Control Arm Bushing - Front Lower

Replace the front lower control arm bushings on a 2007-2013 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG by removing the control arm assembly, pressing out old bushings, installing new bushings, and reinstalling the control arm with proper torque specifications.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front lower control arm bushing kit (inner and outer) × 2 — Use OEM specification
• Cotter pin for ball joint × 2 — Mercedes-Benz OEM
• Control arm mounting bolts (if corroded) × 2 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Loosen front wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground
3. Raise front of vehicle and support securely on jack stands at manufacturer-designated lift points
4. Remove both front wheels completely
5. Spray all fasteners with penetrating oil and allow 15 minutes to soak
6. Take photos of control arm orientation and sway bar link position for reference

Procedure

1. 1

   Disconnect sway bar link from control arm
   Locate the sway bar link connection to the lower control arm. Using a 6mm Allen key to hold the ball stud shaft from rotating, remove the lower sway bar link nut with an 18mm wrench. Detach the sway bar link from the control arm and secure it out of the way with wire or zip tie.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
2. 2

   Remove ball joint cotter pin and loosen nut
   Remove the cotter pin from the ball joint castle nut using pliers or a cotter pin removal tool. Discard the old cotter pin. Loosen the ball joint nut using a 21mm socket but do NOT remove it completely yet. Leave the nut flush with the end of the ball joint stud to protect threads during separation.
   ⚠Keep nut loosely threaded on ball joint stud to prevent damage during separation.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut119 Nm (88 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Separate ball joint from steering knuckle
   Using a ball joint separator tool or pickle fork, carefully separate the lower ball joint from the steering knuckle. Strike the separator tool firmly with a hammer if needed. Once separated, remove the ball joint nut completely and lower the control arm away from the knuckle.
   ⚠Ball joint may separate suddenly. Keep hands clear and support control arm to prevent drop.
4. 4

   Remove front control arm mounting bolt
   Locate the front control arm mounting bolt that attaches to the subframe. Using a 19mm socket, remove the bolt completely. Note the orientation of any washers or spacers for reinstallation.
   Torque spec

   Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Remove rear control arm mounting bolt
   Locate the rear control arm mounting bolt that attaches to the subframe. Using a 19mm socket, remove the bolt completely. Support the control arm as you remove the final bolt. Carefully remove the control arm from the vehicle, noting the position of all washers and spacers.
   Torque spec

   Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
6. 6

   Mark bushing orientation
   Before pressing out the old bushings, mark their orientation with paint or marker. Note the position of any voids or offset in the bushings relative to the control arm. Take photos for reference as bushing orientation is critical for proper suspension geometry.
   ⚠Incorrect bushing orientation will cause handling problems and premature wear.
7. 7

   Press out old bushings
   Using a hydraulic press with appropriate adapters, press out the old bushings from the control arm. Support the control arm properly on the press bed and ensure the pressing force is applied evenly to avoid distorting the control arm. Remove both front and rear bushings. Clean the bushing bores thoroughly with a wire brush, removing all rubber residue and corrosion.
   ⚠️Hydraulic press operates under extreme pressure. Ensure proper setup and keep hands clear during pressing operation.
8. 8

   Install new bushings
   Apply a thin film of soap solution or assembly lubricant to the new bushing outer surfaces and control arm bores (do NOT use petroleum-based lubricants). Align the new bushings according to your orientation marks and photos. Using the hydraulic press with proper adapters, press the new bushings into the control arm bores until fully seated. Verify bushings are pressed to the correct depth and oriented properly.
   ℹ️Bushings must be pressed in straight to avoid cocking or binding in the bore.
9. 9

   Install control arm to subframe
   Position the control arm back into the vehicle, aligning the bushing mounting points with the subframe brackets. Install the front and rear control arm mounting bolts finger-tight only. Do NOT torque these bolts yet - they must be torqued with vehicle weight on the suspension.
   ⚠Control arm bolts are torqued in final step with vehicle at ride height. Do not fully tighten now.
   Torque spec

   Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Reconnect ball joint to steering knuckle
    Raise the control arm and align the ball joint stud with the steering knuckle taper. Insert the ball joint stud into the knuckle and install the castle nut. Torque the ball joint nut to specification using a 21mm socket. Install a new cotter pin through the castle nut and ball joint stud, then bend the ends of the cotter pin to secure.
    ℹ️If cotter pin holes do not align, tighten nut further up to 1/6 turn. Never loosen nut to align holes.
    Torque spec

    Ball Joint Nut119 Nm (88 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Reconnect sway bar link
    Reconnect the sway bar link to the lower control arm. Hold the ball stud shaft with a 6mm Allen key while tightening the nut to specification with an 18mm wrench.
    Torque spec

    Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Install wheels and lower vehicle
    Install both front wheels and hand-tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern. Carefully lower the vehicle until the suspension is at normal ride height but wheels are still slightly off the ground. Torque the wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern. Then fully lower the vehicle to the ground.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts183 Nm (135 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Final torque control arm bolts at ride height
    With the vehicle on the ground and suspension at normal ride height, torque both front and rear control arm mounting bolts to specification using a 19mm socket and torque wrench. This is critical - bushings must be torqued with vehicle weight on the suspension to prevent premature failure.
    ⚠This is the most critical step. Torquing with suspension unloaded will twist bushings and cause early failure.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Repeat entire procedure for opposite side if replacing both control arm bushings
2. Double-check all fasteners are torqued to specification
3. Verify cotter pins are properly installed and secured on both sides
4. Remove jack stands and lower vehicle completely

Verification

• Test drive vehicle at low speed in a safe area and verify no unusual noises or vibrations
• Check for proper steering response and verify vehicle tracks straight
• After 50-100 miles, re-check control arm bolt torque with vehicle at ride height
• Schedule a professional four-wheel alignment within 50 miles of repair completion to ensure proper suspension geometry

Related trouble codes on this vehicle

Codes that commonly send this job to the bay — tap one for symptoms, causes, and diagnostic steps.

Chasing one of these codes and not sure which part is guilty? Ask a master mechanic about YOUR car →

More procedures for this vehicle