Oh the ball joints are definitely shot. It's hard to keep them lubed enough to keep quiet. Wheel bearings check out fine. Control arm bushings look great from the outside, but could be in need of replacement. Steering linkage is fair, will need work after another 10K miles. Sway bar bushings were replaced last year when I got the car. Struts and mounts are new-Sachs-Boge. I just wish I could change the ball joints without changing the lower control arms. And she just turned 276,000 miles!

__________________
1992 400E current
1988 300E sold
1973 280C totalled
1973 280SEL never got it running
1971 250C my first love but rusted out