bushings

[james webster`]

Hey what's the life expectancy on suspension bushings? I just found out i've got completely worn out front lower arm bushings on the drivers side of my 1999 C43. They're so bad that the arm moves and clunks when i turn hard. The car has less than 50,000 miles on it! I'm thinking that it's way too soon to have them go like that. If one side has failed, then maybe i should replace the pass side at the same time? What do you all think?

Are there aftermarket eurethane bushings available?

[Ashkan's C280]

they have polyeur bushings

[james webster`]

who is "they"?

[Renn 208]

Originally posted by james webster`
who is "they"?

Exactly my question, James.

Here are some pertinent threads. To summarize, some have gotten poly bushings from ebay, one member has stock bushings for sale, the dealership, of course would be another source for rubber bushings, and I'm sure there are several other sources for both rubber and non-rubber bushings:

http://www.club202.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5810&highlight=bushing

http://www.club202.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6981&highlight=bushing

http://www.club202.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6985&highlight=bushing

[james webster`]

thank you.

[Ashkan's C280]

by "they" I meant LPDAutoParts, if you email them directly I believe they can wave shipping for you on the bushings, well as long as you are a club202 member, the price however, will still be $50 per bushings, and that is the main bushings....

[neema12]

I changed mine a few weeks ago. I had someone drive my car over a speed bump at like .5mph and saw the front drivers wheel move about 2 inches back... and I was going 120mph on the highway about 45min before that. Cost about $75.

[james webster`]

I find it odd that the bushings would wear out completely with less than 50,000 miles on my car. My tie rods also wore out about a month ago. It makes me wonder about the reliability of the front end. Why do these items all have such a short life span? I read somewhere that the control arm bushings are hollow. Is that true? They're not that cheap to replace, so i'll probably do all the bushings and wear parts in the front end at the same time. Hopefully it'll be reliable after that.

Did you notice the handling return to normal after your bushings were replaced?

[neema12]

Did you notice the handling return to normal after your bushings were replaced?

NO, that is what worries me. Sometimes I think I feel the wheel shift and it makes me nervous when on the highway at the high speeds. I changed mine at 107k miles, but the car is driven and maintained very well, so it still drives much better than benzes at this many miles. Not sure, but at 50k miles, I would look for some answers.

[speedybenz]

Also check that your shocks are tight to the car. They tend to loosen up over time and will clunk too. The front wheel bearings may need adjustment as the two MB C class's I have had were always loose at 50,000 miles. And lastly make sure your brake caliper is tight and not loose too.

Jeff

[Metromoto202]

It all depends on how you drive and the climate your in. Mine are gone at 35k. I want to get the complete poly-U set but i'm waiting for more feedback. Nobody ever gives a straight ansewer.

[Dr. ///AMG]

MY sister's C280 needs bushings too. 115k on the clock!

[james webster`]

I just ordered new poly bushings from LPD auto. I'm going to have them installed in my 99 C43 later this week along with new Eibach springs. I'll keep you all posted on the difference in the drive and the handling.

I've had poly bushings installed in many of my previous vehicles, and i consider this a huge, if not manditory upgrade, especially considering these cars hollow original lca bushings.

The only thing i'm curious/concerned about was the original intention of the Mercedes hollow bushing design. I mean this is a fairly thoroughly thought out and well designed vehicle. Why would Mercedes use these crappy hollow bushings on them? I'm assuming it was for ride quality? They could have even used solid rubber, which would have been much better than hollow. Hollow bushings have such a huge amount of unpredictable distortion, that they seriously detract from a vehicles' handling.

Any members have any insight on Mercedes engineers reasoning behind using these peice of crap bushings?

[Metromoto202]

THERE NOT SO MUCH HOLLOW AS THEY ARE HALF ASS, THE CENTER PIN IS JOINED TO THE OUTER SLEVE BY ONLY AN UPPER AND LOWER RUBBER ARM IF YOU WILL?. THE BODY RESTS ON THOSE TWO ARMS CAUSING THEM TO FLEX CONTIUESLY. I HAVE READ YOU CAN REPLACE YOUR STOCK 202 LCA BUSHING SET WITH THE SET FOR THE 208 CABO. SO I GOT SOME FROM PARTS AND COMPARED THE TWO SETS IN SIZE AND QUAILTY. AND I THINK THEY'LL WORK, THE CENTER PIN IS COMPLETEY SURROUNDED IN RUBBER. AS FAR AS LONG LIFE AND SMOOTH RIDE THIS IS THE WAY TO GO. BUT IF YOU WANT LONG LIFE AND TIGHT STEERING AXIS, I'D GO WITH THE POLY.

BY THE WAY DOES L.P.D. SELL BOTH FRONT AND REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS FOR THE FRONT?