It will be cheaper to replace the lower control arm -- that will include new bushings, new ball joints and is a quick swap compared to the chore or swaging in the new bushings and pressing in and out a new ball joint.
You will get eaten by the labor doing the replacement parts vs the whole control arm. You will have to get a front end alignment anyway. Peter -----Original Message----- >From: "Dillon, Meade M CIV SPAWARSYSCEN-ATLANTIC, > 53310" <meade.m.dil...@navy.mil> >Sent: Oct 18, 2010 11:04 AM >To: Mercedes Discussion List <mercedes@okiebenz.com> >Subject: [MBZ] LBJ woes > >Saturday I had a few hours to work on The Project (aka '95 E300 Diesel) >so I replaced the tie rod ends and steering damper and rebuilt the idler >arm, and also investigated the source of the groaning noise at the right >front of the car, which occurs when turning the steering wheel. Also >tried to fix or diagnose the stiff steering. > >My conclusion is that at least on LBJ is bad (left has ripped boot) and >one questionable. Left has black boot, quite aged and torn. Right has >newer looking boot, brown in color, which is intact. I injected about 1 >mL of ATF into the right side, which cured the noise IF that was the >cause vice a tie rod end (replaced tie rods and injected at the same >time, had the car up on jack stands and wheel off). Stiffness seems a >little better. Right side LBJ has no play as far as I can tell. > >My dilemma; how far do I go? Whole hog rebuild of lower control arms >including the inner bushings? They are old and checkered looking, >probably original with 275k miles on them. I don't want to drive the >car too much until the LBJ's are done, and I'm tempted to have a garage >do the work, as I don't own the spring tool nor the LBJ press nor the >special tool for the inner bushings. I'll bet the bill will be around >$300 for just the LBJs, which I think is a fair price but I'm getting >sick and tired of sinking money into this car. Anyone know the book >time for LBJ's and inner bushings on the lower control arms? > >Very respectfully, >/s/ >Max Dillon >'87 300TD 330k miles >'95 E300 275k miles (project) >'73 Balboa 20 >Charleston SC > > > >_______________________________________ >http://www.okiebenz.com >For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com >To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > >To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
