SUSPENSION

Front - Control Arm

DESCRIPTION

NOTE: Repair information for CL500, CLK320, E430, ML320 & ML430 is not available
from manufacturer.

Independent front suspension consists of a stabilizer bar, steering knuckles, upper and lower control arms with
ball joints, coil springs and shock absorbers. See Fig. 1 , Fig. 2 or Fig. 3 .

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Fig. 1: View Of Control Arm Suspension (C230 & C280)
Courtesy of MERCEDES-BENZ OF NORTH AMERICA.
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Fig. 2: View Of Control Arm Suspension (S320, S420 & S500)

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Courtesy of MERCEDES-BENZ OF NORTH AMERICA.

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Fig. 3: View Of Control Arm Suspension (E320, E420 & E430)
Courtesy of MERCEDES-BENZ OF NORTH AMERICA.

ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION

Ball joints are maintenance free (no grease fitting). Check ball joint for lateral and vertical movement. Replace
ball joint if any measurable movement is present.

WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES

NOTE: See SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT.

WHEEL BEARINGS
NOTE: Rear wheel bearings are nonadjustable.

CAUTION: Always use a dial indicator to ensure wheel bearings are properly
adjusted.

1. Remove caliper, and wire aside. Remove grease cap. Loosen bushing clamp hex head pinch bolt. Tighten
clamping nut, while simultaneously turning hub, until hub preload is .08" (2 mm). Install dial indicator on
front hub. Zero dial indicator.
2. Check hub end play by pulling and pushing on hub flange. Turn wheel several times before each of
several measurements. During measurement, wheel hub must not turn. Loosen clamping nut until end
play is .0004-.0008" (.01-.02 mm). Tighten hex head pinch bolt on clamping nut to 71 INCH lbs. (8 N.m).
Recheck end play.

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

Removal (Except S320, S420 & S500)

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Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel assembly. Using Clamping Plates (202 589 13 63 00) and Clamping

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Device (202 589 01 31 00 on Class and 202 589 02 31 00 on E-Class), compress coil spring. Remove coil

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spring and rubber mounting toward front of vehicle.

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Installation

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Place rubber mount on coil spring. With coil spring compressed, position spring in vehicle. Slowly release

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spring while positioning it in embossed surface of lower control arm. Install wheel assembly and lower vehicle.

Removal (S320, S420 & S500)

With vehicle sitting on wheels, remove upper shock absorber mount nuts. Remove upper shock absorber
mounting. Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel assembly. Using Clamping Plates (202 589 14 63 00) and
Clamping Device (202 589 01 31 00), compress coil spring. Remove coil spring and rubber mounting toward
front of vehicle.

Installation

Place rubber mount on coil spring. With coil spring compressed, position spring in vehicle. Slowly release
spring while positioning it in embossed surface of lower control arm. Install wheel assembly and lower vehicle
to floor. Attach upper shock absorber mount using NEW locking nut.

FRONT HALFAXLE

NOTE: This procedure covers removing lower control arm, shock absorber, steering
knuckle, steering knuckle arm, brake caliper and brake disc as one unit.
Removal

1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel assembly. Install Guard Plates (140 589 01 31 00) to protect
brake disc cover plates. Remove coil spring. See COIL SPRING . Remove upper shock bolt. Remove
necessary plastic covers from front axle. Disconnect electrical connections from wheel speed sensors.
2. On vehicles equipped with Adaptive Damping System (ADS), ensure all electrical connections are
disconnected for ADS. Disconnect brake hydraulic lines. Cap brakelines to prevent contamination.
3. Disconnect connecting rod from stabilizer bar. Disconnect tie rod from steering knuckle. Support lower
control arm. Mark position of lower control arm eccentric bolts. Identify location of eccentric bolts for
installation.
4. Remove lower control arm eccentric bolt nuts. Remove lower control arm eccentric bolts. Disconnect
upper control arm from steering knuckle. Remove front halfaxle from vehicle.

Installation

To install, reverse removal procedure. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS . Install lower control arm eccentric
bolts in original position. Tighten eccentric bolts only when vehicle is standing on its wheels. Check vehicle
ride height and wheel alignment. See SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL
ALIGNMENT.

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LOWER CONTROL ARM

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WARNING: Shock absorber serves as a suspension extension stop. DO NOT remove

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shock absorber mounting bolts unless lower control arm is supported or
coil spring is removed.

