Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Diesel Discussion

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-25-2009, 03:32 AM
tobybul's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: West Michigan
Posts: 2,077
UCA Bushings

I am thinking about replacing the rubber bushings of the upper control arm on my 84D.

Anyone done this yet? What are the symptoms of badly worn bushings?

__________________
the sooner you start... the sooner you'll get done If it ain't broke, don't fix it.. Its always simpler to tell the truth...
2007 Honda Accord EX
2007 Honda Accord SE V6
96 C220
97 Explorer - Found Another Home
2000 Honda Accord V6 - Found Another Home
85 300D - Found Another Home
84 300D - Found Another Home
80 300TD - Found Another Home
Previous cars:
96 Caravan
87 Camry
84 Cressida
82 Vanagon
80 Fiesta
78 Nova
Ford Cortina
Opel Kadet
68 Kombi
Contessa
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-25-2009, 07:59 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,971
Quote:
Originally Posted by tobybul View Post
What are the symptoms of badly worn bushings?
Camber adjustment range is exceeded. Front tires wear on the inside edge due to nevative camber resulting from sagging bushings.

Unless your upper ball joints are in extremely good shape, it's probably more cost effective to replace the entire UCA.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-25-2009, 08:51 AM
ImBroke's Avatar
Diesel way of Life
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Cleveland, NY
Posts: 2,230
I am replacing my UCAs next week, if I get this Altima done. I have wear on the outside edge of my tires, but I'm sure it's an alignment. I'm not getting the alignment done until I replace the UCA's One thing leads to another.
__________________
79 MB 280 SEL Euro 133k
77 MB 450SL 154k
05 Mustang GT Vert (3) 104k
12 TSX Wagon Tech (66k) (192k)
06 Subaru Outback base (135k) 164k
16 Acura MDX (109k) 111k
18 Silverado 2500 LTZ Midnight (212) 56k
97 Ford Ranger 163k
11 RAV4 154k
01 Escape 173k
04 Honda Pilot 292k
1967 Mustang (Resto Project)
1968 Mustang (Parts Bin)
00 Ford Ranger 124k
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-25-2009, 09:05 AM
toomany MBZ's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: central Va
Posts: 7,820
Quote:
Originally Posted by tangofox007 View Post

Unless your upper ball joints are in extremely good shape, it's probably more cost effective to replace the entire UCA.
Agreed.
__________________
83 SD

84 CD
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-25-2009, 09:36 AM
DeliveryValve's Avatar
Chairman of my Benz
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Central California
Posts: 4,159
Just did this for a friend's 300D last week. Upper ball joints were great, he spent 10 bucks per side on the bushings. Very easy to put in. Very cost effective.
-Popped out the ball joint
-took out the inner bolt
-left the control arm on the sway bar.
-with a little muscle flip the control arm upside down
-remove the old bushing
-clean bushing seating area
-install bushing by pressing it in with a "c" clamp and large sockets on the ends for better surface area to clamp down.
-flip it back to original position and muscle/pry it into place.
-install inner bolt. Note: passenger side has little room to work on because of the battery and getting the bolt hole aligned can be a pain.
-install ball joint back to the top of the steering knuckle.

And your done!

I was going to take some pics, but decided not too because we were working so fast.
__________________
1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System


Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-25-2009, 10:09 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,971
Quote:
Originally Posted by DeliveryValve View Post
he spent 10 bucks per side on the bushings. Very easy to put in. Very cost effective.
"Cheap" and "cost effective" are not synonymous. A $10 UCA bushing set is probably not worth installing.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 07-25-2009, 11:01 AM
pawoSD's Avatar
Dieselsüchtiger
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 15,438
My brother's 300D needs at least one and probably both upper control arms soon....the Lemforder ones are a whole $48 each online.....that's cheap!

My 300SD could use them too....

Symptoms of wear are clunking.....and being able move the wheel in and out when pulling on it. On the 300D you can actually see the ball joint shifting around in the socket. Probably not a good thing....
__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 07-25-2009, 11:34 AM
tobybul's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: West Michigan
Posts: 2,077
Quote:
Originally Posted by tangofox007 View Post
"Cheap" and "cost effective" are not synonymous. A $10 UCA bushing set is probably not worth installing.
How could $48 be more cost effective than $10 per side????

