Airmatic Thoughts
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,199
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From: Albuquerque
'10 CL550, '12 GL550
Airmatic Thoughts
Learned some things yesterday ... probably "should have known."
I've had my 2007 GL since new so it's 11years/78K miles old and have had no Airmatic problems until now. In the past month it's been sitting itself on its nose overnight, so clearly finally a problem.
Replaced the struts yesterday and it's a revelation in how the vehicle rides and handles. BUT ... it clearly wasn't all the air spring component of the struts, as they are obviously shock absorbers as well as (air) springs, and that part of the equation is hydraulic. Seems to me the hydraulic portion can be failing prior to any air problems. Anyway, my biggest symptom until the nose diving was rough riding ... which I initially attributed to tires getting old and rubber hardening. They may have more age than tread wear. The ride problem is gone and things are just a lot tighter than before ... it's a new vehicle. I think I should have replaced the struts maybe a year ago.
11 years for $1100 seems financially reasonable ... cost of doing business.
I've had my 2007 GL since new so it's 11years/78K miles old and have had no Airmatic problems until now. In the past month it's been sitting itself on its nose overnight, so clearly finally a problem.
Replaced the struts yesterday and it's a revelation in how the vehicle rides and handles. BUT ... it clearly wasn't all the air spring component of the struts, as they are obviously shock absorbers as well as (air) springs, and that part of the equation is hydraulic. Seems to me the hydraulic portion can be failing prior to any air problems. Anyway, my biggest symptom until the nose diving was rough riding ... which I initially attributed to tires getting old and rubber hardening. They may have more age than tread wear. The ride problem is gone and things are just a lot tighter than before ... it's a new vehicle. I think I should have replaced the struts maybe a year ago.
11 years for $1100 seems financially reasonable ... cost of doing business.
