I recently inherited my father's meticulously maintained low mileage 2005 C180K and had to replace the right front rear control arm, which has slightly misaligned the steering wheel.
I utilised the original bolt, as the Febi-supplied one is intended to be adjustable, and I believed I could forgo performing an alignment.
I will have an alignment performed, but I am considering replacing the other three arms (both right and left) as he recently rebuilt the track rod ends and drop links; this would complete the entire front end.
I am utilising Febi components, as I have for years on other vehicles, with satisfactory outcomes.
I am curious about how to determine whether my car is equipped with hydro mounts, as a search for components on eBay yields results for both types of arms. Personally, I do not believe my car has hydro mounts.
It is an Avantguard model.
2005 C180K Front Suspension System
My W204 C180K was equipped with hydrobushes. I am rather certain that all of them do, including the W203. Conduct a search for 'hydrobush' within this forum.
By the way, Febi components are satisfactory, however Lemforder components are superior.
By the way, Febi components are satisfactory, however Lemforder components are superior.
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PeterRoberts92
- Newbie
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2025 11:59 pm
I recognise the excellence of Lemforder; nonetheless, it is probable that the automobile will be sold within a year, so I choose not to invest much in it.
I enquired with the provider regarding the various weapons, but I am sceptical about their ability to provide a satisfactory response.
I enquired with the provider regarding the various weapons, but I am sceptical about their ability to provide a satisfactory response.
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MercedesMan98
- Moderator
- Posts: 216
- Joined: Fri Mar 20, 2020 8:40 pm
I owned a CLK - W209 - featuring the identical suspension and chassis as your C180K. Over 200,000 miles, I replaced the entire front suspension twice, with some components being replaced more frequently.
If I recall correctly, the hydraulic mounts are equipped with 'dust covers' positioned over the bushing at the chassis end of the arm. The components installed on my CLK were unequivocally not hydro mounts; they were merely conventional rubber bushings encased in metal tubes, readily identifiable without the necessity of removing the mounting bolt. I am confident that I possess one of the scrap arms in the garage.
If I recall correctly, the hydraulic mounts are equipped with 'dust covers' positioned over the bushing at the chassis end of the arm. The components installed on my CLK were unequivocally not hydro mounts; they were merely conventional rubber bushings encased in metal tubes, readily identifiable without the necessity of removing the mounting bolt. I am confident that I possess one of the scrap arms in the garage.
Identifying a hydrobush is not straightforward, save by examining the MB part number, unless it exhibits leakage.
The 'dust covers' were a subsequent improvement designed to avert brake contamination in the event of oil leakage from the hydrobushes. I am uncertain when these coverings were implemented, but my 2013 W204 was not equipped with them from the factory. I installed these covers when I restored the hydrobushes in 2017, indicating they likely became available between 2013 and 2017.
The 'dust covers' were a subsequent improvement designed to avert brake contamination in the event of oil leakage from the hydrobushes. I am uncertain when these coverings were implemented, but my 2013 W204 was not equipped with them from the factory. I installed these covers when I restored the hydrobushes in 2017, indicating they likely became available between 2013 and 2017.
