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Job is done. Everything went well. Arnott AS-2540's. Rides just like it did before, perfect! Didn't mess with the lower control arm at all. Bought the ball joint separator from HF but didn't need to grind it. Thanks again for the tool tip, Arrie! Job is surprisingly simple. Only ended up with two spare parts, these washer-looking things that popped out of (I think) the top ball joint connection somewhere? Anyway, I hope they aren't important!
Senecat, are you replacing both sides? I’ve read you only replace the strut that is bad, BUT then Autozone says you replace in pairs so I’m confused. Also, how did you decide on using Arnott? I’m trying to decide between Arnott and Bilstein. Thank you, your car looks awesome.
I'm on the market for a Benz with air ride and wanted to clarify something you said. You called your insurance? Am I missing something? The strus are mechanical failures. I'd love to know if your insurance covers the new struts.
I drove 335 miles with the front left strut all the way down. It was a bit rough ride but did not damage anything. The only problem was I could not make sharp left turns for tire rub.
when the rear sensor snapped - I drove home 1/2 a mile at 15 mph it was like the world had ended - the hideous damage I as a tech could feel it was doing to the vehicle was immeasurable (its about the same at jumping it off a bridge and getting 10 foot of air every 6 seconds)
I wish before wasting money on a compressor - I'd moved to real springs - as I have said before I grew up playing on RR and Jags and they rode and handled way better than these ever could - and they never had air anywhere near them. Nor did we ever have one fail so you couldn't drive it in the 8 years I was there - or indeed some old ones were 40 years old and only the wishbone bushes on jags needed any work done to the suspension
there's a huge clue in there - just two years back BMW eng were stating you can't get air suspension to ride or handle correctly and its why they didn't use it - obviously the accountants got in on that and now all their cars are infected with this costly unreliable rubbish
Mercedes Benz dealers are the single best and cheapest source for ABC struts. They are rebuilt by MB to an insane quality standard and can't identified as remanufactured at all!!! My experience: lead manager at a large independent German automotive repair facility for 1 year, where I managed and optimized parts ordering! All other sources are junk!
Best case is to befriend a local independent repair facility and ask bluntly for discounted parts (sometimes you'll save money over the dealer). Also, No parts manager or owner will ever turn down a quick 5-10% profit on parts. If you live in an area deprived of independent repair facilities, contact a close one via phone and have a conversation, as again parts managers or owners will never turn down a quick 5-10% profit on parts, even if they have to ship them. However, they will ask you to pay for shipping!
Apparently, I must be mistaken, because I thought Arnott was the remanufacturer for Mercedes. I hope not, because I'm still riding on 4 original ABC struts, and will be needing to replace at some point.
Apparently, I must be mistaken, because I thought Arnott was the remanufacturer for Mercedes. I hope not, because I'm still riding on 4 original ABC struts, and will be needing to replace at some point.
Senecat, are you replacing both sides? I’ve read you only replace the strut that is bad, BUT then Autozone says you replace in pairs so I’m confused. Also, how did you decide on using Arnott? I’m trying to decide between Arnott and Bilstein. Thank you, your car looks awesome.
I replaced both sides. I put some more miles on the car yesterday and couldn't be happier. I went with Arnott because I didn't feel like spending big money on new Bilstein's. Arnott has been doing this for a while and with Continental bags and new parts, they are still Bilsteins, just rebuilt with 10 year newer parts, and I'm totally ok with that.
I'm on the market for a Benz with air ride and wanted to clarify something you said. You called your insurance? Am I missing something? The strus are mechanical failures. I'd love to know if your insurance covers the new struts.
Insurance pays for my tow, but only through reimbursement. That's what I meant when I said insurance. I paid out of pocket for the struts and did the work myself in my garage. I'll do the rears soon just so all four aren't too far apart from each other in mileage. Good luck with your search, I looked for an entire year to find mine, but I think it paid off, my car is in really good shape.
