Suspension & Steering
Control Arms & Bushings
Mercedes multi-link front suspension uses a lot of arms and a lot of bushings. Any one of them going soft changes how the whole car steers.
Signs you need this
- Clunk or knock over bumps from the front end
- Steering wander or a need to constantly correct on the freeway
- Uneven inner or outer tire wear
- Vibration under braking that is not from the rotors
How we approach it
The classic W211, W212 and W204 front end develops a clunk over expansion joints and a vagueness on centre. We identify which specific arm or bushing is at fault with a pry bar and a chassis-ear rather than replacing everything on suspicion. Where several are marginal we will tell you which to do now and which can wait. Every job ends on the alignment rack, because control arm work always changes geometry.
What the job includes
- 01Suspension play inspection with pry bar and dial indicator
- 02Upper and lower control arm replacement
- 03Ball joint, tie rod and sway bar link replacement
- 04Subframe and differential bushing inspection
- 05Torque of all fasteners at ride height, not on the lift
- 06Four-wheel alignment with printed before-and-after
Common questions
Can bushings alone be pressed in, or does the whole arm need replacing?
On some arms the bushing is serviceable and we press it; on many modern Mercedes arms it is not, and the complete arm is the correct repair. We will tell you which applies to your car.
Why does the car need to be at ride height for torquing?
Rubber bushings set at whatever position they are tightened in. Torqued on a lift with the suspension hanging, they are pre-loaded wrong and tear within a year.
Let us take a look at it.
Call and describe what the car is doing. We will give you an honest assessment before any work begins.
7492 Slater Ave, Huntington Beach, CA 92647 · Mon–Fri 8:00am–5:00pm
Related services
Suspension Systems
AIRMATIC, Active Body Control and conventional suspension diagnosis and repair.
AIRMATIC Air Suspension
Sagging corners, a car on its bump stops, or a compressor that never stops running.
Active Body Control (ABC)
The hydraulic suspension on SL, CL and S-Class — pumps, struts, valve blocks and pulsation dampers.