My tire wear is ok. I'm getting one or 2 mild "thunk" sound coming from the left or right side when I turned. I don't think its from the steering linkage. It seemed to have started after I changed the tie rod ends. Strange

Eyeballing the UCA bushings, it looks frayed. Wonder if its loose inside. The UCA itself seems to look fine.
__________________
the sooner you start... the sooner you'll get done If it ain't broke, don't fix it.. Its always simpler to tell the truth...
2007 Honda Accord EX
2007 Honda Accord SE V6
96 C220
97 Explorer - Found Another Home
2000 Honda Accord V6 - Found Another Home
85 300D - Found Another Home
84 300D - Found Another Home
80 300TD - Found Another Home
Previous cars:
96 Caravan
87 Camry
84 Cressida
82 Vanagon
80 Fiesta
78 Nova
Ford Cortina
Opel Kadet
68 Kombi
Contessa

Last edited by tobybul; 07-25-2009 at 11:41 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 07-25-2009, 11:59 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,971
Quote:
Originally Posted by tobybul View Post
How could $48 be more cost effective than $10 per side????
Only a graduate of the Bernie Madoff School of Accounting would buy the $10 figure. $10 per inner bushing, maybe. That's $20 per side. (If anyone can provide a source for good quality bushings at $5 each, let me know.)

The problem with piecemeal front end work is that money saved in parts is spent in additional alignments.

My money says that a UCA old enough to wear out the bushings is old enough to have a worn ball joint, regardless of how wonderful the UCA itself might appear.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 07-25-2009, 12:04 PM
MattBelliveau's Avatar
Gotta another one...
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 1,685
Not trying to scare you away from this project, but being from NE Ohio, and seeing that your climate is very similar, be prepared for MUCH frustration in removing that top bolt. MUCH frustration.
__________________
1989 300E 144K
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 07-25-2009, 12:27 PM
pawoSD's Avatar
Dieselsüchtiger
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 15,438
Quote:
Originally Posted by MattBelliveau View Post
Not trying to scare you away from this project, but being from NE Ohio, and seeing that your climate is very similar, be prepared for MUCH frustration in removing that top bolt. MUCH frustration.
I always go at it with an open mind and a vicious wrench.
__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 07-25-2009, 12:48 PM
BodhiBenz1987's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Posts: 3,005
Quote:
Originally Posted by pawoSD View Post
I always go at it with an open mind and a vicious wrench.
... and a sawzall ...
__________________
1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 07-25-2009, 12:52 PM
tobybul's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: West Michigan
Posts: 2,077
Quote:
Originally Posted by MattBelliveau View Post
Not trying to scare you away from this project, but being from NE Ohio, and seeing that your climate is very similar, be prepared for MUCH frustration in removing that top bolt. MUCH frustration.
What top bolt? the one that holds the UCA to the body? No sweat. Been there - done that. I also have the OTC 7315 for removing the balljoint bolt.
__________________
the sooner you start... the sooner you'll get done If it ain't broke, don't fix it.. Its always simpler to tell the truth...
2007 Honda Accord EX
2007 Honda Accord SE V6
96 C220
97 Explorer - Found Another Home
2000 Honda Accord V6 - Found Another Home
85 300D - Found Another Home
84 300D - Found Another Home
80 300TD - Found Another Home
Previous cars:
96 Caravan
87 Camry
84 Cressida
82 Vanagon
80 Fiesta
78 Nova
Ford Cortina
Opel Kadet
68 Kombi
Contessa
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 07-25-2009, 12:56 PM
pawoSD's Avatar
Dieselsüchtiger
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 15,438
Quote:
Originally Posted by BodhiBenz1987 View Post
... and a sawzall ...
So far I've been able to get by with just a dremel. (and very infrequent use of an angle grinder....)
__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 07-25-2009, 01:20 PM
Diesel911's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Long Beach,CA
Posts: 51,038
Quote:
Originally Posted by tangofox007 View Post
"Cheap" and "cost effective" are not synonymous. A $10 UCA bushing set is probably not worth installing.
If there is no labor cost and you have the time to do it you will save as a new UCA is 2-3 times more.
Removing the UCA is the more labor intensive part of the job; compared to changing the bushing.

On the other hand you could put in 1-2 hours; (depending on how much you get paid at work) of overtime where you work and buy the New UCAs.

My own thought was to buy a whole front end kit for around $255 so I would have everthing I needed incase I found some unexpected problems.
As it turned out I had one UCA with a floppy Ball Joint and seriously rotted out LCA bushings and I also found the bore in the LCAs were rusted so bad that after I removed the rust the bores were oversized.
So you just do not know what you will find.

Also the FSM has a test for the Ball Joints where you screw a rod of a certain length into the joint an pivot it. If there is reasonable tension on the Joint it is OK.

__________________
84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Last edited by Diesel911; 07-25-2009 at 01:29 PM.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:30 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page