How much do new control arm bushings matter?

[biopete]

I need some advice. My 93 300D needs som front end work. It needs both ball joints and outer tie rod ends. I'm not sure if the control arm bushing need to be replaced or not. Car has 265,000 miles on it and they look original - have MB logo. They are cracked a little bit on surface but look like the rubber is still intact. One is worse than the others and is missing a little hunk of rubber around the outer circular area.

Do control arm bushings really improve the ride? Should i replace them as well? I'm looking at the ball joint control arm bushing assembly which has all new bushings and ball joint pressed in already making it really easy to replace. That would be awesome but it is almost 200.00 -- 400.00 for both sides. So unless i really need control arm bushings , I may just go with the 25.00 ball joint and hake the control arm to a friends or shop to press in. Can you press these in with the auto zone ball joint press?

Thanks for any advice.

[Manual Life]

I am not sure on the 93 but by the look of the part I would say you can with no problem. But for $25 I would have your fiend it unless getting the arm off is not something you want to do. But if you don't want to remove the arm it looks like the Zone tool will make easy work of the joint with arm in the car. However, I've seen people press ball joints in with the autozone tool and fail to get the seating of the joint right. Doing that will ruin the control arm in some cases as you will never be able to press a joint in properly.

Control arm bushings will help, but if they aren't too bad they will be fine for a few more years. (unless you off-road it) I have an 84 and my bushings need replacing. They are intact just cracking.

All thinks considered you are looking at time and money.
Autozone tool and arm in car = is fast and less money
Arm out, machine shop, new bushings = much more time a little more money

[Brian Carlton]

You cannot judge a control arm bushing by its cover. The cracking of the exposed rubber is no indication of the integrity of the bushing.

The best judge of the condition is to remove the guide rod and try to force the control arm forward and aft. There should be very little movement without considerable force. The rubber is pressed in very tight and a proper bushing holds the LCA firmly in place.

If you can easily move the arm forward and rearward by one inch or more.........as measured out near the ball joint, the bushing is shot.

I recently replaced the LF LCA bushing on the SD...........but, after removing the old one, it really didn't need the replacement. I did not do the right side.

[Aquaticedge]

They do something that keeps the back end of my car stable. I need to replace I think they said 3 more so my car will stop swaying

[babymog]

As Brian says: if it has play replace it. If the rubber looks bad and is missing pieces, you'll need to replace it soon anyway, ... replace it.

The bushings can not be replaced with the control arm on the car, you will need a spring compressor to R&R the arm.

[biopete]

Originally Posted by Aquaticedge

They do something that keeps the back end of my car stable. I need to replace I think they said 3 more so my car will stop swaying

Front control arm bushings keep wagon from swaying? Weird. MY wagon used to sway a ton. I looked at rear suspension and there are a ton of little arms with rubber back there. My main problem it turned out was the sls ride height was way to low. Now that my shocks are pressurized, it doesn't wag like a dog anymore. Although i think it might a little.

[biopete]

Thanks for advice everyone. The autozone spring compressor will work right? How hard is it to press new bushings in? I'll do some research

[Billybob]

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

You cannot judge a control arm bushing by its cover. The cracking of the exposed rubber is no indication of the integrity of the bushing.

The best judge of the condition is to remove the guide rod and try to force the control arm forward and aft. There should be very little movement without considerable force. The rubber is pressed in very tight and a proper bushing holds the LCA firmly in place.

If you can easily move the arm forward and rearward by one inch or more.........as measured out near the ball joint, the bushing is shot.

I recently replaced the LF LCA bushing on the SD...........but, after removing the old one, it really didn't need the replacement. I did not do the right side.

"My 93 300D" therefore "no guide rod", different chassis completely different suspension! Most of the remaining info is inapplicable to the OP's vehicle and the subject of the thread.

[compress ignite]

The Autozone Spring Compressor will not work(SAFELY).

[Unless, of course,You're tired of this Vail of Travails...
If you've Millions in Life Insurance,then your "Soon to be" Widow will appreciate.]

[Aquaticedge]

Originally Posted by biopete

Front control arm bushings keep wagon from swaying? Weird. MY wagon used to sway a ton. I looked at rear suspension and there are a ton of little arms with rubber back there. My main problem it turned out was the sls ride height was way to low. Now that my shocks are pressurized, it doesn't wag like a dog anymore. Although i think it might a little.

Sorry Skimmed, Assumed Rear Control arms. my bad.

[Diesel911]

It is a different Vehicle but on the 123s I have read of people replacing a few parts on the front suspension, not doing the Control Arm Bushings (especially the lower one) and having the front end aligned; only to have the Control Arm/s Bushing/s fail several months down the road.
When my Lower Contol Arm Bushings went bad it took only 3 days for the Tires to start to wear badly on the inner edges.

[biopete]

car porn : http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3614495583838776006#

Thanks for the advice everyone. i'm going to do the control arm bushings as well while i have it out. Hopefully the indy i bought the car at will let me use his spring compressor.

[Aquaticedge]

Originally Posted by biopete

car porn : http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3614495583838776006#

Thanks for the advice everyone. i'm going to do the control arm bushings as well while i have it out. Hopefully the indy i bought the car at will let me use his spring compressor.

Thats a cool Video