Air Strut with ADS on none ADS car
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 26
Likes: 6
GL350 2013, Sprinter 2016
Air Strut with ADS on none ADS car
X164 w/AIRMATIC, w/o ADS
Hi guys I got a wrong Strut shipped to me, I have no ADS but the strut came with ADS
Do you know if it can be still installed on none ADS car?
Thanks
Hi guys I got a wrong Strut shipped to me, I have no ADS but the strut came with ADS
Do you know if it can be still installed on none ADS car?
Thanks
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 34
Likes: 11
08 GL450 167k
Though it would likely fit physically, it's probably not advisable and here's why:
The ADS units have a servo on the side which adjusts the dampening. (You already knew this) The problem is that we don't know what setting the ADS dampening is currently set to out of the box. Is it set to match the other side? Who knows and since your car doesn't have ADS, it cant change it electronically. Even if you opened the ADS control on the side of that strut, and tried to actuate it manually, it would be hard to know if you were getting the settings to match the other side.
And this all leads me to the next thought....
Always change your struts in pairs!
When you change one out and leave the other older one, it makes one shock do a disproportionate amount of the dampening work. Which results in premature failure. You'll cost yourself more money replacing one at a time than doing both sides together.
Since you're getting ready to DIY a strut change, here's a free tip that will save you ***plenty*** of cursing: Use a ratchet strap as you would use a "spring compressor' to compress the air spring all the way down. It makes removal and installation on these x164 front air struts way, way, WAY easier!!! Trust me on that.
The ADS units have a servo on the side which adjusts the dampening. (You already knew this) The problem is that we don't know what setting the ADS dampening is currently set to out of the box. Is it set to match the other side? Who knows and since your car doesn't have ADS, it cant change it electronically. Even if you opened the ADS control on the side of that strut, and tried to actuate it manually, it would be hard to know if you were getting the settings to match the other side.
And this all leads me to the next thought....
Always change your struts in pairs!
When you change one out and leave the other older one, it makes one shock do a disproportionate amount of the dampening work. Which results in premature failure. You'll cost yourself more money replacing one at a time than doing both sides together.
Since you're getting ready to DIY a strut change, here's a free tip that will save you ***plenty*** of cursing: Use a ratchet strap as you would use a "spring compressor' to compress the air spring all the way down. It makes removal and installation on these x164 front air struts way, way, WAY easier!!! Trust me on that.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
2010 Range Sport HSE
Non ADS SUV
Hi guys I got a wrong Struts shipped to me. I have a 2010 Ranger Rover Sport HSE. I'm replacing all 4. I have no ADS, but the struts came with ADS connections.
Do you know if it can be still installed on my SUV?
Thanks
Do you know if it can be still installed on my SUV?
Thanks
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,755
Likes: 628
From: Emmett, ID, USA
2007 GL450
Sounds like Ranger Rick's canine pal.
Since you were silly enough to buy a British GL, even more silly than buying a German GL, it is little surprise that you did not read the above.
It might work, but it's a dumb idea. Send them back, and if they won't give you a refund, dispute the charge for sending you the wrong item. Then sell them on Ebay, and order the correct four from a different vendor.
Since you were silly enough to buy a British GL, even more silly than buying a German GL, it is little surprise that you did not read the above.
It might work, but it's a dumb idea. Send them back, and if they won't give you a refund, dispute the charge for sending you the wrong item. Then sell them on Ebay, and order the correct four from a different vendor.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,115
Likes: 782
NGL450 w/EORP, S550
If they’re standard shocks with the connector just for show to fool the onboard computer, you can use them. There’s no adaptive in them anyhow.
if real ADS I would not use because you do not know what the base damping rate is and have no way to control it between each shock. Imagine different rates at different wheels at different times…safety of driving hazard right there.
