My 97 C230 200k right lower control arm failed due to rust through at 30mph 2 weeks ago. Just got done putting in 2 new arms and ball joints...waiting on new shorter bolts and 10mm space plates to fit the c220 8 hole rims and new rubber on. Wish I had caught it too!
Lower control arm PSA
Was going to add on to my 220 revival thread, but thought this was important enough to make a new posting.
Got a phone call from the youngest...the car was "sitting funny" on the tire. He had pulled into a parking lot and heard a big thump and a creaking sound; shut her down and checked it out. He pulled forward after finding nothing unusual and the car did its best imitation of a low rider on airbags:|
So got her home safely, and found the lower control arm had snapped off at the ball joint. Ironically I had given the underside a good inspection and completely missed this as it looked good, all the rubber was tight and greased, no vibrations etc.... a lot of the metal missing was flaking off from the inside out while the exterior remained decent looking.
Makes me a little queasy to think how different this might have turned out at highway speeds, so check them out very closely.
And pics of the inside out rusting carnage:
Got a phone call from the youngest...the car was "sitting funny" on the tire. He had pulled into a parking lot and heard a big thump and a creaking sound; shut her down and checked it out. He pulled forward after finding nothing unusual and the car did its best imitation of a low rider on airbags:|
So got her home safely, and found the lower control arm had snapped off at the ball joint. Ironically I had given the underside a good inspection and completely missed this as it looked good, all the rubber was tight and greased, no vibrations etc.... a lot of the metal missing was flaking off from the inside out while the exterior remained decent looking.
Makes me a little queasy to think how different this might have turned out at highway speeds, so check them out very closely.
And pics of the inside out rusting carnage:
