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I've got an 07 GL450 with 57,000 miles, Just done replacing the rear suspension. Already had to do both front struts. The units were backordered for 3 months at the dealership because this so common.
I have a 2008 GL320 CDI and my front right air shock is failing. 2 weeks later when the truck is not running I come out to leave and all four wheels are down as far as they will go. When I start the truck they pump up to normal. They can't all four be failing at the same time can they. Could it be one or a leak in the system somewhere.
Nick
I have a 2008 GL320 CDI and my front right air shock is failing. 2 weeks later when the truck is not running I come out to leave and all four wheels are down as far as they will go. When I start the truck they pump up to normal. They can't all four be failing at the same time can they. Could it be one or a leak in the system somewhere.
Nick
When my 2008 GL320 CDI dropped on the right side, all other 3 shocks were holding.
However, I did change the front right and left. the back air shock are ok, so far.
I am not a mechanic, but I am handy with tools. I did it my self and it was pretty easy to do. Just watch the video on this thread.
Maybe your air pump has a leak ????
Pump is located behind the right wheel well, towards the front of the car.
I have a 2008 GL320 CDI and my front right air shock is failing. 2 weeks later when the truck is not running I come out to leave and all four wheels are down as far as they will go. When I start the truck they pump up to normal. They can't all four be failing at the same time can they. Could it be one or a leak in the system somewhere.
Nick
Does your car at the dash ever showed air pump overheating, or, air pump cooling ??
How do you know the front right is failing? Is there a known leak on that air spring?
If all corners drop over time I would suspect the valve block since this controls the air in/out of each corner, the reservoir, and the pump. I'm not sure if the valve block has a single solenoid valve capable of dumping air out of the system and it would be unlikely for multiple valves to fail at once. This then might point to a wiring issue at the block or an issue with the control module???
Need alx to chime in as he will have better technical input. Sounds like you will need to find a mechanic with STAR to diagnose as these parts are too expensive to just replace and see.
I assumed it was failing because it was the first to show signs of failure. Then all four went down. It might be coincidence but when I set the offroad button when I park and turn off the truck the air seems to not leak. I will have a mechanic look at the codes. It does not seem to be consistent.
Nick
I assumed it was failing because it was the first to show signs of failure. Then all four went down. It might be coincidence but when I set the offroad button when I park and turn off the truck the air seems to not leak. I will have a mechanic look at the codes. It does not seem to be consistent.
Nick
Did you try the most simple test ?
Get a spray bottle with lots of soap, and spray the air bags and see if you can detect bubbles, you can do this by turning the wheels all the way to the right and left.
Set the offroad button to get the most air on the bags. My did have a small hair leak, but it was enough to lower the car overnight.
Get a spray bottle with lots of soap, and spray the air bags and see if you can detect bubbles, you can do this by turning the wheels all the way to the right and left.
Set the offroad button to get the most air on the bags. My did have a small hair leak, but it was enough to lower the car overnight.
Oh the truck has 47,000k miles but its out of warranty because of age. I have been trying to contact mbusa cause of so many failing thought I would give it a shot.
Oh the truck has 47,000k miles but its out of warranty because of age. I have been trying to contact mbusa cause of so many failing thought I would give it a shot.
Unless you purchased the car when it was new, they are most likely going to tell you to pound sand. They may try to put you off and tell you to take it up with a dealer. Good luck but I don't think they will do anything for you.
Well, I did the soap and water test and no bubbles on the bladders. This morning I walked out and ALL four tires were down and after starting the truck I received the malfunction message for the airmatic system. Shut the truck off and restarted and the shocks inflated normally and the message is gone. Does the message get saved and not reset. I want the mechanic to look at the codes to see the real issue. Anyone had the same issue?
Nick
s500 GL450 GL63 Z71XL Yukon 67 396 SS velle 68 Vert Camaro 69 RSSS Vert Camaro 75 Blazer
I just replaced my driver side air shock from Arnott on my 2007 GL450 yesterday. First I want to say that Arnott is a class act as I have also used them for my S500. Their Cust. Service is great as is their product.
A couple things that I want to add for the installation. The video from arnott is very general. They are assuming you have all the tool necessary. Aside from the sockets and torx wrench, you will also need a ball joint removal tool for the upper ball joint. one that I pictured below is ideal since there is a limited amount of space. do not get the one that looks like a large C clamp due to the space limitations of removing the upper ball joint. In the video, you can see that the upper ball joint is already separated and he just pulls it apart. I guarantee that this will not be the case when you remove yours.
You will also probably need very long pry bar. I used this to force the lower control are down in order to take the shock assembly out. My body weight(165#) alone could not get the lower control are low enough to slide the shock assembly past the half shaft. In the video, it shows the guy putting slight pressure down on the axle assembly to remove the shock assembly. This was not the case for me so I wedged the pry bar lower control arm to get more leverage to move the axle assembly low enough to slide the shock assembly out.
Arnott supplied a retaining ring removal tool that is used to take the top cap off of the stock airbag. You need to do this to separate the air bag from the shock mounting arm, or what ever its called. Arnott says to use vice grips to remove the cap by just pulling it off. Well, after 20 minutes of exhausting labor and sweat, by rocking back and forth I wasn't able to get the cap off even with a spray of liquid wrench around the seal. What I did was to take the retaining ring removal tool and use it to my advantage. The way the ring removal tool originally works is to press down on the top cap so you can take the retaining ring off of the top so you can then use the vice grips to pull the cap off. Well, if you take the center carriage bolt off the tool and thread in a bolt into the air fitting, you can use it as a puller. first, screw in the nuts that are supplied onto the 3 protruding bolts on the top of the air shock. then place the triangle shaped tool on top. Now thread in the bolt to the top cap. slowly and evenly turn the 3 bolts counter clock wise causing the center bolt to pull the cap off. The top cap will not be used again as Arnott supplied a screw in cap on the new air shock, which is better design. This only took a few minutes without the struggle. take a look at the picture that I supplied.
The process of doing this is fairly easy just as long as you have the right tools.
I've been trying to order these for two weeks from Arnott but the back order date keeps moving...another month to wait now. I may have to go OEM which sucks but I want to drive it.
I have replaced 3 of the 4 struts and waiting on the 4th. The pump is on its last legs as well. Someone posted above that the pump was recalled. Can anyone confirm this and would this recall still be available on an older car?
you're right, they are on a very extensive backorder. I was able to get the parts through another shop, not MB. and today my right air bag pop!!! Was glade that I wasn't driving the darn car at the time!!
Reviving an old thread here. I ordered airbags from Arnott and have hit a wall. I have both front shocks off, but cannot get the cap off the airbag at all. I have the retaining clips removed, and have tried everything under the sun to get the caps off. From a proper puller, to vise grips, to brute force, nothing seems to work.
I'm in the middle of replacing the pass front bag and am wondering which one of these lines in the pic is the ADS control? It looks to me line to cable lines are abs and maybe speed control and the one that is wrapped could be the ads but he arnott video clearly shows the guy reaching behind the fender well liner. I removed the liner to get a better look but ...
Also, what happens if I don't unplug? I've removed the fuse for the airmatic already.
Seeing the many air bag failures on the forum led me to investigate totally replacing the airmatic on my 2009 GL. Basically after a little info digging, I decided to source some ML front coil spring/struts and rear springs. Installed. Have been loving the ride, handling (way less wobbly feeling), and comfort of knowing the vehicle wont be lowered in the morning when i go out to get in it.
05-01-2013, 09:00 PM
Gl450
