Reviving an old suspension discussion. Could someone please tell me the proper name for the link I have circled in yellow? I assume it's a Tie Rod or Thrust Arm based on parts diagram above. It's connected at the lowest point of the wheel hub assembly. Looking at the attached picture again, the sway bar link looks attached directly to the LCA. Maybe that's what I saw. I noticed it earlier this year. Since I've started reading up on the rear suspension and have learned a little, I need to get the car up on stands again and double check what I saw and clean these bushings to get a closer look at them.

Thanks Forum!!

The item in yellow is the Thrust Arm (aka pushing link), noted as EPC callout #119 in Jeremy's third photo back in post #1. You replace the entire arm (p/n 210-350-38-06) which comes with new bushings installed. They are not expensive, dealer MSRP is $58 for the OE part, discount dealers are ~$45, OEM Lemforder links are ~$25 each from aftermarket vendors. Don't buy any other brand names. Replace them in pairs, and DO NOT tighten the bolts without the wheel carrier lifted up to the "ready to drive" position. This applies to all 5 of the rear links with rubber bushings.

If one is worn, closely inspect the others... it is not common for the thrust arm bushings to wear out, strange you are seeing that on your car.

BTW, this is on your 1997 E300, correct?


:stuart:

I'll get under there tonight after dinner with a good light and some cleaner, take off the plastic LCA cover, and double check it all.

Ok, maybe tomorrow night the 97 E300 gets its examination.

Pushing Link / Thrust Arm
 

I finally got under my car this past weekend and took some pics. What the tech at the dealer showed me at our MBCA tech inspection event doesn't really look bad to me now. He was pointing out the lower bushing of the Pushing Link / Thrust Arm where it attaches to the knuckle. I hope the attached pics are self explanatory.

Could the bushings look OK to me because I was on ramps with normal load on suspension instead of being on jack stands or a lift with suspension at full drop?

Is a visual inspection the normal way to determine bushing failure? Is there a safe way to apply leverage against something to see if there is excessive give in a bushing?

I'm trying to chase down a loud squeak (loud in the winter, almost goes away in the summer) that is absolutely coming from the rear suspension as evident by going over parking lot speed bumps. I was initially thinking shock absorbers, but they function great. The E300D has almost 120,000 miles on it. It's my daily driver.

Those rubber bushings look fine and should never make any noise.

Now that you describe the actual problem - a squeaking noise - we know what is at fault. (Tip for the future: Describe the symptoms in your first post!) The squeak is coming from the wheel carrier support joint, as discussed in the first few sentences of post #1 on this thread. Very common issue.

:rolleyes:

Yea, I realized that as I was writing my last post. Duh! I was too focused on the problem I assumed I had. I'll put LCA bushings on the list for this summer, and probably return to this thread when I get stuck. Thanks!