when the rear sensor snapped - I drove home 1/2 a mile at 15 mph it was like the world had ended - the hideous damage I as a tech could feel it was doing to the vehicle was immeasurable (its about the same at jumping it off a bridge and getting 10 foot of air every 6 seconds)
I wish before wasting money on a compressor - I'd moved to real springs - as I have said before I grew up playing on RR and Jags and they rode and handled way better than these ever could - and they never had air anywhere near them. Nor did we ever have one fail so you couldn't drive it in the 8 years I was there - or indeed some old ones were 40 years old and only the wishbone bushes on jags needed any work done to the suspension
there's a huge clue in there - just two years back BMW eng were stating you can't get air suspension to ride or handle correctly and its why they didn't use it - obviously the accountants got in on that and now all their cars are infected with this costly unreliable rubbish
I wasn't liking the harshness I was experiencing the last mile or two when mine went, that's why I stopped where I did at that park and waited for the tow. At only 46k miles, my car doesn't have a single shake, rattle or roll. It's completely silent and I'd like to keep it that way as long as I can!
Apparently, I must be mistaken, because I thought Arnott was the remanufacturer for Mercedes. I hope not, because I'm still riding on 4 original ABC struts, and will be needing to replace at some point.
Arnott is aftermarket, but have a very good reputation. Arnott doesn't deal with ABC struts anyway. Your struts are a combination of steel springs and a hydraulic piston. Not much to them, either. Don't let the negative stigma from those in the past who didn't even know how to change their own oil dissuade you. ABC is more complex and requires more attention that steel spring-only struts that you never have to look at even once, but it is a magnificent system. If you have a decent understanding of hydraulics, there's nothing to it. Get WIS/EPC, learn where the major components are and you'll be fine.
Lots of people worry too much about ABC even to the point of replacing struts with coil overs, completely destroying the magnificent ride quality designed into the vehicle. Check the r230 forums. I guess the fear of being stranded drives the decision.
Nat-h buy the Mercedes parts you can always be assured of fit and function and stay away from Chinese parts.
Lots of people worry too much about ABC even to the point of replacing struts with coil overs, completely destroying the magnificent ride quality designed into the vehicle. .
my understanding of ABC is regular use and bi annual fluid and filter change and they just keep working - park it up 8 months and destroy it - never change the fluid and rip the seals out of the struts
benzninja has a play time 3rd mode sport option for ABC cars that transforms things for smooth roads
my understanding of ABC is regular use and bi annual fluid and filter change and they just keep working - park it up 8 months and destroy it - never change the fluid and rip the seals out of the struts
benzninja has a play time 3rd mode sport option for ABC cars that transforms things for smooth roads
Parking these cars for any length of time is why I'm in the boat I'm in at only 46k miles. I only put 2k mi on it in the last 12 months. They need to be driven!
Parking these cars for any length of time is why I'm in the boat I'm in at only 46k miles. I only put 2k mi on it in the last 12 months. They need to be driven!
Well, rubber rots no matter if you drive it or not. They will fail at age no matter what you do.
"Bought the ball joint separator from HF but didn't need to grind it."
I completely forgot that the grinding was needed for the lower control arm ball joint separation, not for the upper wish bone joint. The stem on the lower arm joint is much bigger in diameter and the tool did not go all the way in place without opening it up a little bit.
I did her Focus lower arms over crimbo at 157k miles - magically they have two types of taper a big and a small - the ring on the rubber boot lets you know before you do the job - so you can by the right parts
but even here the stupid ball joint puller needed to be heavily ground back - why can't these idiots move with the times rather than peddling some poor design from the 1960's over and over ?
I did her Focus lower arms over crimbo at 157k miles - magically they have two types of taper a big and a small - the ring on the rubber boot lets you know before you do the job - so you can by the right parts
but even here the stupid ball joint puller needed to be heavily ground back - why can't these idiots move with the times rather than peddling some poor design from the 1960's over and over ?
My ball joint separator required no modification for the upper ball joint. I bought this 3/4" version.
Sure, would appreciate that. I looked at your link, but only see Airmatic...am I just missing it?
Only air struts listed in that link. I don't know who make the ABC struts, perhaps BOTUS or Konigstiger knows. I'm packing up the cores now, I'll get the photos up of the original struts in my next post on this thread for future DIY'ers.
I can't fire up WIS, might have to re-install it or something. So I can't figure out what these things are. Would sure appreciate it if someone else did. I really hate leftover spare parts when I'm finished with a job! I think they popped out of the top ball joint mount, but they were fast when the joint popped and kinda flew all over the place before they landed.
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