W124 Rear End Rebuild
 

Hello everyone,

I'm in the middle of amassing parts for this project and just want to get a check my list so far and see what you think about my approach/proceedures.

Items to Replace:
1) Multi-Link Arms (5 Per Side)
2) Lower Control Arm Bushings, Inner/Outer
3) Sway Bar Link
4) Spring
5) Shock (already replaced 5 months ago)
6) Front/Rear Subframe Bushings

I think I've got everything, aside from sway bar bushings, let me know if I've missed anything.

I am trying to figure out the most cost effective labor strategy. I won't be able to do the subframe bushings myself, so those will be farmed out.

Plan A:
I Replace:
1) Multi-Links
3) Sway Bar Links

Shop Replaces
2) Lower Control Arm bushings
4) #2 will probably necessitate removal of springs..so have shop swap in new ones when they go to reassemble..
6) Subframe bushings

Plan B

Plan B will be enacted if:
-Me buying a new lower control arm with inner bushing, install it and the spring is cheaper than having the shop do it...

I replace
1) Multi-Links
2) Buy new lower control arm with new inner bushing..not sure what to do about outer replacement...
3) Sway Bar Links
4) Springs

Shop Replaces
6) Subframe bushings..

Let me know what you guys think!

-Kris



EDIT:

On the rear lower control arm.. the outer bushing..is that pressed into the wheel carrier or in to the control arm? Or should I just skip replacing these all together? I glanced at the PDF, it looks like these can be replaced without removing the arm/spring from the car..granted you have the appropriate tools...
[img]http://www.*********.com/assets/rep/full/1030630.jpg[/img]

the rear spring arm is easy to remove - just unbolt and lower the arm, the spring is not under much tension. It will come out.

The inner ball joint (knuckle bush) requires you to to spend half n hour at ace hardware to get the spacer pipes and sockets to build the press.

Jimmy:
Don't forget the differential mounting rubber bits.

Dave

My thought as well.

There are three, one in front (easy) two in rear (hard).

I used a special bushing puller for the rears, and found out the hard way that they need to be removed going forward. Which means the diff has to be removed. Which means the exhaust has to be dropped. Which means I learned all this the hard way.

Jim

I hadn't thought about the diff mount. I haven't done that on any of the cars.

my 190E has a near complete full suspension rebuild..only things missing are the rear lower control arm bushings (inner+outer) and the diff

Out of all the W124s I've owned, I've only had to do one.

I know of two other W124s that local MBCA members own that did require new diff mount bushings, though.

Rear end gets squirrely under power when shifting, and you hear a clunk.

Jim

I had the shop do a few things for me:

4 Subframe Mounts
2 Inner LCA bushings
2 Springs
2 Sway bar links

Totaled out to $500 labor.

I'll be changing out the multi-links myself. Done that before.

Rear flex disc while you're back there?