my GL started riding harsch so i decided to replace compressor and valve block but the ride didnt change. It has no leaks or any sagging corners, i was told that one guy on here had the same problem and it was fix by replacing rear shocks not bags, so i went and installed the 2 rear shocks but nothing changed, i have the airmatic rise & lower button only not the adaptive dampening system (sport & comfort mode), at this point im leaning towards front struts replacement, what else would be the problem to a hard ride? Please help

Tires are all new, and not run flats, the problem is that it doesnt dampen the road anymore, every little pothole or road imperfection is felt, it used to drive really smooth, what i wanted to know is what else would be causing the hard ride other than the front struts? Is there something electronically related that does the dampening on this model or just the struts are bad? The truck sits high and level so thats whats tricking me, i just didn’t want and go spend an xtra 1000$ on front struts and problem would still exist

Your leveling rods might be seized in the rear.

I had this replaced a couple weeks ago and it made an extreme difference from riding hard to plush.

Mine was at 80k and 8 years.

Thanks Guys for your response, I was also thinking the same thing about the rear leveling rods being seized, i will do that today take them apart and clean & grease them up hoping that this could be my problem, being that is the only thing left to do other than replacing the front struts, i will post the results once i have completed this, im also thinking doing the suspension conversion to coils & getting rid of all the airmatic suspension problems, thanks

no! Don't do that. 😢

Nothing rides as smooth as the air suspension in full working order.

For me, I couldn't tell the difference that there was a issue with the leveling rods except for that the ride had turned harsh.
The height and level seemed the same and appearance wise the car looked the same height it always had been.

But once the leveling rods were replaced, and I jacked up the suspension using the raise function I could definitely tell there was more lift than before. Considerably more.

And all was plush and soft and cushy once again.
Although having winter Tires help. 😬

Thanks for answering, I did the rear leveling rod job today, they were definetely seized, i managed to get them moving freely again, sprayed alot of silicone lubricant and then greased them up, but the ride didnt change, your saying that you replaced the rods with new ones? I dont see any abnormal shape to them they look pretty straight dont know if new ones are really any different, did you also replace the sensors or just the rods (plastic arms)?

I personally did not. It was taken care of courtesy of my extended warranty, which also replaced a belt tensioner and the center idler pulley at the same service too.

I've attached my receipt if it helps.

I think someone will tell you that the airmatic suspension will need to be reset...... But driving around should help it sort it's proper level no?

I climbed under the car before it got dark, my fronts are definitely....at risk of breaking but still function. The reears are definitely new.

Thanks, im going crazy just drove 30 miles round trip, after cleaning and greasing the rear rods the ride seems even more harder than before, i will take it to a mercedes specialized mechanic maybe they can figure it out for me

Thanks i checked out your receipt and copied the parts number and ordered new rod links online for 65$ for both, I think i will do this last try before taking it to a shop, the ones on the car are kind of flimsy so i dont know if it will make a difference but for 65$ i’ll give it a try

If your normal ride height is lower than factory set it will ride hard. If it is higher it will ride hard too. There is a sweet spot for the normal ride height which offers best comfort.

Truck needs to be calibrated with star/ das. Older trucks get their dog bones frozen which results in changes in ride height and stiffer ride.

Thanks Alx thats going to be my next step, im waiting on rear level rods to arrive that i ordered so once i get and replace those i will take to dealer to get it calibrated, any idea roughly what the dealers charge for calibrating airmatic?

Thanks for the response, thats exactly what i’ve been thinking all along, I actually have it in a shop right now being checked out, lets see what comes up thanks

i have a 5507 code front strut not plausable or something like that, after calibrating it, it drove fine for about 10 mins then started riding hard again, we checked and all the values were all messed up again, i have a cheap aftermarket level sensor on front passenger side, maybe this is whats causing the hard ride and messes up the calibration everytime? Everyrhing else is brand new, compressor, valve block, front and rear level rods, rear shocks, the compressor is a brand new oem part but the valve block is aftermarket made in germany......Alex any ideas? Thanks