Replacing front top mounts - MBWorld.org Forums

Nov 28, 2020 | 05:00 PM

breeze247

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Joined: May 2017

Posts: 257

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W209 CLK55 - 2003

Replacing front top mounts

Simple question - can top mounts be removed without removing the strut from the lower mount?

In other words:
- Loosen top nut
- Let strut drop out of turret
- Swap top mount
- Replace strut

I’m not sure if the spring has much tension on it. It’s a CLK55, so the spring might be a little shorter, if that makes a difference.

I know that some cars will allow you to swap quite easily (there is an Autodoc video on YT for a 190) but not clear on the CLK.

Nov 28, 2020 | 08:25 PM

ambit

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Joined: Feb 2008

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From: PA

09 CLK550

By 'top part' do you mean the strut mount?
https://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/20...rut_mount.html

I guess it might be 'possible' but without something sturdy under the control arms / steering knuckle i think it might be dangerous. I don't think there would be enough clearance to drop the strut assembly down (while still attached to the swap bar / control arms) to get the strut bearing swapped out. I've done 4 on CLKs but always removed the whole assembly and used spring compressors.

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Nov 29, 2020 | 03:26 AM

breeze247

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Joined: May 2017

Posts: 257

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W209 CLK55 - 2003

Quote:

Originally Posted by ambit

Thanks for your response.

Yes, the strut top mounts. I’ve done plenty of suspension jobs over the years and have spring compressors etc. I think I was just thinking of making the job easier and also minimising how much I disturb the geometry.

The car is a 2003 model and it has 125k miles on it.

So far I have done both lower arms and inner/outer tie rods at the front. At the rear I have done toe arms, struts and top mounts.

I’d say the suspension is OK but over broken surfaces it is a bit crashy. In my experience that tends to come from wear in joints, where the rubber is worn or even failed completely. I am hoping front top mounts could make a big difference, although I wouldn’t say the ride is terrible.

Has anybody else swapped top mounts without fully disturbing the strut?

Nov 29, 2020 | 03:27 AM

breeze247

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W209 CLK55 - 2003

I meant I say Ambit, I was surprised to read your ride didn’t improve massively with the work you did in your thread. I guess that was the impact of replacing struts but not the arms, if you hadn’t already done them.

Nov 29, 2020 | 04:16 AM

nkx1

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Joined: Feb 2019

Posts: 337

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From: CA

2010 E550 Coupe

I'm curious about this, too, since my mechanic didn't replace these when he replaced the struts, and now he wants to charge me the same price (again) to replace the mounts.

Nov 29, 2020 | 06:05 AM

breeze247

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Joined: May 2017

Posts: 257

Likes: 31

W209 CLK55 - 2003

Quote:

Originally Posted by nkx1

I'm curious about this, too, since my mechanic didn't replace these when he replaced the struts, and now he wants to charge me the same price (again) to replace the mounts.

This is part of the reason for me. I consider myself a decent home mechanic, with a good set of tools, but sometimes life gets in the way and I need to get a third party to do work that I could do myself.

Thinking back, all of the suspension work on this car has been done by mechanics. I probably should have just bought all of the arms and struts and done the full set in one go.

With cars that have a greater degree of adjustment (camber and castor) you need to pay for geometry multiple times too.