another ball joint question - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

blackestate · #1 03-08-2008, 03:02 PM

I am in need of doing the ball joints on both the 85 (first) then the 83.
Found a lot of info on here about this.

My question is.. After doing these, and and guide rods, should I remove the lower control arm, and replace those bushings while I am there? or do these not go bad?

thanks

tobybul · #2 03-08-2008, 04:42 PM

how many miles do the cars have?

ImBroke · #3 03-08-2008, 05:04 PM

You're going to get into a MAW situation for sure. Personally, I would do them while you have the arms out. What's another few dollars.

blackestate · #4 03-08-2008, 06:43 PM

ok, what is a MAW situation?
the 85 has 384K and the 83 has 299K when the odo stopped.

Shop wanted $1400. each

so I have to do them. About $500 per car in parts, and a couple of days to do the work?

SW · #5 03-08-2008, 08:49 PM

MAW = Might As Well

i think

charmalu · #6 03-08-2008, 10:16 PM

we need a list of all these abreviations, there are still some I haven`t figured out

.
So, UNODIR, I will just stumble along

.
Charlie

toomany MBZ · #7 03-09-2008, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SW

MAW = Might As Well

i think

Yes, and replacing the bushings on a Lower Control Arm, is quite involved, I wouldn't do so unless there is a failure.

ImBroke · #8 03-09-2008, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toomany MBZ

Yes, and replacing the bushings on a Lower Control Arm, is quite involved, I wouldn't do so unless there is a failure.

Lower control arm bushings are an hour each side book time. Lower ball joints are 3 hours per side. As long as you have the arms out to do the ball joints, the LCA bushings should be less than a half hour.

You are correct, MAW = Might as Well.. As in "Since I'm this far, I Might as Well do this too".. Usually leads to empty wallet syndrome if uncontrolled. In this case, another 40 is not too uncontrolled. Now if he says, well shoot, UCA's are right there, and so are the front shocks, and oh boy, the tie rods look like sort of rusty, etc....

hey_allen · #9 03-09-2008, 12:35 PM

Next thing you know, you notice that the sway bar bushings might be a little loose, and end up with the whole false firewall area emptied out!

blackestate · #10 03-10-2008, 08:20 AM

So lets see..
Upper ball joint, and 4 bushings, Lower ball joint, and LCA bushings. I did the guide rods a while back. It could use shocks, but that is for another day. Any thing else I need to replace while this far, that would require disassembly again?

patbob · #11 03-10-2008, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackestate

So lets see..
Upper ball joint, and 4 bushings, Lower ball joint, and LCA bushings. I did the guide rods a while back. It could use shocks, but that is for another day. Any thing else I need to replace while this far, that would require disassembly again?

You might consider also replacing the bolt & rubber bushings that mount the guide rod to the LCA. They are under the spring perch, so as long as you already have the spring out, replace them if necessary.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImBroke

Lower control arm bushings are an hour each side book time. Lower ball joints are 3 hours per side. As long as you have the arms out to do the ball joints, the LCA bushings should be less than a half hour.

If you're like me and pull the spindle to do tha lower ball joints, then there's a lot of bolts and pieces parts to be removed. Even if I knew every bolt and the best order to do the work in, I couldn't see R&R in under 3 hours. Figure on a good solid 8+ hours per side.

rrgrassi · #12 03-10-2008, 02:24 PM

Make sure you have a Klann spring compressor before messing with the LCA's...