MojoDP

Hello, Wondering if anyone might know what my issue is.
Replaced both complete front struts with worldpac replacements as the spring snapped on the older one. After a couple days i have noticed that the front of car creeks when turning left and right at low speed and while stopped. I inspected the strut and noticed when with the car sitting on the ground i can pull the spring left and right and it will make the same sound as it would while turning. The front struts came complete and i didn't not need to touch anything on them. Is it possible that he spring is maybe not under enough tension? For reference the car is 2012 c250 4 matic sedan W 2.5 V6 (Canadian spec) and i replaced the sway bar end links a few days before the struts
Thanks

TimC300

The weight of the car should be resting on the springs, I dont think you should be able to move them by hand. Even if they are not in the car the springs should not b able to move, they are compressed on.

Have any photos of them installed?

is the ride height the same as with the old springs?

MojoDP

I thought about that too, but my parts connection told me that every car is different and that how it might be (which i dont think its true) the spring is usually so tight on w just the top hat u cant even move it, yet im able to nudged it back and forth with the car on it. The whole strut does seem a little bit longer than the old ones and i believe it has raised the car a bit. But that could also be because the old ones have 220,000 km and were on their way out. I did notice the lower body of the shock was longer on the passenger side to accommodate the very big brake line holder which i had to trim down quite a bit in order for it to fit the new shock as it seemed to be short to match the driver side(same part # for both sides).

TimC300

Do you have a photo of them, even a listing photo what they look like?

What was the Mercedes part# they say they replace?

i do know there is a height difference between the luxury/regular and the sports strut. I had original Mercedes luxury and sports struts side by side, the luxury are 1/2 taller side by side. But still the springs were in there good, no way to move them around by hand.

MojoDP

that might be the case, I believe this model has the sport bumper, the listing was just generic for any w204 4 matic that uses the same strut style. I’ll get a photo of the old and new part # later tn. Only options for me was rock auto where the pair was around $250 which definitely screams quality or worldpac which I’ve had really good experiences with for $900 cad.

TimC300

I had a spring break while the car was parked, heard it snap during the night and found the piece wedged in there. I decided the easiest and least expensive option was to buy two used lower mileage Mercedes struts and swap them out myself. I found a used pair with low mileage in good condition for $170. My W204 has 150,000 miles so i just want to keep it in good running condition for the least money as possible. I did the same for the rear shock and springs. I bought all the parts for less than the price of one new front strut. It rides great, should last a few more years. With the mileage, age and being a New England car there is always something to do to it now.

I started a thread with some of the work I have done: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...uspension.html

MojoDP

Pic of the car w the new struts along w the old and new part numbers

JettaRed

iTrader: (1)

The new replacement part was made in China, versus Germany (original), by a company I've never heard of before. Not sure what you paid for it, but they don't seem very expensive.

Can you provide your VIN or car model number, e.g. 204.XXX

MojoDP

Only brand of quick strut that is available in Canada.
The vin is WDDGF8FB5CA668434 2012 C250 Sedan 4 Matic w the 2.5L v6. Couldn't tell you the full w204 code as i don't have any clue. This has to be one of the most difficult cars ive owned for aftermarket part support.

TimC300

I looked up that strut part# and it appears the Mercedes one is for sports suspension, should have the white and yellow dots on the springs for sports.

Im assuming the new ones you bought are FCS brand. I have no experience with them though see them sold online. When I look up that FCS 1333760 in the descriptions it shows it fitting all submodels, base, luxury and sport. It doesnt specifically just list sport, so im guessing it is the regular height strut. From your photo the front end does look jacked up to me. Mine has the sports struts and there is hardly a wheel gap, probably around one finger width.

Still doesnt explain why you can move the springs. Do you mean you can wiggle them side to side, or you can rotate the tops of the springs clockwise/counter clockwise? The bottoms of the springs should at least be locked in to the grooves.

You should be able to peel that top label off your old strut and it will have another # under it. Im just curious what it says. My old Mercedes struts said 2043232900.

heres what I get when searching 2043204866:






FCS 1333760:

MojoDP

I did see that listing too i do have the yellow and white dots. Ill probably just buy the used set and pray they'll last long enough, till we end up scrapping the car in a few years. I just peeled off the sticker it has the same # as you A2043232900

MojoDP

It almost feels like the plastic bearing that sits on top of the spring is giving out, i am able to click the spring back and forth off that and im pretty sure that is the noise it is making.

JettaRed

iTrader: (1)

Enter your VIN at www.lastvin.com to get a copy of your datacard. You model number is shown in the FIN. In your case, your model number is 204.085. You also have the Sport Suspension (Code 486).

JettaRed

iTrader: (1)

It appears that the new part number for your struts is A2043232900.

MojoDP

Thanks ill take a look, Link for the noise i attached a video of me tugging on the spring, it makes the same noise while turning anywhere below 40km/h

JettaRed

iTrader: (1)

Was the strut bearing replaced, as well? Was it left off? There is definitely something wrong with being able to move the springs like that.

MojoDP

I got the whole strut new pre assembled, all i had to do was install it onto the car, seems crazy that both are doing it.

JettaRed

iTrader: (1)

Here is an exploded view of your strut assembly. Maybe it can help you figure it out.

JettaRed

iTrader: (1)

I see that now. The diagram above might help.

TimC300

I would try and return them for being faulty.

Do you still have the old struts? Can always buy a new spring, take it somewhere to have the new spring installed on the strut, then re-install your old ones. Or buy two new springs and have both swapped out. While you still have these struts installed in the mean time.

I bought the used struts because I didnt want to deal with removing the broken strut, take the strut somewhere and have to pay to have the springs swapped. No way am I messing with replacing springs myself, the correct spring compressor is expensive.

JettaRed

iTrader: (1)

I've used these. The price has gone up by 50%, but not too expensive. Maybe the local auto parts store has them for loan, as well.




https://a.co/d/0iWpaSj3

TimC300

I would not mess with those types of spring compressors, too paranoid of what can go wrong. Maybe it's because I had a spring break just while the car was sitting parked, I dont want my fingers anywhere near them. I've seen the recommended type look like this:

JettaRed

iTrader: (1)

Please post a link.

TimC300

The link is useless unless you live in Australia. I stumbled up this site while searching around for Mercedes specific tools like bushing presses, this place rents out the tools. but then I realized its in Australia. Can at least see what the tools look like though. https://www.ozwidetools.com.au/merce...ressor-adapter

I also saw that type of spring compressor in some instructions I have:

JettaRed

iTrader: (1)

Interesting. Maybe that's why the struts come pre-assembled. My suspension is still good, but I think the replacement Bilstein B4 don't come that way.