W210 Ball Joints & Wheel Alignment
 

My '98 E320 with about 73K miles needs new ball joints. And this is after they were replaced at 50K miles under warranty. My independent mechanic will do the work.

Is a front wheel alignment recommended after replacing ball joints? Thanks.

Yes!!!!

You must do a good alignment afterwards.

Take it to MB and pay the difference. They use the sprader bards for proper load settings.

Ball Joints
 

If they were replaced under warranty, see your dealer and have the MB rep look at the problem, they should not fail that fast, unless your independent is looking at the mileage and suggesting this. The best bet is to have MB do it and have them pay, or share the costs. It works I know!

Anyone else with comments on ball joint problems with the W210? Does anyone think that a wheel alignment isn't needed after replacing ball joints? Thanks.

I didn't get mine aligned when I had it replaced. When did you last have the same faulty ball joint replaced? Is it more than six months?

The ball joints were replaced at 49K miles almost 3 years ago.

Then, it'll be difficult for you to have them warrant any repair done more than 12 mos. May be you can ask your service advisor to split the repair bill with you.

My 2 cents:

This bothers me. Something doesn't seem quite right.

I have never heard of any Mercedes going through two sets of ball joints in 70k miles! Let alone one set in 23k miles.

I realize the 210 series is a very different car than our 190e, but it has gone over 220k on the original ball joints and I just checked them and they are still good.

Do you drive on unusually rutted roads, weird pavement or railroad tracks?

Are you sure that is what it is and that is what was replaced previously?

Haasman

on my 300SE, first set lasted 180k miles and I drive on very poor roads in rural PA

haasman- you sounded just like my service advisor when I took my car in for ball joint at 45k.:D

zero4588

What model car, year and mileage do you have?

Haasman

haasman- My car is also a 98 E320. It has 73000miles so far.

The W210 uses the same design ball joint as the W202. I have a W202 with 145,000 miles on the clock and it still does not need ball joints. I have a W210, but it only has 40,000 on it, and I have yet to have any clunking. What I do know, and this has been brought up by Steve Brotherton, who should know, is that the "hydraulic" lower control arm bushings are a weak point, particularly with larger than stock wheel/tire packages. I would question, and have them show you on the rack, any ball joint diagnosis.

Suspension Noise Problem Resolved
 

Thanks to all for questioning the need for a ball joint replacement on my W210.

Even though I trusted my independent mechanic and have used them for 3 years, I doubted his recommendation for a ball joint replacement with only 21K miles on the new joints replaced while under warranty.

I found another highly recommended independent mechanic and he advised me that the ball joints were fine and the problem was with the stabilzer (sway) bar bushings and links. He test drove the car and confirmed it. He also said this was a very common problem with the W210s.

Today I had him replace the stabilizer bar's links and bushings and the problem is solved. Cost was about $175 and it took about 45 minutes for the repair.

Needless to say, I'm very happy with this mechanic and the cost. I'm very unhappy with my former mechanic. I would have wasted well over $300 for a ball joint replacement including a wheel alignment. And I still would have the problem.

The car's front end feels solid and quiet again, just like new.

Dave

Good news!

Thanks for updating us. I did seem very unlikely that you needed ball joints.

Hasman