scott_online

Can anyone assist me? Naturally the night before a holiday, my front drivers side suspension has lowered the front end almost onto the top of the tire. All of the other corners are fine.

The car was fine driving home this afternoon but after sitting in my drive for a few hours, I discovered the serious drop in the front end and there is no suspension travel when I push down on the top of the fender.

Can someone/anyone help?

Devilsfan72

Sounds like a coil spring may have broken. If it is airmatic strut is probably leaking.

scott_online

Yes, I pulled the wheel off and the coil snapped. Now I'll have to sue the company that cut a deep rut in the road and didn't mark it properly.

Hopefully there are still rental vehicles available on a long weekend.

vettdvr

Don't hold your breath while going after someone who put or didn't mark a rut. Like pouring $$ down the drain.

iownit

Just had my coil spring, front drivers side, let go. Sitting in driveway. AAA'd to the dealership. Over a grand in repair, need the adjuster to verify before being covered. I wouldn't suspect this is something that should happen at 55,000 miles.

samaritrey

Wow that must have been some rut to break a spring how are the rims?

AMGAffalterbach

It must have been, I'd be surprised if the wheel wasn't trashed and the alignment potentially off. Be a badass and go coilover conversion!

iownit

Actually, the car
was sitting in a driveway. I was in the house for a birthday party and a couple of folks were outside smoking. One fellow came in the house and said " I think your air ride is messed up". I said yeah, that would be messed up, I don't have any. Well, long story short, went outside and car fender was sitting on the tire. Had AAA haul it to the shop. Shop says needs a spring and strut, took out the strut when the spring collapsed. Said it was over a 1000 bucks in damage? I priced out parts, maybe 300 less labor, I don't know. I had extended warranty so I have to wait for the adjuster to look at the vehicle because the cost may be in excess of a grand. Been without car a week now. No word yet. I'll post what I get more info. Car has 55,000 miles on it. Wouldn't think they would fail this quickly.

vettdvr

If you hit something your extended warranty won't cover you have to call you car ins co.
IF YOU KNOW YOU HIT SOMETHING and it happened call the ins co. If you don't know for sure I recommend don't say that to your warranty company. Even speculation of a damage claim for repairs can be turned down from warranty companies. They you will have to go to your auto insurance for help and they won't pay on an "I think I hit something."

MarcusF

A week while waiting for the adjuster? Does the extended warranty come with loaner car coverage?

Caution, slightly off topic and may be offensive to lawyers, F&I guys, and anyone who reads contracts. - A team of lawyers get together and spend weeks writing a contract. The F&I guy at the car lot takes that same contract, passes it across the desk and says "You don't have to worry about repairs, sign this and we'll fix *just about* anything." My cynical side thinks the contract may be written in such a way as to allow the insurer the right to deny the claim if the adjuster doesn't inspect the damage before the repair is made. Does the contract say how long the adjuster can take before finding their way over to make the inspection? If it does, are there any penalties for tardiness on the adjuster's side?

I hope it all works out well.

iownit

I didn't see a given limit. Shop called on Monday 7/23, said the adjuster would there on Tues 7/22, still haven't heard. Didn't hit anything. live in the northeast so I wash the car several times a year as well as wax. I'll be pissed if they don't cover it. I still don't see how their figures come up over a grand. its a 2006 e350. I price the parts and no more than 300.00 max. But what do I know. I was curious how they were going to get it on the lift. This thing is almost on the ground. And that is one thing the shop said. They weren't going to move it until the adjuster showed up because it was like a one shot deal.

iownit

One other thing guys. exactly one week prior to this incident, I went to VIP for a basic all wheel alignment. The shop put the car up, hung their measuring devices on all four wheels, messed around for about 45 minutes, shop forman tells me they are having a problem finding the code for that vehicle chassis so they could align it. Long story short, they couldn't do it so my next option was to get it done at the Benz dealer. VIP didn't notice any issue or at least didn't notify me. I'll have to wait and see. Wish I had a smartphone, would've got some pic's.

vettdvr

After Katrina I learned about insurance. Premiums must be paid on time in full but payments can drag out over years and in some cases equal 50 % of loss. Now just don't ask for any details we don't have enough space or time to cover the off topic.

iownit

this is an extended warranty. I don't think i'll need insurance for this

iownit

Just got my car back. Replace 2 front coil springs. no other damage noted. $394 parts and labor. Glad to have it back.

rediesel

My spings broke too this is somewhat common - which isn't a good thing.

iownit

From what I read. I wasn't driving, just parked in the driveway. Don't know what it would be like at 65mph with on coming traffic. Definately wouldn't know it was the spring that caused that head on. Do you have a warranty? I did, 100 dollar deductible. Parts(2 coils) about 136 bucks. But any how. Change both out. Looks good with new springs though. Coil spring should be last things to go on a car

vettdvr

The air spring can fail while driving and drop the car, the SBC brakes can fail and have very high pedal pressure. I had my E500 put on a flat bed truck 3 times for these issues.

The really big deal is they can cause a real safety issue if it happens at the wrong time.

iownit

I've got the cheapo e350, so mine aren't air springs. But I do agree. Head on collision could be fatal. Maybe thats why they wrap you in airbags? 3 times seems excessive for equipment failures. If its under warranty, go with it. When my warranty runs out, I'll upgrade to a different manufacturer. My coils were replaced with OEM. car has 58k on it. No SBC issue yet.

rediesel

The basic coil springs on the non-airmatic are obviously prone to breaking too. Mine was parked when it broke. I've read several other similar posts...owner comes out and finds car slammed due to a broken spring. Car is impossible to drive or steer.

IMO the suspension is the weakest point on these cars. Pick your poison
a. Airmatic is prone to lots of failures and is $$.
b. Basic springs break well before they should, and although thankfully a cheaper fix than airmatic, it's probably a worse event at speed.

Not to mention the ball-joints, control-arms, and strut-rods I've replaced.

iownit

I would think the springs would be the last part to fail. Haven't had to replace any other front end parts yet. How many mile of your car?