VMAX7

Hey guys,

I've had the strutmasters strut conversion on the 2000 S430 for just under a week and I must say the car sits absolutely perfect after the springs have seated.

After a 750 mile drive back to Florida (from N Carolina) since the install the car kept it's composure over bridges, through sweeping corners, and held its composure deep into the triple digits.

The vehicle feels like it did when it was on Airmatic with the setting on 1.
I DO feel these are a must for any Airmatic/ABC Mercs.

I thank the gentlemen at Strutmasters.com Ken and Brad for going above and beyond for my complete satisfaction!

Link below:
http://www.strutmasters.com/mercedes...parts-s/30.htm

I also understand there is a module in the works that will eliminate the Airmatic/ABC display warnings.

VMAX7

I will upload more pictures if needed.

benzs430pl

Did you do the install yourself? If so how long did it take, and how was the difficulty? If you had it done at a shop do you mind telling how much labor was?

tusabes

Their kit won't replace abc will it ?

VMAX7

I bought a set in 2009, after three years I felt they needed to be looked at by Strutmasters.

They got the ride height perfect at the time but after a while the rears started to sag so I went ahead and ordered two rears earlier this month (May/2012).

I misplaced the info from when I got the first set in '09. They do come with a lifetime warranty.
I ended up purchasing two for the rear, had my indy install them but the ride height was too high (3" gap).

So I drove up to NC regardless. While I was there I looked up Strutmasters again.
Coincidentally, they are located 2 hrs from Goldsboro(my vacation destination).
I called them up, spoke with Brad, drove to their location, set a date to get the new rear struts' ride height lowered.

The following monday the car was dropped off. Got it back the next day with THE FRONT STRUTS replaced AND the ride height dialed in.

They charged me not one red cent for their labor or parts (front struts, I paid for the rears back in FL)!

Their kit will replace ABC, presently, the error message will be displayed in the instrument cluster. Ken, the mad scientist at Strutmasters, showed me a module in the works that will get rid of the message. I know it is for Airmatic vehicles, but a little cloudy if he said it was for ABC also.

Give them a call.

VMAX7

The indy in Fl ripped me on labor, i'll never go back to him. $531 to install two rears...

Douglas Funny

I would definitely be interested in that module if they ended up producing that.

Sgt. Schultz

damn, that sits really nice now

toss in some spacers and it'd look perfect IMO

well done

VMAX7

I don't know, i'm going for the grown man look..

classyS

ABC delete kit PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tusabes

he says they do have ABC delete kit!

they have a kit for s600 and cl500 which are ABC only
Someone needs to try it

fisherman123

I don't need one yet but good to know this is a cheaper way out.

I just got off the phone with strutmasters.com,866-597 2397,they say the conversion kit is $1395 for my s600 and will have the plug in ABC error delete module ready in about 2 weeks for additional $200.

Mike

MBTEK

I just installed an ABC to spring steel conversion from strutmasters. I bought the Arnott kit first, they don't sell a kit for ABC but with everything else being equal I gave it a shot.The rear looked great, the front was way to low by about 2". Arnott refunded me and I got the SM kit,swapped it out and although it rides about in the raised posistion, the ride quality thus far is really good. I'm going to have the client drive for awhile to see how much it settles before worrying about ride height. The Arnott kit came with a module you hook up to the CAN at the module and the Sm kit comes with sensor resistors.I had a error code on the cluster for air susp. being defective ( I changed the coding in the cluster from ABC to airmatic since with lack of ABC pressure would give me the red warning and not go away with the reset button).I have not hooked up the resistors and just unplugged the CAN off of the ABC module and I get the soft message of airmatic failure but it goes away once changing screens/ R button. I'm still checking out other alt. set-ups that can work that will eliminate the light before buying the module. The car I did was an 02 so 03 and later will probably be different due to operating systems differences. I also eliminated the ABC pump completely by using a p/s pump and reservoir off a 05 e55,repositioned the p/s pressure line to attach correctly,made a bracket to keep line in position and removed ABC/ P/s reservoir completely. A couple of things I ran into was I had to drill the front strut upper mounting holes a little bigger,the Arnott kit would not fit into the stock mounting holes but the Sm kit didn't seem to have a problem. I'm not a big fan of keeping the stock ABC pump since it can produce 180 bar of pressure and if there is a leak it's still leaking, just not from the struts and if it goes dry it could cause a failure of the pump since it's not being lubricated,time will tell. Also keep in mind that ABC cars do not have sway bars front or rear. To add a front one you will need new spring links,the bar and mounting hardware and the links to connect it to the link/bar. The rear goes on top of the subframe so you will need similiar parts but the rear hub assy looks like it will accept the sway bar links. You would have to lower the rear subframe to install the rear bar as well so I think if anything,upgrade the front when you need spring links or bushing and forget the rear.Hope that helps as this project is still under way.

VMAX7

Module complete.

VMAX7

I am in no way affiliated with strutmasters, I'm just passing along pertinent products of a company with a good set of employees I believe in after just one visit.

VMAX7

3yrs later and still good info, especially post #13

jpohl402

TO TOUCH ON WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE SUSPENSION: HOW DOES IT FEEL??

I just did this conversion also!
Install went fine. ABC light still on dash, even with module (par for the course, says so in installation manual.)
Ride height is good, I am told. Ride isn't too bumpy, or anything like that - you don't "feel" the road too much.

However - my car was an ABC car, not the standard hydraulic. Apparently the hydraulic cars had/have a sway bar separate, in the suspension. On the ABC cars, the sway bar is built into the ABC system. I was unaware of this/never thought about it. Therefore, my car, with this Strutmasters kit & ABC delete, now has NO sway bar! According to the installer, I won't be taking any more high speed corners/turns, as the suspension feels "floaty." Not that I did anyway (it's an S-class after all), but I wonder exactly JUST how "floaty" the front end feels?!
Does anyone know/have any first hand experience with it??? Certainly something to consider with this kit.

I'm out of town for a few more weeks, left this car with a mechanic for the install. So I have not & cannot drive the car myself yet!

jpohl402

That's about right actually.
8 hours total for all 4 corners is what R&R calls for.
So that would mean 4 hours for the rears. Your price of $531 / 4hrs = $132.75 per hr (an average labor rate.)

Fried Chicken

I completely disagree; ABC suspension is amazing.

MICHEL D

Just got my s430 4 matic converted to Strutmasters cost of labor 320$ CAN drove it for 200 miles and stored it for the winter I drive a e320 4matic in the winter the fell with the Strutmasters was stiffer than with the e class , the stering was stiffer to turn: will see comes sping time what it will be, there is nothing that equals the mercedes air suspension but then peace of mind when you are on long trips is worth it. The car sits nice 28 inches in the front 26 inches in the back ( ground to under the fender)

stu11

Love the strutmasters conversion but the right side has bottomed a couple of times when fully loaded or about 900 pounds of passengers, stuff, plus full gas tank. Is there a jounce bumper or travel limiter that would work on this 2001 S500 with sport package? I deleted the ABC since there was no way I was going to put 8K into an 01.

tusabes

wow what's the name of the shop that installed for $320?

stu11

Does anyone know a part # for the rear anti sway bar kit for the 2001 s500? It appears that most S class had either airmatic or ABC. Did the airmatic version come with anti sway bars?

Thanks in advance!

cmpcpro

I believe the Airmatic system did.

tusabes

yes all airmatic cars have sway bars , abc cars do not