So I need to replace my front struts due to a leak in the mastic. I see that many have purchased the rebuilt struts from Arnott Industries and love them but what about the new Bilstein shocks they offer? The cost difference isn't much so I could purchase either one.

Anybody with experience with the new Bilsteins?

 

if all you have is a leak in the mastic, a $5 tube of epoxy will fix it. search EPOXY in this forum to see prior threads

 

I actually did try the epoxy and it's just not sealing all the way. I'm going to try to add more and hope it fixes it but I was preparing to just purchase replacements and hopefully be done with it if the epoxy won't hold. My issue is I can't get one of the valves off without possibly ruining it and I can't get a good seal of epoxy around the area under it

 

My Arnott's are not rebuilt. They are new and have a superior design to the OEM struts. Lifetime warranty can't be beat and they do have great customer service. I have purchased 4 sets of them in my auto life (former Rover owner which explains it all). Best of luck!

 

I will go this route when my struts act up.

Luckily (or unluckily), Arnott carries the air suspension parts for my X5 also, which was taken from the Range Rover 4.6 HSE design... and boy is it problematic -- more so than the W220!

 

why mess with success.

Replace the air suspension. Given how inexpensive these things are, and how long they generally last, why anybody messes with the strut conversions I'm not sure.

 

Ajkennedy is mistaken.... All arnott struts are rebuilt from factory struts that have been sent in for the core refund.... It is better than the stealership cuz the rebuilt arnott's have a lifetime warrantee and cost far far less then a replace with the oem parts

 

Actually, Arnott has new front and rear struts that are brand new, co-designed with Bilstein. Arnott now offers both new struts or rebuilt struts.

Here is their website: http://www.arnottindustries.com/part...18_pid126.html

 

I just don't know which to purchase, new or rebuilt? Almost the same price so thinking the new ones and that's why I was asking if anyone had any experience with them.

 

I think the new ones just recently came out so theres probably not much user experience with them yet....

though the rebuilt ones people have been very happy with

 

One thing I find interesting is that these "new" pieces still have a core charge.


this leads me to believe they are not in fact new, but remanufactured using a bunch of new or different/bilstein parts.

 

Not necessarily. They could use the old cores to rebuild them and sell them as their rebuilt units.

 

I spose, but its pretty unusual to ask for a core on a new product

 

They are going to want your core either way so they can rebuild them to make money off them but I would rather spend less on the rebuilt ones with a lifetime warranty then more for new ones with lifetime warranty, but it's up to you, I have the rebuilt ones and I love them!

 

Dreamer, easy with the accusations. You apparently don't know much about this product - I do. I have purchased several sets recently and they are 100% new.

 

Take it easy aj, I got mine before they offered the new ones that's all, my bad but you are right they offer both now

 

Ended up going with the new Bilstein set for the front struts. Thought I would give them a try instead of the remanufactured ones. Should arrive next week

 

i have also purchased a set of front ones for my 2000 s500, and couldnt be happier, but the back ones have recently started acting up so i dont know if i should get the rebuilt units, or maybe try the bilstein design.
ZX1100 defiitely keep us posted on your impressions and experiences with the bilstein design struts

 

ecogutpl...definitely Should be on the car by end of next week and I will difinitely be using the car so I will know how they perform fairly quickly.

 

Quick question before I dive into the swap, will I need to also raise the rear tires off the ground when replacing the front struts? All four tires off the ground or just the fronts will do?

Thanks.

 

I used the jack in the trunk to lift the front one side at a time... Worked for my swap

 

So I'm stuck in the middle of my strut swap For the life of me I can't get the original strut out. I removed the two screws at the bottom of the strut, disconnected the wire coming from the strut, and removed the 3 nuts on top. Is there anything else I need to disconnect? I only get about 1" or 2" space between the top of the strut and no way to raise it so the bottom clears to be able to slide it out, I can't even get it to budge

It's cold here so I gave up and will try again tomorrow.

Thanks for any suggestions

 

Try to compress the strut to shorten it. Without air in the bladder, you should be able to do so like a regular shock absorber.

 

I grabbed a bar and wedged it in the lower a arm then pushed down with all my might!

 

Yep, that's how I removed my old shocks on my W210 as well.