Hi everyone,

So, I have replaced my inner and outer control arms on both the left and right side. Also replaced my shocks (Bilsteins), had steering aligned and bought new tires...little by little over past 6 months.

Yet my steering still feels a little shakey. I suspect my bearings also need replacing (on the to-do list).

Outside of this I was thinking of also replacing my upper control arm bushings.

Question: Do I need a spring compressor for that (like the lower control arms)?

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Current:
1971 Mercedes Benz 250 (Euro Spec)
1972 Mercedes Benz 250 (US Spec)
Past:
1972 Mercedes Benz 280

yes you will need a spring compressor

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1976 240D
1976 240D parts car
1970 220D daily driver

Inner and outer control arms? Do you mean tie rods ends?

I am not sure why kpmurphy says you need a spring compressor for doing uppers. Granted, I know the W126 platform only. But on the W126 I have replaced the entire upper control arms without the need for a spring compressor.

The key is to jack the car up onto support. Then keep the lower control arm in check by jacking it up too. Just give enough room to work. If you let it free float, then yes I can see the need for a compressor.

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1991 560 SEL / 185k miles
1992 750il / 17k miles - project car

Yes, tie rod ends- left and right inner an outers (mind was somewhere else)

But in terms of the upper control arm bushings, that's what I heard. The lower ones definitely need a compressor (dangerous), but the uppers don't.

Do the uppers bushings generally go bad? I'm trying to revamp my suspension w/out having to deal with the drama of a spring compressor (ie, the danger and the expense). My reasoning is if all else is replaced, and the shaking goes away...then hopefully I can get away with avoiding the compressor route.

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Current:
1971 Mercedes Benz 250 (Euro Spec)
1972 Mercedes Benz 250 (US Spec)
Past:
1972 Mercedes Benz 280

Try pricing upper control arms. While the ball joints in them last a long time, they can go bad. Most uppers that I have seen come with new bushings. So price compare, may be worth just getting full uppers. Just avoid URO parts. I had an upper fail within months of install. Not to mention the soft metal used for the ball joint bolt that stripped on installed.

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1991 560 SEL / 185k miles
1992 750il / 17k miles - project car

I could be wrong, when i did mine i used a spring compressor, and it still was not easy, i had the hole sub frame removed, and replaced everything.
I do have 2 upper control arms i bought for another car i never installed, if any buddy is interested.

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1976 240D
1976 240D parts car
1970 220D daily driver