W201 190E rear end play
 

I need a reminder... I know about the rear suspension on my 190E and how it has the 4 link suspension. Trust arm, trailing arm, tie rod, etc. I also know that when one or more of the rod or bar bushings go bad or lose, the car will try to twist or "squirm" to the side when you accelerate. That is the sign one or more is bad. The slight twist or squirm feeling in the rear end as you accelerate has begun in my 16v. I just dont remember which bar is the bad one. WHen I accelerate I can feel is trying to twist to the left or counter clock wise and then pull back straight. Is the bad bar on the rear driver or pass side and which bars bushing is bad? DOnt remember how to diagnose since when I did it last time, I did all the links since they were ALL bad or really rough and I had no way of knowing when the last owner replaced them, if ever. Now I know that the bars are all less than 3 years old and I would think that at least some are still good, I have put less than 8000 miles on the car in the 3 years.

Torque link (don't remember what worldpac calls it). The one with the funny end. Diagonal from wheel carrier toward center of car.

However, I would personally get the set -- if one is bad, the other's arent' far behind, and you should probably get new bushings for the spring link too (inner and outer). Check the rear subframe mounts (there are four) -- likely they are bad too.

Peter

There are 4 bars or rods...
tie rod, camber strut, control arm, and thrust arm. I think the thrust arm is the one you are talking about... I thtought about doing all four, but I did all 4 on both sides less than 3 years ago. Can they all be bad or close to bad after only 3 year and less than 8 thousand miles? I am guessing that a just had bad luck on the bushing on one of them and I just started feeling the squirm back there so there shouldnt have been time for the play in the arm to cause too much stress on the other ones on that side.

I already have the new bushings for the lower control arm, spring link, to install, just been waiting for a reason to have the wheel off and to work back there.

Are you talking about this bar with the funny end?


This is a photo is the control arm stay and it does run diagonal, thought this might be the one you mentioned

Before ripping everything apart, jack up the car and wiggle wheels by hand to find looseness. In my case, it was just a loose bolt attaching one of the link bushings.

Steve

Might be something loose, the entire 4 link rear suspension has less than 8000 miles on it. I know the strut bushings like to go bad, but that would be soon for all of them, a little early for one of them, but it happens. i'll check everything for tighness first.

If you do find a loose bolt - or if every link is worn and needs replacing - make sure everything is tightened up with the car seated normally on the ground. You don't want these bushings pre-loaded.

Steve

Usually the right rear goes first since that takes the most torque.

Tom W

Right rear...which arm or strut...the control arm strut? It feels like the problem is in the right side since you get the sway to the left for a sec on acceleration.