W202 wobbly handling - how long should those control arms bushings last?
 

hey guys,

I have this 95 C class that handles kind of "drunk" when I change lanes at autobahn minus about 150km/h speeds. it feels as though the bushings on the front and rear control arms are really soft and letting the car "jello" around over the 4 wheels....

how many other C class owners have this sensation with their 1995+ vehicles?? I just find it rather abnormal to have bushings wear to this point in only 12 years.

share your experience? please?

:silly:

At 12 years you've already got double the life expectancy out of them.
That's the price you pay for a nice, cushy ride with rubber suspension components.:D
I would have everything checked by a qualified garage/technician, so you don't repair anything unnecessary.

Check your centerlink/drag link/tie-rod ends also.

Mike

The control arm bushings being worn will not cause extremely noticable characteristics as you describe.

It's time to safely raise the car with all four wheels in the air or one end of the car at a time with the wheels on that end in the air. Then practice the four P's; Push, Pull, Pry and Prod on all suspension components until you find the culprit. I would start with the "dogbone" suspension links in the rear. On those, observe the rubber in the ends closely, if the rubber appears torn and pooching out, the link should be replaced.

Also pay particular close attention to all sway bar mounts and links, one of them broken will make it handle like a '64 Impala.

Good luck,

Could be ball joints or wheel bearings also. Checkout www.club202.com

Control Arm bushings not lasting long is common on W202.

Yep, among many other things it certainly could be. That's why you practice the four P's, so you can find the culprit(s.)

dogbones in the rear and new rear shocks solved my problem on the son's
300e....

we went ahead and did the idler arm and sway bar bushings in the front for good measure...

cheap insurance.

Mine were done under CPO warranty at 70k, 7 years. Vast improvement after that point. I've now been another 70k since then, about 3 years, and they still feel tight. Rubber is very much age and time-sensitive.