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Best Bushing/Ball Joint brand for LCA ?
- Thread starter F1mania
- Start date
Ball joints - I'd spring for Genuine MB... p/n 124-333-03-27, $42 MSRP, ~$35 each from discount dealers (sample below).
parts.mbofcovington.com
If Lemforder are still made in Germany, those would be my second choice, but they have moved a lot of manufacturing to other countries in the past 3-5 years and I'm not confident the quality is still the same when the price is much lower than it was previously.
Pretty much the same applies to the bushing kits. Lemforder used to rebox OEM bushings with MB part numbers, but they don't anymore. I'd buy OE/Genuine bushing kits too. The only difference between early kit 1243300575 and late kit 1243300675 is the hardware included, the bushings are the same. There is a VIN break, IIRC the late version has an M14 nut for the strut pinch bolt, vs M12 for the early kit?
I wouldn't use any other brands.
1984-1998 Mercedes-Benz Ball Joint 124-333-03-27 | MB of Covington
1984-1998 Mercedes-Benz Ball Joint 124-333-03-27
parts.mbofcovington.com
If Lemforder are still made in Germany, those would be my second choice, but they have moved a lot of manufacturing to other countries in the past 3-5 years and I'm not confident the quality is still the same when the price is much lower than it was previously.
Pretty much the same applies to the bushing kits. Lemforder used to rebox OEM bushings with MB part numbers, but they don't anymore. I'd buy OE/Genuine bushing kits too. The only difference between early kit 1243300575 and late kit 1243300675 is the hardware included, the bushings are the same. There is a VIN break, IIRC the late version has an M14 nut for the strut pinch bolt, vs M12 for the early kit?
I wouldn't use any other brands.
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.So it looks like about 2x$40 for the ball joints and 2x$85 for the LCA bushings, or about $250 total to redo 'early' LCAs (plus whatever time/labor/tools are needed to R&R those parts) vs $665 for all new later Sportline LCAs, with the caveat being that those may or may not be of good German/Slovenian origin and the Sportlines will be a touch stiffer (edit: and allow for Silver Arrow or other >300mm front brake rotors should I so desire).
I'm in no desperate need to do this, but trying to get parts as I'll do it a later date and worried about future NLA-ness. Haven't checked ball joint play yet but the boots look fine; I've seen Glen say his 500+k mile Ball joints weren't bad, but again, while I'm in there it can't hurt. Bushings show some external wear and deterioration so wouldn't hurt to replace at 250k mi.
edit: I'll look into both options a bit more, including tools needed to replace the ball joints and bushings. Seems like the Sportlines are a decent upgrade and work reduction for not too much extra $$$.
I'm in no desperate need to do this, but trying to get parts as I'll do it a later date and worried about future NLA-ness. Haven't checked ball joint play yet but the boots look fine; I've seen Glen say his 500+k mile Ball joints weren't bad, but again, while I'm in there it can't hurt. Bushings show some external wear and deterioration so wouldn't hurt to replace at 250k mi.
edit: I'll look into both options a bit more, including tools needed to replace the ball joints and bushings. Seems like the Sportlines are a decent upgrade and work reduction for not too much extra $$$.
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@dionphaneuf - I went through the same mental exercise as you. What sold me on the late LCA / Sportline was the idea of upgrading to Silver Arrow brakes as you noted. Heck, I still have the bushing kits + ball joints sitting around as well as I had purchased them at a separate point. Might just refresh the LCAs as a learning exercise more than anything else.
Agreed, por que no los dos? The ball joint R&R looks straightforward, the bushing a bit less so but not terrible, esp w parts off the car. At worst you end up with a pair of spares of important parts.
That's where I am at - wouldn't be able to use them with the Silver Arrow calipers on the 500E, but figure they could be useful for another W124 in the future.
Their OE/OEM items are indeed top-notch, and TRW produces some of the Genuine Mercedes components including the late LCA welded-on ball joints, and some steering links.
HOWEVER! TRW also has an aftermarket line which are reboxed offshore copies. Years ago I bought a pair of TRW late LCA's and they appeared to be repackaged/relabeled Febi. Be careful out there, if not OE/Genuine, don't trust the TRW name unless it is stamped/cast into the part.
Photos here: Index of /images/W124_suspension/front_LCA_124-330-34-07
Video comparing OE to TRW below. Interestingly, this is my most-disliked video, lol. 30% of feedbacks were thumbs-down. Go figure.
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Confirming that TRW has a cheap "consumer" line and an OEM line which they supply to Mercedes-Benz. There are very real differences between the two, and I would not consider purchasing their "consumer" grade product. Generally I would put it about the same level (and it might be from the same supplier) as Febi (another reboxer of third-party offshore parts).
Are the TRW carried by FCP in the consumer or OEM line? Any way to distinguish without having both in hand?
Says produced in Malaysia and the ball joint cap color looks similar in picture to the one above....
Says produced in Malaysia and the ball joint cap color looks similar in picture to the one above....
Consumer line.
The quality OEM line is only available through ... well ... Mercedes-Benz.
Yep, what Gerry said. TRW only sells OEM as Genuine Mercedes through MB dealerships. Only Sportline versions are still available, at ~$700/pair.
Anything TRW-branded you buy that isn't from the MB dealer, will be aftermarket and a gamble as to the ball joint life span. If you use aftermarket, check the ball joint for play at every oil change. Or, locate a set of good used ones and rebuild them with new bushings & grease boots.
mine are the later fixed style ball joints so I'd have to do the modification like you told me Dave to be able to run the replaceable ball joint style LCA's...
It's a decision I'll have to make in the future, LCA's are the last thing I need to revamp in the front suspension. She drives pretty good as is for now though.
It's a decision I'll have to make in the future, LCA's are the last thing I need to revamp in the front suspension. She drives pretty good as is for now though.
Glad I found this thread! I am doing a suspension refresh on my 93 400E with 88k mi with new dampers and springs all round, and have to replace the LCA bushings as well. Easy option would have been to replace the entire LCA, but since those are NLA, and I do not want to risk aftermarket quality, I have opted to get the replacement bushing kit 124-330-06-75 and my local MB dealer will press in the new bushings. I am not sure about the condition of the ball joint though, and seems like on the later LCA it is not replaceable. Fingers crossed when I start dismantling.
Make sure they press the bushings in correctly, the front & rear are different and require a specific orientation. Take photos of the old ones BEFORE pressing out the old bushings.
If the grease boot is intact on the ball joint and there's no play, add some fresh grease if needed and install a new grease boot.
