts and two nuts?

 

[turnipsock]

Turnip,

if you go to hellfords, who are open late most nights, they have a torex bit that fits the bolt. I'm not sure if it's the correct thing, but it worked for me.

 

[turnipsock]

The new bits are a bit different to the old ones. One of the old bushes looked pretty bad. When I had this arm out, I could move the suspension around quite a bit, so I guess it takes a lot of the action.

Wonder if there is a rose joint option somewhere?

 

[Chazchuzzlewitt]

interesting stuff... might do this on mine in the near future- what's the special tool for that bolt with the rounded head- is it a star/torx bit or something?

 

[turnipsock]

Torx Bit TX55

It's not easy to get the thing into tighten the bolts up.

Also, I noticed there was evidence of corrosion on the faces of the bushes, where they connect to the chassis. I smeared on a little coppaslip when I put it all back together.

I did the other one tonight, it was in a worse state than the other one.

 

[Chazchuzzlewitt]

Has it made any difference to the handling?

 

[turnipsock]

I haven't had a chance to try it yet. I wonder when Kimi last replaced his?