mampersat

I'm trying to remove the front airmatic strut from my 2006 W211 E500 4Matic. I found several videos before I started, but didn't realize the axle was going to be a problem. I found a few people detail the procedure here - and the quote "was able to collapse it enough to remove it over the top of the axle" from this well documented post.

I'm having a hard time getting it to compress enough. Wondering if anyone who's done it can give me any advice. Another video I found after starting the process has a "remove the axle" step that might have stopped me from trying this myself... but the bolts are on the ground now, and if I can figure out how to get it out I think I'll be good.

konigstiger

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ml#post4974644

mampersat

That is exactly what I'm looking for! Thanks

I got the strap + clamp system working on the old strut like a charm, but it's still too big to get out.

I'm currently trying to drop the axle a little more by removing the 2 bolts that hold the hub+wheel up from below. The two bolts come off, but I can't get the swing arm (wrong term?) to separate and drop a little lower. Might need a special tool for that... or become more accurate with a hammer to knock it loose.

mafi

don't even bother without removing axle. it's not that difficult to remove the axle, and you may save a different headache as a result. example: as i was struggling to get my new one back in with the axle still in the car, of COURSE i knocked the airmatic bung at the top and buggered it. had to helicoil the plastic to get the brass airmatic collar to seat into new threads. at the end of the day, i had a bad strut from RMP and went OEM, so i did the front driver's side twice. it was waaaaaaaay easier with the axle out. just do it. no short cuts.

mampersat

It took over a month, but it's done and working as designed. Biggest problem was that last inch of maneuvering room around the axle. I had to have an assistant stand on the wheel and put all their weight on it while I pushed up on the arm above to squeeze the thing in... this is after wrapping it in straps and clamping them as tight as I could. Looked into removing the axle but didn't end up doing it.
Probably another thing contributing to it taking so long was not really needing the car. WFH etc. has lowered the family need for cars.