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Removal

1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove coil spring. See COIL SPRING . Disconnect shock absorber from
lower control arm. Remove lower control arm ball joint nut. Using a puller, remove steering knuckle from
lower control arm ball joint.
2. Mark position of lower control arm eccentric bolts. Identify location of eccentric bolts for installation.
Remove lower control arm eccentric bolt nuts. Remove lower control arm eccentric bolts. Remove lower
control arm.

Installation

To install, reverse removal procedure. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS . Install lower control arm eccentric
bolts in original position. Tighten eccentric bolts only when vehicle is standing on its wheels. Check vehicle
ride height and wheel alignment. See SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL
ALIGNMENT.

LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS

Removal (Front Bushings)

Remove lower control arm. See LOWER CONTROL ARM . Place lower control arm in a soft-jaw vise. Insert
a punch into front bushing inner sleeve. Loosen bushing by moving punch back and forth. Using a punch, knock
out both front bushings, also removing spacer sleeve.

Installation (Front Bushings)

To install, reverse removal procedure. Use a puller to install bushings. Coat bushings with soapy water to ease
installation. DO NOT use grease or oil to install bushings. Install bushings with flat surfaces perpendicular to
installed position of lower control arm. See Fig. 4 .

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Fig. 4: Installing Front Bushings
Courtesy of MERCEDES-BENZ OF NORTH AMERICA.

NOTE: E320, E420, E430, S320, S420 and S500 vehicles are equipped with a lower
control arm rear hydrobushing to minimize noise and vibration.

Removal (E-Class & S-Class Rear Hydrobushing)

Remove lower control arm. See LOWER CONTROL ARM . Place lower control arm in a soft-jawed vise.
Attach puller to end of hydrobushing with shoulder. Using puller, remove hydrobushing.

Installation

Using crocus cloth, clean hydrobushing mounting socket. Apply a thin coat of anti-friction paste to
hydrobushing. DO NOT use grease or oil to install hydrobushing. Align hydrobushing recess parallel with
welding seam on lower control arm. Using a puller, install hydrobushing. To complete installation, reverse
removal procedure.
Removal (C230 & C280 Rear Bushing)

Remove lower control arm. See LOWER CONTROL ARM . Place lower control arm in a soft-jaw vise.
Using a screwdriver, remove washer from end of bushing. Using a puller, remove bushing.

Installation

To install, reverse removal procedure. Use a puller to install bushing. Coat bushing with soapy water to ease
installation. DO NOT use grease or oil to install bushing. Install bushing with aluminum flat surfaces
perpendicular to installed position of lower control arm. Install washer onto bushing. See Fig. 5 .

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Fig. 5: Installing Rear Bushing
Courtesy of MERCEDES-BENZ OF NORTH AMERICA.

STABILIZER BAR

Removal & Installation (C230 & C280)

Raise and support vehicle. Remove lower engine compartment cover. Remove stabilizer bar mounting bracket
mounting bracket nuts. Remove stabilizer bar from vehicle. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten nuts
and bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS .

Removal & Installation (E320, E420 & E430)

Raise and support vehicle. Remove lower engine compartment cover. Disconnect connecting rods at each end
of stabilizer bar at lower control arm. Remove stabilizer bar mounting bracket nuts. Remove stabilizer bar from
vehicle. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten nuts and bolts to specification. See TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS .
Removal & Installation (S320, S420 & S500)

Raise and support vehicle. Remove lower engine compartment cover. Disconnect connecting rods from each
end of stabilizer bar. Remove stabilizer bar mounting bracket nuts. Remove stabilizer bar from vehicle. To
install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten nuts and bolts to specification. See TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS .

STEERING KNUCKLE

WARNING: Shock absorber serves as a suspension extension stop. DO NOT remove

Removal & Installation

1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove front wheel. Remove brake caliper and wire aside. DO NOT stretch
or bend brake hose. Remove ABS speed sensor from steering knuckle. Remove brake disc. See DISC
article in BRAKES.
2. Remove brake guard from steering knuckle. Using a jack, support lower control arm. On S320, S420 and

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S500, disconnect stabilizer bar linkage from steering knuckle. Remove steering knuckle arm-to-steering
knuckle bolts. On C280, disconnect stabilizer bar from lower control arm.

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3. On all models, remove lower control arm ball joint nut. Using a puller, remove steering knuckle from

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lower control arm ball joint. Disconnect steering knuckle from upper control arm. On S320, S420 and

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S500, if upper steering knuckle connection is too tight, use a spreader tool to loosen connection. Remove
stop pin from steering knuckle. On all models, remove steering knuckle.

