What is this part and is it hard to change?
 

On my 1988 300SE I need to change all 4 of these parts. The lower portion of the front suspension (control or trailing arms?) attaches vertically through two rather large rubber bushings. There are 2 of these on each side of the car. The part has one large bolt going vertically through the center of each of the 4 rubber circular bushings. Are these lower control arm bushings? or lower trailing arm bushings?

How hard are they to change? I suppose once I know the correct term I can search the archive for procedures so if anyone knows the correct name, please let me know.

Thanks,

Ron B.

Go to www.************************ and look at their exploded parts diagrams for names.

Each side of the front suspension of your car includes an upper control arm with a pair of bushings (making a set) at the pivot end, a lower control arm also with a pair of bushings at the pivot end, a guide rod which attaches to the lower control arm at one end and a bushing at the chassis frame at the other end. There's also a coil spring, sway bar, shock, ball joints, etc. AFAIK, none of the bolts that go through bushings are vertical. The ball joints are set vertically but don't contain any bushings.

If what you need are the lower control arm bushings, it's a pretty hefty job as you need a special spring compressor to collapse and remove the coil spring. It's an in for a penny in for a pound kind of job so you might as well deal with all the bushings and ball joints in the front suspension if you're going that far.

Many folks feel that it's worth a four figure bill to have the front suspension rebuilt by a competent tech.

Sixto
95 S420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

Front subframe bushings, I would guess from your description. These are item #16 at:

http://www.************************/BitMapPage.aspx?bitmapid=150&bitmapname=Front+Suspension+%26+Steering

Steve

Thank you. It is the subframe bushing. And lucky me only about $100 for all 4 parts so that's OK. Now I'll check the old posts to see how to change them. If they have to be pressed in I'll have to pay for the job since I don't have a portable press.