vsengdara

Hi everybody,
I was wondering if I could get some help from some fellow GL owners. It seems like my left front suspension has been leaking and causing the left front side to be very low. When ever I turn off the car, I can hear continuous hissing coming from the front left wheel housing. When parked for a while you can only fit 1 finger between the fender lip and tire. When driving, the car is really bumper. Feels a lot like when I had a lowered acura integra back in my teenage years.
Well, I dropped the car off at the MB dealer yesterday and got a call from them today. They told me that the I have to replace the whole front "Hydropneumatic Spring Leg." I just wanted some of your feedback and expertise on whether paying around $2000 to get it replaced is a fair price? BTW, I'm in Vientiane, Laos so I'm thinking the price is inflated because of air freight charges. Does anybody know what the price is for the above part in the US?
Thanks for the help.

konigstiger

EPC (MB electronic parts catalog) shows with ADS part #1643204313 MBUSA MSRP $1200 (for comparison shopping, parts.com $828 – does not offer international shipping), without ADS 1643204513 $885 ($609.50).

vsengdara

Thank you for the help

ksalno

If it makes you feel any better, I had a 2001 Denali that had rear air suspension. I did a lot of towing and that killed the air suspension, so I had to have both sides replaced. The cost from GM for both sides was around $3500.

StevethePilot

To chime in with ksalno's "If it makes you feel any better", not only did I lose a front strut to leaking right after the microscopic warranty was over, requiring a completely owner-based payment, I then lost the other side to a bag explosion - which I've since heard has become a more common occurance, by the way. Ya might consider an extended warranty.

HJZ06

Had 2 air bags blow out in garage. Shotgun! Purchased extended MB warranty for 25k more miles, no deductable, then we'll trade.

gawdfatha

Same thing happened to me last month, and MB fixed under OEM warranty ($800). I am at 49,000 miles so am shopping extended warranty packages right now.

gawdfatha

Greul

FYI. Just got back from the supermarket, put the kids to sleep and as I was going downstairs heard a BOOM, thought someone lit a big firework outside. Low and behold, Just discovered it was my GL320's drivers rear airmatic shock that exploded.....just looked at warranty info to discover UGH, 3yr50k - GL is 2 years 4months and 11 days old with 56800 miles, hope the dealer will give me a break any idea what this will run? If memory serves correct dealer replaced that same rear shock at 11k, not sure if it also included the airmatic.... WOW. Big boom!!!!

HJZ06

About 3 months ago left front started leaking. Dealer wanted $1800 but I purchased factory warranty so it helped.

rayzrocket

we had one rear go boom as well at 52k miles
driving it is no problem...no unusual wear in wheel well and suspension areas...even with aftermarket wheels and tires.
its partially covered in the aftermarket warranties..purchased for $1800.
..partially because the cheap warranties only pay $60 shop rate and skimp on hours to fix...but pay total parts cost..
i want to share pics of the blown spring..how do i post that..?
(by the way...i think every single pre 2009 MB GL will need repacelment eventually by a good aftermarket air spring...Arnott Industries is already back ordered by 2 weeks)..

Potomac-Greg

We're bringing the car in for the THIRD repair on the front air suspension, and we are probably out of warranty this time. Is there any option to convert the GL to simple steel springs? I want to keep this car a long time (love everything about it), but the repeated failure of the air suspension has me very worried.

N_Jay

Have people have any better luck with the Arnott struts and air springs over the MB ones?

rayzrocket

do not use the MB crap nor should you goto a MB dealer for any suspension work
Arnott seems to be good, that is what i have, also comes with lifetime warranty
there may be steel spring kits out there, but you are safe if you just upgrade to the Arnott stuff.

frogger42

Can't say enough good things about Arnott's stuff. I am in no way affiliated with the company on any level, other than I had a front strut go bad, bought a new one from Arnott for $345 and a couple hundred to my mechanic to have it replaced. My wife's 2008 GL just had both front struts go bad, I didnt hesitate to order two more. It also looks like they have started carrying the air compressor as well.

Potomac-Greg

Thanks for the replies. Arnott seems to be the way to go.

N_Jay

The Arnott whole strut (rebuilt) is only a little less than the Arnott replacement spring.
Seems unless your struts are very new, replacing the whole thing is the way to go.
I see Ebay also has rebuilt struts but I don't know the rebuilder, and I think the warranty is not lifetime.

atimpau

https://www.arnottindustries.com/par...18_pid146.html

Total cost $344.80 plus shipping

Easy, nothing to it.

gregsho

I need to find a mechanic near the Santa Clarita , CA area . I'm going with Arnott's stuff .

atimpau

N_Jay

If you got the old one out, you should be able to get the new one in.

N_Jay

For $50 more a side you get a whole shock.
Seems worth it if you have a lot of miles on your car.

Anyone have any experience with how long the hydraulic shock part of the strut lasts on GLs?

atimpau

I got my parts from SSF in Phoenix, so, I saved on the shipping charges, and got the parts on the same day.
However, SSF warranty is one year only, but, should I have bought the parts on line from Arnott's web site, I would have had a life time warranty.
Beware, of warranty fine print.
Lifetime is from Arnott's directly.(only) not third party dealers. (Autozone, etc)

atimpau

My GL320 CDI has 56,000 miles. The hydraulic shock still in good condition.

For $50.00 more you can get a rebuild shock and the boot, plus your shipping charges to Florida for the core return.

atimpau

Arnott has the rear boot for $165.00, even though my are still ok, I will order them ahead of time.
Since according to the reviews, they last about 60,000 miles.
Also, I change the air filters and cabin filter, and that was a challenge.

atimpau

"Product Type: 4 Wheel Conversion Kit With Front And Rear Struts"


www.strutmasters.com