Arnott Rear Air Springs + ADS
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 14
Likes: 3
From: Cameron Park, CA - NorCal
2008 E550 AMG
Arnott Rear Air Springs + ADS
My Car: 2008 E550 Sport (option 489 - air suspension with level adjustment and ADS)
I am wondering if anyone can definitively answer a question I have regarding Arnott Airmatic replacement rear air springs (air bags).
I understand that with the front struts, if you use Arnott "new" struts (not the refurbs), you will lose the ADS. I am looking at their rear air springs now and see the same sort of wording that they use with their new air struts ("custom-designed"). On their new struts, they never really come out and say that you lose ADS but it is a fact. Can anyone confirm that their rear air springs fully support ADS? I am also curious, since the Arnott rear air spring eliminates the OE reservoir, do you also lose the selectable driving modes (comfort, sport 1, sport 2)?
I cannot really find a definitive answer to what the reservoir does but I think I have determined that it does in fact play a role with both of these functions.
Looking forward to learning more about this.
I am wondering if anyone can definitively answer a question I have regarding Arnott Airmatic replacement rear air springs (air bags).
I understand that with the front struts, if you use Arnott "new" struts (not the refurbs), you will lose the ADS. I am looking at their rear air springs now and see the same sort of wording that they use with their new air struts ("custom-designed"). On their new struts, they never really come out and say that you lose ADS but it is a fact. Can anyone confirm that their rear air springs fully support ADS? I am also curious, since the Arnott rear air spring eliminates the OE reservoir, do you also lose the selectable driving modes (comfort, sport 1, sport 2)?
I cannot really find a definitive answer to what the reservoir does but I think I have determined that it does in fact play a role with both of these functions.
Looking forward to learning more about this.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 545
Likes: 87
From: Southern California
I replaced the leaking air springs with the refurb, A2724 rear air spring. It says it is specifically "for vehicles with ADS, for vehicles with Airmatic DC". It has been on the car over 8 years, no issues. I have full functionality of the different driving modes.
My guess as to why the Arnott's new air springs do not or are not able to offer the different modes is due to patents. Possibly they cannot make an exact copy of the air spring without running into patent infringement issues. However the refurb uses the old cores from the existing air spring and then replaces all/most of the worn internals so it works just like new, even better as they do not leak and do not need the rear reservoir.
My guess as to why the Arnott's new air springs do not or are not able to offer the different modes is due to patents. Possibly they cannot make an exact copy of the air spring without running into patent infringement issues. However the refurb uses the old cores from the existing air spring and then replaces all/most of the worn internals so it works just like new, even better as they do not leak and do not need the rear reservoir.
Last edited by F1Fan; Jun 29, 2021 at 08:26 PM.
