I had noticeable shimmy while driving. I replaced my steering rod ends and I still have a tiny bit of shimmy at 55 mph + , but it is much better. Just had new tires put on. It could be from a tire slightly out of balance or being out of align from changing the rod ends. We have no mercedes shops here so I brought my car in for the alignment today at the local alignment place. The Mechanic shows me by pressing with a crow bar from the side of the control arm at the bushing how there is sideways flex in the lower control arm bushings and In the lower ball joint he lifts it upward with the crow bar to show me how the ball will lift upwards. Is this normal flex they are showing me in both places? I noticed inside the lower control arm bushings there is rubber between the arm and the bushing thinking that rubber should flex there somewhat if being pryed with a crowbar. Does this rubber wear out or get soft? and should there be any release play on the lower joint like if you released the tension of it being pushed by the coil spring? I just don't like to be scammed or spend money replacing uneeded items. I would like a friendly opinion from my good friends here... Thanks!... Indi

Yes, the lower control arm bushings do wear out on the W210s fairly prematurely - shimmy at 55-60 mph is the indication. Somebody posted some pics on replacing them in this forum somewhere that I cannot seem to find at the moment...

__________________
Scott C.

2006 E320 CDI (120k miles)
FOR SALE: 1998 E300 Turbo Diesel - Black w/Tan Leather - Euro delivery (236k miles)

Found it! link

__________________
Scott C.

2006 E320 CDI (120k miles)
FOR SALE: 1998 E300 Turbo Diesel - Black w/Tan Leather - Euro delivery (236k miles)

Not that I 'm adding anything you'll use, but--

It seems like lower control-arm bushings wear out quickly on most cars, the neons and PT's I hear are good(bad?) about doing it as well.

I'm not a suspension expert, but that is whyever I am going to ask this-- can someone explain a modern suspension to me in laymans terms? I'd be much appreciative!

__________________
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...Untitled-1.jpg

Shimmy is caused by unbalanced front tires. Either a balance weight has fallen off, or they were not balanced right to begin with, or tire wear has caused the tire to go out of balance. A bent rim can also cause shimmy.
Shimmy is always caused by rotating mass (front wheel(s)) being out of balance.

__________________
TXBill



Former owner of a few diesel MB cars
1998 Lexus ES 300 In Chicago We Trust

What is a good/cheap tool for pressing and removing the bushings from the lower control arm? Thanks for all the great replies. I will check the wheel balance also.... Indi

Not always.

The excitation force comes from the wheel unbalance. A wheel is never "perfectly balanced" It's impossible. However, the residual unbalance in the wheel is usually acceptable and is not transmitted to the driver if all the remaining suspension components are in proper condition.

If an LCA bushing is severely worn, as an example, it will allow significantly more motion of the wheel and the response from the small excitation in the wheel will be magnified greatly.

This can also occur if the tie rods are shot. The wheel is then free to occilate around an axis through the ball joints. Shimmy can be the result.

I have seen people make removal tools out of pipe and bolts. What is a good tool for the average guy to remove the lower control arm bushings? Thanks!... Indi

Not always. Dynamic systems are prone to vibrate at low harmonics of the natural frequency which is a function of the effective spring constant and the mass. A worn front bushing will reduce their effectiveness to dampen the vibration.

Indiana - does the shimmy start to reduce over 60 mph?

__________________
Scott C.

2006 E320 CDI (120k miles)
FOR SALE: 1998 E300 Turbo Diesel - Black w/Tan Leather - Euro delivery (236k miles)