Arnott Industries Update
08-25-2009, 04:08 PM
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2003 S500 4Matic
Arnott Industries Update
I just got off the phone with Arnott Industries and they had good news and bad news for me.
Good news was that they now carry 4Matic Remanufactured Suspension Parts. (Price: $599 with $200 core charge = $399)
Bad news came when I, out of curiosity, asked about the ABC system. They said their 4Matic Suspension won't work if my car came with ABC! Boy, was I disappointed!
Basically, they said that the difference between the AirMatic/4Matic Suspension parts vs. ABC is that AirMatic is an all air suspension whereas the ABC is combination of hydraulic and air suspension (correction?).
Arnott only manufactures all air suspension systems, so they not only don't carry the remanufactured systems for Merc's with ABC, but also don't plan on carrying those in the future.
What are my other options for finding replacement suspension parts??
btw my car is 2003 S500 4Matic w/ ABC...
Good news was that they now carry 4Matic Remanufactured Suspension Parts. (Price: $599 with $200 core charge = $399)
Bad news came when I, out of curiosity, asked about the ABC system. They said their 4Matic Suspension won't work if my car came with ABC! Boy, was I disappointed!
Basically, they said that the difference between the AirMatic/4Matic Suspension parts vs. ABC is that AirMatic is an all air suspension whereas the ABC is combination of hydraulic and air suspension (correction?).
Arnott only manufactures all air suspension systems, so they not only don't carry the remanufactured systems for Merc's with ABC, but also don't plan on carrying those in the future.
What are my other options for finding replacement suspension parts??
btw my car is 2003 S500 4Matic w/ ABC...
08-25-2009, 09:07 PM
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W220 S65 AMG
ABC and AIRmatic are completely different. ABC struts are a very complex combination of a hydraulic cylinder, steel spring and a gas shock absorber.
Here is a diagram of the front and rear ABC struts for the W220/W215 cars...
08-26-2009, 12:47 AM
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same question I asked the person on the phone.. He said if you have the button with the picture of the shock on it that when pressed "firms" up the suspension, you have ABC.
08-26-2009, 12:52 AM
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2003 S500 4Matic
Weird thing is, from other threads I've read they said that if you see an air feed tube going into the top of the struts, then I have AirMatic System.
(My car HAS the tubes going into the top of the struts.)
However, one, they (Arnott) made it sound like AirMatic and 4Matic are completely different systems. AND two, from reading about ABC and looking at the diagrams above, I don't see an air feeding line going into the ABC's...
Could I be mistaken about the type of suspension my car has?
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08-26-2009, 01:18 AM
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08-26-2009, 09:19 AM
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96 and 08 911 turbos
Jesus there is some confusion here:
1. Airmatic= Air suspension
2. 4matic= AWD system unrelated to type of suspension (although it affects front susp. components in terms of fitment)
3. ABC=Active Body Control= Hydraulic suspension
If you have feed tubes into your strut tops, you have airmatic. The picture of the strut on the dash is another sign that you have airmatic. ABC has an "ABC sport" button on the dash.
YOU HAVE AIRMATIC, NOT ABC.
1. Airmatic= Air suspension
2. 4matic= AWD system unrelated to type of suspension (although it affects front susp. components in terms of fitment)
3. ABC=Active Body Control= Hydraulic suspension
If you have feed tubes into your strut tops, you have airmatic. The picture of the strut on the dash is another sign that you have airmatic. ABC has an "ABC sport" button on the dash.
YOU HAVE AIRMATIC, NOT ABC.
08-27-2009, 05:45 PM
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2003 S500 4Matic
That's awesome. Good to know. So I can get the replacement shocks from Arnott afterall.
Jesus there is some confusion here:
1. Airmatic= Air suspension
2. 4matic= AWD system unrelated to type of suspension (although it affects front susp. components in terms of fitment)
3. ABC=Active Body Control= Hydraulic suspension
If you have feed tubes into your strut tops, you have airmatic. The picture of the strut on the dash is another sign that you have airmatic. ABC has an "ABC sport" button on the dash.
YOU HAVE AIRMATIC, NOT ABC.
1. Airmatic= Air suspension
2. 4matic= AWD system unrelated to type of suspension (although it affects front susp. components in terms of fitment)
3. ABC=Active Body Control= Hydraulic suspension
If you have feed tubes into your strut tops, you have airmatic. The picture of the strut on the dash is another sign that you have airmatic. ABC has an "ABC sport" button on the dash.
YOU HAVE AIRMATIC, NOT ABC.
08-27-2009, 05:53 PM
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2003 S500 4Matic
08-27-2009, 08:49 PM
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2000 Mercedes Benz S500 Designo
FALSE. The button will say ABC on it or ABC sport, airmatic also has a button with a picture of a shock on it
