'83 300TD sway bar bushings

[crazy4diesel]

Yikes...the best price I can find on Genuine MB is $24, but I found a Febi one for $2.88...that's a huge difference, what is the consensus out there?

[PARSHOOT1]

A lot of what Febi sells they do not manufacture. They source parts, usually from China, and then put them in a Febi box and sell them. Translation....poor quality. Check out what Gerryvz has done on ********* about researching MB part manufacturers and quality. Some really good information on who actually makes parts & who re-boxes. Buy the oem bushings. It's obviously a rubber part and you want quality rubber on your car. Hope this helps.

[ah-kay]

I would go for the $2.88. It is only rubber parts. Why line the pocket of the fat cats?

[DeliveryValve]

hmm, $24 each for geniune MB 123 323 12 85 swaybar bushings? I paid $27 for them last year.

Between aftermarket or OE, I think it's really what you feel comfortable with.


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[Stretch]

Considering where they are and how fiddly it is to replace the ones on the front at least I'd steer clear of the Febi parts because the quality of their rubber stuff has been in my experience ****ing dreadful.

[crazy4diesel]

Does it change anything if the Febi part has stamped in the piece "Germany"? Just curious.

[PARSHOOT1]

I am far from being an expert on parts manufacturers and am just like you, trying to learn what's good & what's sh**. So here's what I have learned and can pass on.

Some of the postings on ********* under the thread titled 500e/E500 Parts Vendor Quality List talk about how companies like Febi do manufacture certain parts and "in order to fill out their product line" outsource the manufacture of other parts and then put them in a box with their name on it. So if you're like me you want to throw up your arms and say...well which do they manufacture and which do they outsource and re-box???

The fact those are stamped Germany is probably a good clue, but in the final analysis, I think I'd go with Stretch's recommendation, because there are few guys on this website as intimately...okay maybe I'll use another word...as knowledgeable about a Benz as he is. You should pm Gerryvz. Hope this helps.

[Diesel911]

Front Rear or both?

When I did the rear ones on Mine I snapped off a Bolt Head due to rust.

[cooljjay]

i put febi on my front sway bar...they have been holding up fine...usually uro would have failed by now....so I don't think they are horrible quality.