LCA Bushing failure - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JHZR2 · #1 02-25-2010, 12:46 PM

I am noticing a bad alignment of the LCA on the right side of my car. It is definitely making the tire wear funny.

The bushing is more or less crooked. It is squashed almost completely on one side, and then almost completely on the diagonal opposite side.

Is this normal? What is the usual failure mode of the LCA bushing?

Car rides great, very tight, though the wheel is slightly crooked, and I do get a tire rub under some situation when turning real far and very slow.

Thanks!

toomany MBZ · #2 02-25-2010, 01:11 PM

Sounds like it was installed crooked. How long has it been like this?
This should not lead to tire rubbing tho, inspect the entire front end.

JHZR2 · #3 02-25-2010, 01:16 PM

It's an original, or at least has a star and mb part number. The rubber is well-cracked, which makes me believe it is original, and the cracking led to the squashing. Will try to post pics.

toomany MBZ · #4 02-25-2010, 01:20 PM

Okay, yeah seems it's just worn out. Inspect other front end items, after you've replaced that, it'll need an alignment.

JHZR2 · #5 02-25-2010, 01:37 PM

Definitely will... Other than this and the fact that something rubs sometimes, it is really tight and perhaps even better feeling than my 72k 240d!

I posted to here:
How much does a front end rebuild cost?

Trying to get a feel for what else to do to get a soup-to-nuts job, especially if compressing the spring to do the LCA bushing. Any recommendations?

rrgrassi · #6 02-25-2010, 03:31 PM

Which MB, the 81, 82, or 96?

JHZR2 · #7 02-25-2010, 04:57 PM

82.

96 has never had any issues or need for anything to be replaced... then again the rubber is much newer. 82 is still good due to far lower miles and being an up north car that never saw salt, as opposed to a SOCAL car which never saw salt but did encounter lots of pollution, ozone, etc.

Diesel911 · #8 02-25-2010, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHZR2

I am noticing a bad alignment of the LCA on the right side of my car. It is definitely making the tire wear funny.

The bushing is more or less crooked. It is squashed almost completely on one side, and then almost completely on the diagonal opposite side.

Is this normal? What is the usual failure mode of the LCA bushing?

Car rides great, very tight, though the wheel is slightly crooked, and I do get a tire rub under some situation when turning real far and very slow.

Thanks!

The Control Arms pivot on the Elasticity of the Rubber.
What happened on mine is the Rubber got old, hard and inelastic and the solid rubber sheared inside.
In the pic I stuck Toothpicks into the area where the rubber sheared in two.
Also I could not actually see this from the outside. You are looking at half of the Lower Control Arm Bushing that faces the inside.

Diesel911 · #9 02-25-2010, 06:17 PM

I know there is info in the DIY section on replacing the LCA Bushings.
Repair Links
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diy-links-parts-category/

http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/DoItYourSelf

The Fronts Springs must be at least 3 times stronger than the Rear Springs. The Generic Spring Compressores sold or rented at the local Autopart Stores are not strong enought to do it safely.
I tried it with a Generic Spring Coppressor and ended up twisting them up.
I replaced the Threaded Rod on them with thicker Rod and bent those also.

I ended up making a compressor (first pic) with 1 inch threaded rod the pulled the spring up into the Spring Pearch. (Another member made a much nicer one.)
Later I also made one with Hooks (2nd pic); again using 1 inch Threaded Rod. (I wanted to make something that could be used on other vehicles besides Mercedes.)

So there really is 3 choices. Buy a Spring Compressor made to do the job, Rent one from one of the members in the Tool Rental Program or make your own Spring Compressor.