S320 low on front left side, buy new strut?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
S320 W220 1998
S320 low on front left side, buy new strut?
Hi! My 99mod S320 petrol Mercedes lays low on the front right side after few hours without driving. The rear right side also lowers a little bit, but not as much as the front right side. The top strut seal is fine. I have replaced the sealing a few years ago, and tested them with soapy water today. Whats most likely the cause of this problem? Hose leakage? Leaking valve somewhere? Or just a broken strut? I left the car sitting for some months before the summer, and when i came back, the whole car was laying low.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,473
Likes: 439
From: Ball Ground, GA (N of Atlanta)
2003 S500 2007 GL450
Possible causes:
A leak in the fabric and rubber rolling diaphragm (the primary support) inside the strut. Replacement of the strut is the most practical approach. It is also the most expensive, so you want to eliminate any other cause first.
A leak in the air line from the valve block to the strut.
A leak in the valve that feeds that strut inside the valve block. Possible, but less likely.
A leak in the fabric and rubber rolling diaphragm (the primary support) inside the strut. Replacement of the strut is the most practical approach. It is also the most expensive, so you want to eliminate any other cause first.
A leak in the air line from the valve block to the strut.
A leak in the valve that feeds that strut inside the valve block. Possible, but less likely.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,473
Likes: 439
From: Ball Ground, GA (N of Atlanta)
2003 S500 2007 GL450
I doubt that a level sensor would give this set of symptoms - if the sensor is faulty or improperly linked, the improper level would be held constantly. The level would not drop when parked, then rise when the engine was started.
Newbie
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
W220 S320 CDI
Cheers Martin
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,473
Likes: 439
From: Ball Ground, GA (N of Atlanta)
2003 S500 2007 GL450
Totally different symptoms - his is at proper level when driven, leaks down when parked. Yours is always low.
Yours can be a faulty sensor, but a little more likely to be bent or maladjusted linkage or attachment of the sensor to the vehicle. It can also be a software problem - you can set the ride height of each corner in the software. you will need to use DAS to fix a software problem.
Yours can be a faulty sensor, but a little more likely to be bent or maladjusted linkage or attachment of the sensor to the vehicle. It can also be a software problem - you can set the ride height of each corner in the software. you will need to use DAS to fix a software problem.
Newbie
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
W220 S320 CDI
Fair enough...
Thanks for the advice, it is not the suspension or linkage, it could be the attachment or the sensor. It is not the software as it was set last week. I will find out more tomorrow.
I appreciate your experience.
Many thanks
Martin
Thanks for the advice, it is not the suspension or linkage, it could be the attachment or the sensor. It is not the software as it was set last week. I will find out more tomorrow.
I appreciate your experience.
Many thanks
Martin
Totally different symptoms - his is at proper level when driven, leaks down when parked. Yours is always low.
Yours can be a faulty sensor, but a little more likely to be bent or maladjusted linkage or attachment of the sensor to the vehicle. It can also be a software problem - you can set the ride height of each corner in the software. you will need to use DAS to fix a software problem.
Yours can be a faulty sensor, but a little more likely to be bent or maladjusted linkage or attachment of the sensor to the vehicle. It can also be a software problem - you can set the ride height of each corner in the software. you will need to use DAS to fix a software problem.
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,473
Likes: 439
From: Ball Ground, GA (N of Atlanta)
2003 S500 2007 GL450
The "linkage" that I was referring to is the linkage from the sensor to the suspension - it is not unusual for the linkage to get bent or maladjusted, causing the sensor to send the wrong voltage, resulting in ride height being incorrect.
It also is not unusual for the mounting of the sensor to be off, which will also affect the ride height. These two are the most common causes for the problem that you report.
"It is not the software as it was set last week."
Does this mean that someone with DAS and the special angle sensor set the corner ride heights? If so, why is one corner incorrect? Using DAS and the sensor (although it is possible but difficult to do the setting without the angle sensor) can set the individual standard ride heights for the car as it sits.
It also is not unusual for the mounting of the sensor to be off, which will also affect the ride height. These two are the most common causes for the problem that you report.
"It is not the software as it was set last week."
Does this mean that someone with DAS and the special angle sensor set the corner ride heights? If so, why is one corner incorrect? Using DAS and the sensor (although it is possible but difficult to do the setting without the angle sensor) can set the individual standard ride heights for the car as it sits.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Newbie
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
W220 S320 CDI
Thanks for the clarification. I am not experienced with the airmatic, but I am learning quickly.
It was in the garage last week for a fair amount of other work, which included changing the front strut. I brought the car back near the close of business on the same day, they then set the height using the Mercedes software, and to be fair it was also quite busy... I had previously arranged to bring it back tomorrow to check over other things. I will get them to look at the ride height again and hopefully resolve the issues. The garage I am using is the best indie in the city so I quite confident they will be able to resolve it.
Cheers Martin
It was in the garage last week for a fair amount of other work, which included changing the front strut. I brought the car back near the close of business on the same day, they then set the height using the Mercedes software, and to be fair it was also quite busy... I had previously arranged to bring it back tomorrow to check over other things. I will get them to look at the ride height again and hopefully resolve the issues. The garage I am using is the best indie in the city so I quite confident they will be able to resolve it.
Cheers Martin
The "linkage" that I was referring to is the linkage from the sensor to the suspension - it is not unusual for the linkage to get bent or maladjusted, causing the sensor to send the wrong voltage, resulting in ride height being incorrect.
It also is not unusual for the mounting of the sensor to be off, which will also affect the ride height. These two are the most common causes for the problem that you report.
"It is not the software as it was set last week."
Does this mean that someone with DAS and the special angle sensor set the corner ride heights? If so, why is one corner incorrect? Using DAS and the sensor (although it is possible but difficult to do the setting without the angle sensor) can set the individual standard ride heights for the car as it sits.
It also is not unusual for the mounting of the sensor to be off, which will also affect the ride height. These two are the most common causes for the problem that you report.
"It is not the software as it was set last week."
Does this mean that someone with DAS and the special angle sensor set the corner ride heights? If so, why is one corner incorrect? Using DAS and the sensor (although it is possible but difficult to do the setting without the angle sensor) can set the individual standard ride heights for the car as it sits.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,473
Likes: 439
From: Ball Ground, GA (N of Atlanta)
2003 S500 2007 GL450
Newbie
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
W220 S320 CDI
It is quite a comprehensive resource, Thanks.
My issue is now repaired many thanks. FYI it was the linkage that mounts the sensor that was adjusted and reset several times until it was optimum
Cheers Martin.
My issue is now repaired many thanks. FYI it was the linkage that mounts the sensor that was adjusted and reset several times until it was optimum
Cheers Martin.
