Thanks. If they are the problem, I will definitely replace them. At $531 for two control arms, I want to make sure they are bad. I'm curious, what's the reason for the eccentric bolts on the control arm bushings?

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1993 400E, 256,000 miles (totaled)
1994 E420, 200,000+ miles
1995 E420, 201,000 miles

To adjust caster and camber, IIRC the rear bolt effects caster and the front bolt changes camber.

But I could be wrong - it might be the other way around.

__________________
98 Dodge-Cummins pickup (137K)
13 GLK250 (157k)
06 E320CDI (341K)
16 C300 (89K)
82 300GD Gelaendewagen (54K)

If I replaced the control arms, would I need to have the front end aligned because of this?

__________________
1993 400E, 256,000 miles (totaled)
1994 E420, 200,000+ miles
1995 E420, 201,000 miles

Almost certainly you would need an alignment.

When you remove the eccentric bolts mark the position of bolt head with respect to the mounting cradle on the uni-body where the control arms attach to the uni-body. When you reinstall the new control arms put the bolts in the same orientation as they originally were and you should be in the ball-park for chassis alignment.

On my car this procedure got my pretty close but there was a noticeable improvement after I got it back from the alignment shop.

Also don't forget that the control arm bolts have to be tightened with the vehicle loaded in a 'ready to drive' state.

__________________
98 Dodge-Cummins pickup (137K)
13 GLK250 (157k)
06 E320CDI (341K)
16 C300 (89K)
82 300GD Gelaendewagen (54K)

Great advice. I didn't know any of this. Thanks!

__________________
1993 400E, 256,000 miles (totaled)
1994 E420, 200,000+ miles
1995 E420, 201,000 miles