I'm finally getting all of the needed parts together to re-fresh the suspension on the 91 300TE and I'm trying to decide if its worth it to spring for the new later style lower control arms with the pre-installed ball joints and control arm bushings or just get them separately and install them myself into the old LCA.
Is there any known advantage aside from price for just buying the ball joints and bushings for the older style instead of just getting the new one with everything installed? I do own a harbor freight ball joint tool but I don't know that will work for this application.
I'm actually planning on replacing my LCA and balljoints for my 95 E320 and have asked the opposite question in another thread. I wanted to know if I could go with the separate balljoints and LCA configuration to my welded one. I prefer this option because I wanted to get Lemfoerder balljoints as they're reputed to last longer. Lemfoeeder do not apparently make the LCA and balljoint combo.
I don't think you can go from the welded to the non welded due to clearances with the brake calipers. I still haven't decided which way I'm going to go but I'm leaning toward the later one piece unit if I can find the Lemfoerder. I know that Autohaus had them last time I looked.
Thanks for that input. Yes, I'd have to replace the caliper, rotor, and protective plate then to do the conversion which would cost more than buying MB LCA's. I checked and Autohaus has the Lemfoerder balljoints for the W124. But given the post re the quality now I don't know.
Just a note, I did the LCA's on my c36 and got the Lemforder units. They weren't as high quality as the stock ones, which I found unusual for Lemforder. They were made in Italy and clearly of thinner metal. If I had it to do over I'd get new factory bushings/ball-joints and re-use the stock LCA's. No guarantee this is true for w124 control arms, but quite likely.
Try parts.com. They are part of the AutoNation conglomerate. Parts are MB only. Prices are approximately cost +15%
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