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4. To install, reverse removal procedure. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS . To prevent future corrosion

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of steering knuckle-to-upper control arm connection, apply a sealer to slot in connection. Check wheel
alignment. See SPECIFICATION & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT.

STEERING KNUCKLE ARM

Removal & Installation

1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove front wheel. Remove tie rod ball joint nut from steering knuckle arm.
Using a puller, disconnect tie rod ball joint from steering knuckle arm. Remove steering knuckle arm
mounting bolts. Remove steering knuckle arm.
2. To install, bolt steering knuckle arm to steering knuckle with NEW bolts. Connect tie rod ball joint to
steering knuckle. To complete installation, reverse removal procedure. See TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS .

SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY

NOTE: This procedure covers removing front suspension carrier, lower control arms,
upper control arms, steering knuckles, steering knuckle arms, brake discs and
brake calipers as one unit.
NOTE: C230 and C280 suspension assembly removal and installation procedures are
not available from manufacturer.

Removal (E320, E420 & E430)

1. Remove air cleaner and washer reservoir. Attach Support Frame (140 589 01 61 00) for engine to upper
shock absorber mounts. Using Support Frame (210 589 00 61 00), lift engine slightly. Raise and support
vehicle. Remove front wheel assemblies.
2. Install brake dust shield protective covers. Remove coil spring. See COIL SPRING . Remove all plastic
covers from front axle assembly. Disconnect electrical connections from right and left wheel speed
sensors. Disconnect stabilizer bar from body.
3. Disconnect brake hydraulic lines. Cap brakelines to prevent contamination. Remove upper control arm-
to-steering knuckle nut and bolt. Separate steering knuckle from upper control arm. Using wire or rope,
secure upper control arm upper spring mount.
4. Remove heat shield from steering coupling. Disconnect steering shaft from steering coupling. Using a
jack, support front axle carrier from under vehicle. Disconnect engine mounts from front axle carrier.

CAUTION: DO NOT apply stress to power steering hydraulic lines when lowering
front axle carrier.

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5. Remove plastic caps to access front axle carrier-to-body bolts. Remove front axle carrier-to-body bolts.

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Using a jack, slowly lower front axle carrier until power steering hydraulic lines are easily accessible.

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6. Disconnect power steering hydraulic supply and return lines. Cap power steering lines to prevent
contamination. Ensure all necessary electrical connectors are disconnect. Lower and remove front

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suspension assembly from vehicle.

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Installation

1. To install, reverse removal procedure. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS . When installing steering
spindle into steering coupling, coupling gap is .04" (1 mm) or less. See Fig. 6 .
2. Using an Allen wrench, hold shock absorber piston rod when tightening upper shock absorber nut. Bleed
brakes. See BLEEDING BRAKE SYSTEM in DISC article in BRAKES. Fill power steering system to
proper level. Check vehicle ride height and wheel alignment. See SPECIFICATION & PROCEDURES
article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT.

Removal (S320, S420 & S500)

1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove front wheel assemblies. Remove coil spring. See COIL SPRING .
Disconnect electrical connections from right and left wheel speed sensors. Disconnect electrical connector
power steering valve on steering gear.
2. On vehicles equipped with Adaptive Damping System (ADS), ensure all electrical connections are
disconnected for ADS. On all vehicles, attach Support Frame (140 589 01 61 00) for engine to upper
shock absorber mounts. Using Support Frame (140 589 01 61 00), lift engine slightly. Remove all plastic
covers from front axle assembly.
3. Remove upper shock nuts. Remove stabilizer bar mounting bracket nuts. Disconnect stabilizer bar from
 body. Disconnect brake hydraulic lines. Cap brakelines to prevent contamination.
4. Remove upper control arm-to-steering knuckle nut and bolt. Separate steering knuckle from upper control
arm. Using wire or rope, secure upper control arm upper spring mount. Remove heat shield from steering
coupling.
5. Disconnect steering shaft from steering coupling. Using a jack, support front axle carrier from under
vehicle. Disconnect engine mounts from front axle carrier.

CAUTION: DO NOT apply stress to power steering hydraulic lines when lowering
front axle carrier.

6. Remove plastic caps to access front axle carrier-to-body bolts. Remove front axle carrier-to-body bolts.
Using a jack, slowly lower front axle carrier until power steering hydraulic lines are easily accessible.
7. Disconnect power steering hydraulic supply and return lines. Cap power steering lines to prevent
contamination. Ensure all necessary electrical connectors are disconnect. Lower and remove front
suspension assembly from vehicle.

