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Yesterday while driving my rear suspension suddenly collapsed. When I pulled over I noticed that both sides were sitting on the bump stops. Front still sits fine. All 4 corners have been replaced with Arnott units, rebuilt in the front and their in house design without the resevoirs in the back, which were changed before I got the car and so are of unknown age.
I haven't had a chance to plug in my MBII scan tool but I did see the Visit Workshop message with the car and arrow on the dash when this happened. My question is this, could it be a bad air spring if both sides collapsed at the same time? Car has also had the valve block and air pump replaced, and until now I've never had any problems with the rear suspension (but as I said the previous owner must have since the rear springs are Arnott). Thanks for your help!
Just a quick update, got a chance to pull the codes this morning. Only one that it threw is 5506 - Recovery times during bleeding of air suspension strut is too long. Any ideas?
Had the chance to dig a little deeper. The lines going into the valve block are all good, no leaks. I'm leaning towards this being the rear level sensor. Reading the stream from the level sensors, the front two are reading around 80mm but the rear is reading 120mm, which is higher than the front but the car is sitting on the bump stops in the rear. The only way that makes sense is if the rear level sensor is either fried or the plastic lever is broken or disconnected. Anyone have experience with changing or repairing the rear level sensor?
I wonder why it came off? If only all repairs were this easy!
Apparently you've never driven in Houston, we have some truly terrible streets lol. But seriously I'm a bit concerned too, when I have time I'm going to see about replacing the rubber bushing that holds it on, but it does seem to be very secure at the moment.
Thanks, I had the same issue but reading about your fix saved my day 👍😊. Corrosion at the steel ball/joint seems to have eroded the plastic linkage arm that is now not tight fit.
Good to know you!
I seem to have, the same problem, but different.
Let me tell you the story first.
I own an S250 W221 from 2011. I installed lowering link on my suspension. Worked fine....everything.
One Saturday, when I was leaving from work, after I washed my car, suddently my rear fell down on bump stops. This happend in about a mile, as a distance. Everything was bouncy. Rear suspension was down. I reached my garage, where I have a ramp. I saw the rear level sensor lever not connected. Connected it...nothing happend.
So I bought a brand new level sensor, and brand new bracket (my old one was rusty). Installed them, nothing happend. Compressor not starting.
ERROR is the same as my colegues above.
I checked the compressor - it's ok, running with direct wires.
I checked the airbags - all 4 are ok
I checked the level sensors - all 3 are ok.
With the diagnostic tool , LAUNCH, I manage to erase the error. But the car still lays down.
Can you please help me with some ideeas. A friend of mine told me, that the relay is OK, and the 40amp fuse it's OK also.
I don't know what to do from now on...
Are you totally sure your airbags aren't leaking? Soapy water test with full pressure and maximum height and the car resting on its own weight is the only way to tell. If the bag doesn't inflate on one side, but it does on the other, I'd suggest the airbag is faulty. Are you able to get the bag to inflate at all? If you loosen the air valve on the suspect bag is there evidence of any pressure when the compressor is running?
After that, is the ride height sensor in proper operating condition?
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