W124 300E Sway Bar and Struts at same time?
 

Hello,

'86 300E W124

Replacing the front struts myself. Is it MUCH easier to do the sway bar bushings at the same time or is it no difference in labor and effort to do the job separately.

No difference. You can access the sway bar without touching the struts and vice versa.

Are you sure the sway bar bushings are bad. I've never seen them fail.

Both of these operations are pretty easy, especially the sway bar.

Good luck,

I think it is rare but I just had one fail on a 92 400E. The bushing split in half - one side went one way and the other side went the other way. It started rattling like the whole front end was coming apart. I'm going to tackle it next week. I agree - entirely unrelated to the struts.

I agree, the bushings seldom fail, but they do wear out. I can notice the difference in flatter cornering in replacing every 50-60k miles.

I also am now always checking and often replacing the top shock mounts. They can look hardly torn from above but worn out from below. These replacements do contribute to a tight feeling front end, especially going over bumps.

Haasman

Thanks All!!

The bar bushings have not failed but are worn, so I'll tackle that another time. As far as I can tell, the entire front end is original at 178k miles! Car is not great up there but still works and does not have scary handling -- pretty good parts and design if you ask me. One strut is leaking and does not return fully on bounce test, the other bounces 3-4 times. This provides an interesting weight transfer situation under braking.

I did a wholesale replacement of the rear end last year -- everything but the upper spring pads. Boy did that make a difference.

And also, will replace struts, mounts, stops and bellows. Is there anything else?

David

If you are going "wholesale" on the front end as well, be sure to check and replace if necessary the idler arm bushings, the ball joints and the steering linkage.

Haasman

Yes, my 300E has 268,000 miles and I replaced idler arm bushings and tie rods not too long ago. Everything else has remained amazingly tight and is still original.

As haasman recommended, the strut mounts should be checked, not only for the reasons he cited, but also if one breaks, the strut will poke right through the hood. Not a pretty sight.

Good luck,

The deed is done. Took about 3.5 hours. 1 strut had been leaking and was more than half empty. Did mounts, stops and bellows. It was not easy getting the lower bolts cracked -- I creatively used the jack to get one lose (do not try this at home!).

I am not going wholesale on the front end yet.

Car feels amazing! Alignment is only a little bit off -- tires are on their way out so not worried about them anyway.

Just did my sway bar bushings. Took about 1.5 hours taking my time. Did not even have to jack the car up. Old ones were not too bad considering their age, but were hard and no longer concentric.

David

You must be driving a pretty sweet car by now! Great going. How is it?

Haasman

Well, pretty good overall. Handling is nice a tight. Far less understeer than previous. Alignment comes this week. I am in love all over again.

Did the bushings in the 300TE this weekend. HUGE difference.

Old ones were certainly smaller (squished) and had bigger holes than the new ones. In places, I could see through -- between the rubber and the bar!