Strut problem?
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Joined: Aug 2006
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Strut problem?
The passenger/right side of my 2000 S500 is a little lower than the driver's side of my car, more so on the rear side. If I leave the car parked for a few days, the car looks like its tilting to the right by about 2-3 inches, only to have the compressor even it out while I drive it again. Could this be a strut problem or something else? Also could this be related to a knocking noise I sometimes hear on the rear passenger side of my car when I go over uneven roads?
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 872
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From: Saint Louis
CLS 63 S AMG , s500,clk550
the rocking sound when u go over bumps mean that you need to replace your balljoints and control arms and i dont think that the height problem of 2 to 3inches has to do with your control arms but it might. wait and see wat the others here say. im curious too... it sounds to me like its an airmatic problem
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 809
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From: Dallas, TX
2008 E63 wagon (1 of 62)
more than likely, one of your struts is leaking. There are two places they normally leak from.
1. The top where the air line connects to it. Usually you can see cracks around the hard black plastic stuff around the metal connector for the strut. One easy way to see if it is leaking there is to spray some soapy water ontop of the strut there or just sprinkle a small amount of baby powder on it and then physically push the car up and down a few times with some decent force at that side. If you see any bubbles from the soapy water, or puffs of the baby powder then you know you have a leak at the top. If it is leaking from this area, there is a reseal kit you can purchase but I don't know of anyone that would have the special tools needed to install it except at the dealership itself.
2. The lower seal sometimes also goes out. To see this area you need to raise the car and get under it with a flashlight. (Notice- if you hear air escaping when you raise it, you now know there is a leak.) The lower seal is basically a thick rubber seal that is pressed down over the strut. It is at the base of the accordian looking cover of the strut. If that seal is torn up or not seating properly then the strut will have to be replaced. I have never been able to properly reseat one of these lower seals without it leaking again shortly after getting it back on the ground.
Hope this helps.
1. The top where the air line connects to it. Usually you can see cracks around the hard black plastic stuff around the metal connector for the strut. One easy way to see if it is leaking there is to spray some soapy water ontop of the strut there or just sprinkle a small amount of baby powder on it and then physically push the car up and down a few times with some decent force at that side. If you see any bubbles from the soapy water, or puffs of the baby powder then you know you have a leak at the top. If it is leaking from this area, there is a reseal kit you can purchase but I don't know of anyone that would have the special tools needed to install it except at the dealership itself.
2. The lower seal sometimes also goes out. To see this area you need to raise the car and get under it with a flashlight. (Notice- if you hear air escaping when you raise it, you now know there is a leak.) The lower seal is basically a thick rubber seal that is pressed down over the strut. It is at the base of the accordian looking cover of the strut. If that seal is torn up or not seating properly then the strut will have to be replaced. I have never been able to properly reseat one of these lower seals without it leaking again shortly after getting it back on the ground.
Hope this helps.
Last edited by Racin_fool; Mar 29, 2007 at 08:53 PM.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 85
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the rocking sound when u go over bumps mean that you need to replace your balljoints and control arms and i dont think that the height problem of 2 to 3inches has to do with your control arms but it might. wait and see wat the others here say. im curious too... it sounds to me like its an airmatic problem
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Joined: Jul 2006
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04 S430 (sold),05 X5 4.4i, 02 325i, 87 560SL, 85 Alfa Romeo
I want to open this thread back up bcause it was never answered.
I noticed my car sit 1/4 inch lower on the right side also. anyone seen this before? I am going to try to adjust my right front heights to correct this.
BtW. It's not a leak. THis is how it sits all the time. Even when I raise, the right side is off by the same amount. Now I am very curious...
I noticed my car sit 1/4 inch lower on the right side also. anyone seen this before? I am going to try to adjust my right front heights to correct this.
BtW. It's not a leak. THis is how it sits all the time. Even when I raise, the right side is off by the same amount. Now I am very curious...
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