Rear Sway Bar Links? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

mbboy · #1 11-01-2011, 11:42 AM

The rear say bar links and bushings on my 380sl aren't giving me any noticeable problems. So I was wondering whether changing them could still make a difference in the way the car rides or handles, considering that they are 30 years old.

Thanks in advance for the advice.

LandYaghtLover · #2 11-01-2011, 11:46 AM

If they are like the ones on my SEL, they were very inexpensive. I replaced just for piece of mind. Once removed, I noted they were more worn than I thought.

abiby · #3 11-01-2011, 10:12 PM

I don't imagine replacing them would change the ride or driving characteristics.
When they fail they generally will scare the crap out of you with the noise they make.

meltedpanda · #4 11-02-2011, 08:28 PM

what exactly is the noise they make, I have an unidentified noise out of the rear of my SL

LandYaghtLover · #5 11-02-2011, 09:18 PM

Like something is not attached. Or a metal on metal knock over bumps.

meltedpanda · #6 11-02-2011, 09:26 PM

this is my issue, not sure it could be that

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/sl-forum/288022-funny-new-noise-rear-pearl-72-450-a.html

mbboy · #7 11-20-2011, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abiby

I don't imagine replacing them would change the ride or driving characteristics.
When they fail they generally will scare the crap out of you with the noise they make.

Finally got around to replacing these. But, like everything else, it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be, since a couple of the nuts were rusted on. So I soaked them with penetrating oil overnight, torched them, and they eventually gave way.

As it turns out, the joints were really floppy, and replacing them, along with the stabilizer bar bushings, definitely improve the ride and cornering stability. So, it was well worth the time and effort.

meltedpanda · #8 11-20-2011, 02:17 PM

I think I am going to do mine , just to see if it helps the "noise", although my last few times out ,. no noise, go figure

AZreGuy · #9 11-20-2011, 04:54 PM

I had the clunk in the back of my 450SL and one day under it I seen the thing just hanging there. $16 and 20 minutes new ones were installed.
I live in AZ and once loose all nuts are finger removed... even exhaust nuts.

mbboy · #10 11-20-2011, 08:25 PM

Before I replaced the links, the stabilizer bar would wiggle back and forth quite a bit when I grabbed either side near a link, and tried to move it. After I replaced the links, however, the stabilizer bar hardly moved at all, evidently because the joints on the new links were much firmer than the joints on the old links.

I'm not sure exactly how the links and bar operate together, but they obviously do stabilize the rear somehow.