Hello kind people.

A friend of mine has a 57-plate C180 Merc which is making some funny noises and has an outer shoulder tyre wear issue on the offside front.

I'm really not sure what I'm looking for/at, but there's a clear difference between one component on the two sides of the car.  I think one might call this a front lower arm inner bush.

 

Right/off side:

 

 

Left/near side:

 

 

 

I can rock the OSF wheel on the 3-9 O'clock axis much more than the NSF, so I'm tempted to conclude that the left bush is OK, and the right bush "Code F"?

 

Not knowing what 'normal' looks like, I can't really be sure. One of them must be wrong!

 

Cheers for any help.

Well, the person in question took it to a garage known to their partner, who declared that no action other than lubing was required on any bushes (which did cure some noises apparently), and that this tyre wasn't in need of replacement, and would currently pass an MOT   :

 

Ooh. don't think I'd want to be driving on that for to long

there is no chord exposed, my understanding was in this case it would pass an MOT. Not good though!

Thanks chaps. The owner seems chuffed that it hasn't cost much to fix the noises, and the tyre doesn't need changing. 

I'm now sure that the offside bush pictured is thoroughly goosed, but I guess I can't really do anything more than give my opinion.