Front Suspension Woes Continue
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 49
Likes: 12
2014 GL450
Front Suspension Woes Continue
2014 GL450 X166
82,000 miles
So far over about two years now, as some of you may recall, I have replaced the following:
Air struts (Arnott with Bilstein or Eibach, can't remember)
Upper and lower control arms
Inner and outer tie rods
Sway bar
Sway bar ends
Compressor twice
Valve block twice
The car rides and handles nicely, goes up and down fine. On bumps it still clunks. I'm assuming the Arnott struts are garbage since every Arnott product I've bought has been garbage and I've replaced. I just don't know what else to do. It's been to two indy shops and a dealer. They all say everything is fine. What else can I check / replace???
Thanks
82,000 miles
So far over about two years now, as some of you may recall, I have replaced the following:
Air struts (Arnott with Bilstein or Eibach, can't remember)
Upper and lower control arms
Inner and outer tie rods
Sway bar
Sway bar ends
Compressor twice
Valve block twice
The car rides and handles nicely, goes up and down fine. On bumps it still clunks. I'm assuming the Arnott struts are garbage since every Arnott product I've bought has been garbage and I've replaced. I just don't know what else to do. It's been to two indy shops and a dealer. They all say everything is fine. What else can I check / replace???
Thanks
Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 126
Likes: 47
From: Toronto
2013 Mercedes GL350 Bluetec (X166) & 2019 Mercedes A220 (W177) & Retired 2008 Mercedes C300 (W204)
Sounds like you've covered many items. What about Sway bar bushings and LCA bushings. I would assume these were replaced and new when you replaced the sway bar and LCA.
Have you checked your CV axles on both sides?
Have you checked your CV axles on both sides?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 49
Likes: 12
2014 GL450
In colder weather the clunking over bumps is far worse. It appears equal between left and right which is making me think to investigate the trans mount and motor mounts. How can I test these before throwing more parts at the car?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 49
Likes: 12
2014 GL450
Had my local independent German place do the engine mounts and trans mount. Engine mounts were bad. I expected this to be solved, but no. I drove off and immediately heard the same clunks. Knowing that all the front suspension parts are newer and having checked everything again, he suggested warranty replacement of the Arnott front air struts. He said they can be hit or miss and I may have gotten bad ones. I can't imagine both being bad at the same time, brand new though. His words were "excessive rebound in the dampers". Even if I get them replaced under warranty, another $1,600 for labor to install. This is going to be something I have to live with or get a new car.... I love the car and wish I could keep it but the money I've spent chasing this sound is ridiculous.
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2025
Posts: 12
Likes: 1
2016 Gl 450
Had my local independent German place do the engine mounts and trans mount. Engine mounts were bad. I expected this to be solved, but no. I drove off and immediately heard the same clunks. Knowing that all the front suspension parts are newer and having checked everything again, he suggested warranty replacement of the Arnott front air struts. He said they can be hit or miss and I may have gotten bad ones. I can't imagine both being bad at the same time, brand new though. His words were "excessive rebound in the dampers". Even if I get them replaced under warranty, another $1,600 for labor to install. This is going to be something I have to live with or get a new car.... I love the car and wish I could keep it but the money I've spent chasing this sound is ridiculous.
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Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 105
Likes: 39
From: SC
2015 GL350, 2013 GL350, 2002 ML320, 1983 E300TD-D
Following, have the same issue
2013 300K+ miles same aggravating clunk/rattle.
Replaced:
-front & rear shocks/struts (parts from dealer)
-front lower control arms
-all normal rubber stuff in front end
-engine mounts
-trans mount
-front wheel bearings
-left 1/2 shaft due to grinding noise
All that and it still has a slight railroad track/pothole rattling. I hope one of us figures it out. Still a great car.
Replaced:
-front & rear shocks/struts (parts from dealer)
-front lower control arms
-all normal rubber stuff in front end
-engine mounts
-trans mount
-front wheel bearings
-left 1/2 shaft due to grinding noise
All that and it still has a slight railroad track/pothole rattling. I hope one of us figures it out. Still a great car.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 49
Likes: 12
2014 GL450
Fixed
This started with a clunk. I did the end links first. Then the struts with Arnott non-ADS with Eibachs. Still clunking, as if I still had two blown struts. I went down the rabbit hole and replaced every single suspension component and the engine mounts and trans mount, one by one, never thinking I still had blown struts since they were brand new. Still clunking. So tonight I installed Bilstein air struts. Clunking gone. Who would think that TWO Arnott air struts would be bad out of the box at the same time on the same car? I had replaced the rear air bags with Arnott and after 2 days I couldn't take the clunking so I got OEM bags and that solved it. I will NEVER EVER purchase another Arnott product. If you like them, good for you. That company has cost me thousands. Finally my car is enjoyable to drive again.
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2025
Posts: 26
Likes: 7
From: Kentucy, USA
2013 GL 350, 2011 BMW 328i
This started with a clunk. I did the end links first. Then the struts with Arnott non-ADS with Eibachs. Still clunking, as if I still had two blown struts. I went down the rabbit hole and replaced every single suspension component and the engine mounts and trans mount, one by one, never thinking I still had blown struts since they were brand new. Still clunking. So tonight I installed Bilstein air struts. Clunking gone. Who would think that TWO Arnott air struts would be bad out of the box at the same time on the same car? I had replaced the rear air bags with Arnott and after 2 days I couldn't take the clunking so I got OEM bags and that solved it. I will NEVER EVER purchase another Arnott product. If you like them, good for you. That company has cost me thousands. Finally my car is enjoyable to drive again.
Glad to hear the issue is resolved! A great independent Mercedes shop that I follow on YouTube (603 MTech Autowerks) advises against using Arnott suspension products, and this is one of the reasons why.
I do have Arnott rear air bags on my GL currently (and they have been fine), and at one time I was planning to use Arnotts on my front air struts when they go out. However, I will definitely be going OE now.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 49
Likes: 12
2014 GL450
I'm glad yours and others are good. The plus here is that at 83,000 miles my entire front suspension and other wear and tear parts are new so I suppose that's a silver lining. It's just been a voyage and it all comes back to the front right strut. I don't intend to change anyone else's opinion on products, just my experience.
Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 105
Likes: 39
From: SC
2015 GL350, 2013 GL350, 2002 ML320, 1983 E300TD-D
This started with a clunk. I did the end links first. Then the struts with Arnott non-ADS with Eibachs. Still clunking, as if I still had two blown struts. I went down the rabbit hole and replaced every single suspension component and the engine mounts and trans mount, one by one, never thinking I still had blown struts since they were brand new. Still clunking. So tonight I installed Bilstein air struts. Clunking gone. Who would think that TWO Arnott air struts would be bad out of the box at the same time on the same car? I had replaced the rear air bags with Arnott and after 2 days I couldn't take the clunking so I got OEM bags and that solved it. I will NEVER EVER purchase another Arnott product. If you like them, good for you. That company has cost me thousands. Finally my car is enjoyable to drive again.