Installation

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1. To install, reverse removal procedure. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS . When installing steering
spindle into steering coupling, coupling gap is .04" (1 mm) or less. See Fig. 6 .

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2. Using an Allen wrench, hold shock absorber piston rod when tightening upper shock absorber nut. Bleed

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brakes. See BLEEDING BRAKE SYSTEM in DISC article in BRAKES. Fill power steering system to

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proper level. Check vehicle ride height and wheel alignment. See SPECIFICATION & PROCEDURES
article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT.

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Fig. 6: Installing Steering Shaft
Courtesy of MERCEDES-BENZ OF NORTH AMERICA.

NOTE: This procedure covers removing lower control arm, steering knuckle, brake disc
and brake caliper as one unit.

UPPER CONTROL ARM

WARNING: Shock absorber serves as a suspension extension stop. DO NOT remove

Removal & Installation (C230 & C280)

1. Raise and support vehicle. Support lower control arm. Using a puller, remove upper ball joint from upper
control arm. Secure steering knuckle. DO NOT allow steering knuckle to drop.
2. Remove upper control arm through-bolt nut. Remove upper control arm through-bolt. Remove upper
control arm. To install, reverse removal procedure. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS .

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Removal & Installation (E320, E420, E430, S320, S420 & S500

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1. Raise and support vehicle. Support lower control arm. Disconnect steering knuckle from upper control

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arm. If upper steering knuckle clamping nut is too tight, use a spreader tool to loosen connection.

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2. Secure steering knuckle. DO NOT allow steering knuckle to drop. Remove upper control arm-to-body
bolts. Remove upper control arm. To install, reverse removal procedure. See TORQUE

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SPECIFICATIONS .

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WHEEL HUB

Removal & Installation

1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove front wheel. Remove brake caliper and wire aside. DO NOT stretch
or bend brake hose. Using a puller, remove wheel bearing cap.
2. Loosen and remove wheel bearing clamping nut. Using a puller, remove wheel hub. If tapered roller
bearing inner race is tightly seated on steering knuckle, remove with a puller and collet chuck. To install,
reverse removal procedure. Ensure hub bearings are properly lubricated. See TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS .

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS

NOTE: Torque specifications for E300, E320, E420 and E430 are not available from
manufacturer.

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
Application Ft. Lbs. (N.m)
C220, C230 & C280
ABS Sensor-To-Steering Knuckle Bolt (1) 16 (22)
Connecting Rod-To-Steering Knuckle Nut (1) 30 (40)
Engine Mount-To-Front Axle Carrier Bolts (1) 18 (25)
Front Axle Carrier-To-Body Bolts (1) 96 (130)
Lower Ball Joint Nut-To-Lower Control Arm (1) 59 (80)
Lower Ball Joint Nut-To-Steering Knuckle (1) 77 (105)
Lower Control Arm Eccentric Bolt Nut (1) 111 (150)
Stabilizer Bar Mounting Bracket Nut (1) 15 (20)
Stabilizer Bar-To-Connecting Rod Nut (1) 37 (50)
Tie Rod Ball Joint Nut (1) 37 (50)
Upper Ball Joint Nut (1) 33 (45)
Upper Control Arm Through-Bolt Nut (1) 41 (55)
Upper Shock Absorber Lock Nut 22 (30)
Upper Shock Absorber Nut 11 (15)

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S320, S420 & S500

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Engine Mount-To-Front Axle Carrier Bolts (1) 18 (25)

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Front Axle Carrier-To-Body Bolts (1) 96 (130)

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Lower Ball Joint Nut (1) 100 (135)
Lower Control Arm Eccentric Bolt Nut (1) 133 (180)

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Power Steering Hydraulic Lines 26-30 (35-40)
Stabilizer Bar Connecting Rod-To-Steering Knuckle Nut (1) 26 (35)
Stabilizer Bar Mounting Bracket Nut (1) 15 (20)
Stabilizer Bar-To-Connecting Rod Nut (1) 51 (70)
Steering Knuckle Arm-To-Steering Knuckle Bolt 59 (80)
Tie Rod Ball Joint Nut (1) 37 (50)
Upper Ball Joint Clamping Nut (1) 92 (125)
Upper Control Arm Bearing Shell Nut (1) 37 (50)
Upper Control Arm-To-Body Bolts (1) 37 (50)
Upper Shock Absorber Nut (1) 30 (40)
INCH Lbs. (N.m)
S320, S420 & S500
ABS Sensor-To-Steering Knuckle 71 (8)
(1) Replace self-locking bolt and/or nut.