Front End Drop
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 154
Likes: 29
From: The Great State of Texas
GL450
Front End Drop
MY car dropped the front end, got a message saying 'Compressor Cooling' and it never really raises the front, only an inch at best and then it says 'Malfunction'.
Car has 97k, the Compressor was replaced at the Dealer with 68k as well as a Relay and two (2) rear Bellows, but its the front and not the rear that has dropped.
Both sides (front) are low, could both Struts have failed at the same time? Or could the Compressor have taken a dump or the Valve Block or the Active Suspension Control Module?
Thanks for the help in advance, cheers!
Chad
Car has 97k, the Compressor was replaced at the Dealer with 68k as well as a Relay and two (2) rear Bellows, but its the front and not the rear that has dropped.
Both sides (front) are low, could both Struts have failed at the same time? Or could the Compressor have taken a dump or the Valve Block or the Active Suspension Control Module?
Thanks for the help in advance, cheers!
Chad
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 154
Likes: 29
From: The Great State of Texas
GL450
I've been reading post's about it thru this forum and others and a few YouTube videos. The problem seems to be pointing to a bad Valve Block, but I think I will replace the Compressor and the Valve Block at the same time. I have been watching the car for a while to see if it drops the front end overnight and didn't see any drop.
The car sits in an inclined driveway but like I said, I haven't seen the front end raising after we get in the car and leave and I never see a message saying "Car Rising" in the display.
What kind of life span do the shocks have on this heavy beast? I could understand replacing them sooner than regular cars, or trucks for that matter, not to many cars weigh 5000+ lbs. But if the general life expectancy of Front Struts on this Land Yacht is around 100K then I guess it's time to replace them too.
Thanks for the help!
Chad
The car sits in an inclined driveway but like I said, I haven't seen the front end raising after we get in the car and leave and I never see a message saying "Car Rising" in the display.
What kind of life span do the shocks have on this heavy beast? I could understand replacing them sooner than regular cars, or trucks for that matter, not to many cars weigh 5000+ lbs. But if the general life expectancy of Front Struts on this Land Yacht is around 100K then I guess it's time to replace them too.
Thanks for the help!
Chad
Last edited by Tiffany's GL450; May 29, 2023 at 12:07 AM.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 73
Likes: 5
From: SoCal
2013 GL550
We had the driver’s side front strut go at about 90k and the passengers side went this past year at about 115k. We have a 2013 GL550. When one front strut goes, the whole front end drops though the bad side will be slightly lower.
We also had to replace our compressor between the 2 front struts going, probably around 100k. I can’t remember exactly.
Replaced the rear shocks last year (not the air bags) which was very expensive.
We also had to replace our compressor between the 2 front struts going, probably around 100k. I can’t remember exactly.
Replaced the rear shocks last year (not the air bags) which was very expensive.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 733
Likes: 297
From: New Orleans
2014 GL450, 1992 W140 300SD, 1993 W140 300SE, 1987 E30 Convertible
Well if both sides drop down especially in front - that would be a compressor. As of now i rebuild both struts, once on one side and twice on other side, and changed both rear bags. I am on the forth compressor, the original one MB i had with rebuild pump, i did had two Chinese ones, non rebuildable (because of poor quality). I am at 145k miles. Front and rear shocks still the same. If you search around there are affordable Chinese struts available at joke price since China copied GL class as their own.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 154
Likes: 29
From: The Great State of Texas
GL450
I'm not going with Chinese knock-offs, would rather buy a reputable product like Arnott. If I get parts from FCP Euro, they have a Life Time Warranty on everything I plan on buying.
Think I will start with the Compressor and Valve Block first, will have the shocks on standby just in case.
Chad
Think I will start with the Compressor and Valve Block first, will have the shocks on standby just in case.
Chad
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 306
Likes: 78
gl450
I'm not going with Chinese knock-offs, would rather buy a reputable product like Arnott. If I get parts from FCP Euro, they have a Life Time Warranty on everything I plan on buying.
Think I will start with the Compressor and Valve Block first, will have the shocks on standby just in case.
Chad
Think I will start with the Compressor and Valve Block first, will have the shocks on standby just in case.
Chad
Last edited by mtm; May 31, 2023 at 06:47 PM.
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 154
Likes: 29
From: The Great State of Texas
GL450
I replaced the Shock/Strut assemblies in the front with Arnott, also turned the rotors and put new pads on. Car is riding at OEM height and currently has no issues!
Gonna give it another week before I send the Air Compressor and block valve back for a refund just to make sure it stays fixed!
Chad
Gonna give it another week before I send the Air Compressor and block valve back for a refund just to make sure it stays fixed!
Chad
