Ultrakla$$ic

ROCKAUTO BILSTEIN

Senecat

Yeah, you can push the bottom of the shock around conically.

Senecat

I know this because that's how I get mine into position. I bolt up the top, push the lower control arm down, and "bend/push" the shock into position on the capture pin on the lower control arm. The shock moves.

John E

I'll look at my old Bilstein but unless I can swivel /rotate top and bottom independently and change the geometry of the strut, I say it's not installable in its current form.

I understand wrestling/rotating the strut around to get it seated on the lower control arm post.

We'll see what happens when the replacement Bilstein arrives.

Senecat

Post #149

Shock moves independently of the airbag

Clamp the old Bilstein in something and wiggle the shock end around.

John E

I'll give it a try on the old strut.

John E

I'll give it a try on the old strut, but in all my reading and video watching I have not seen swiveling the airbag discussed.

Which part is the airbag, the black bowl or the aluminum mid section?

John E

OK, where in this assembly is the swivel joint?
Do any of the bands clamping the worn out boot need to be undone?
I applied some force by twisting the black top canister with my hands and saw no signs of rotation. I could apply force with a lever between the mounting studs but I fear I could ruin it.




Original still functioning Bilstein

kevm14

I asked this before - doesn't the airbag itself prevent the shock body from rotating? I understand the shock can rotate but that doesn't help. With a conventional strut (as in no upper control arm, a la C-class or W212), the strut is on some kind of bearing and that is what rotates. But the strut itself never rotates.

Senecat

It articulates slightly at where the top clamp is for the dust boot.

Senecat

I get it if you don't feel comfortable with this. After paying $700+ for a strut, I'd want it to come out of the box like it's supposed to as well. Rockauto will have your new one on the way as soon as your return is scanned at the FEDEX drop off. You'll get it quick and they don't ask a lot of questions.

John E

Thanks for the interesting video Senecat! It looks like this re-builder is lining the divot up with a mark on the aluminum canister. I'm not going to mess with that.
You're right the Rock Auto return process is smooth and efficient. Dropped the strut off at FedEx today, hope to see a tracking number maybe tomorrow.

Did you get your pads swapped out?

Senecat

No pad slap yet. Will get pics and interesting bits posted when I do. Probably this weekend sometime. I seem to get dragged into work a lot. The left rear has a bit of a squeal from low speed to a stop, so I'll have some freeing-up work to do on that caliper. The pad isn't wiping the entire outside rotor surface. My 44k mi car sat in a garage in Sarasota most of it's life.

John E

My ordeal is over!
The replacement Bilstein arrived yesterday, Sunday. I immediately compared the geometry/angularity to the old OEM Bilstein.They were a match, good!

Got started about 7:45am today on my 7th and hopefully final front strut R&R since May 21st.
Working thoughtfully and steadily with no rush, the whole process (wheel off to torqued back on) including start up, running for 2 minuted, then raising, was complete by 10:00am.

The test drive confirmed there were no codes, odd noises, or red Sport Mode lights. The care drove level, smooth, and straight. Perfect.

Then again, no more perfect than with any of the other mongrel strut combinations of old and new cheap or expensive.

I hope my experience isn't a sign of things to come.
All in, of three Suncore struts sent to me, two had defective solenoids and were installed removed and returned.
Of the three Bilsteins from Rock Auto, one was assembled incorrectly and could not be installed, was returned and replaced.

So, I have two new Bilsteins installed and one used but functional Bilstein and one slightly used and functional Suncore as spares.
I saw core charges applied with some vendors but not on the Bilsteins from Rock Auto.

It was a frustrating yet interesting month, but its also a relief to know I can fix the eminent and potentially frightfully expensive air tragic strut failure reality in my own garage with a couple of jacks, jack stands and other tools I already have.

Thanks a bunch everyone for the help!

Ultrakla$$ic

so true!! I know the feeling dealing with and fixing (with the help and direction of this forum) my Airmatic Malfunction dilemma.

kevm14

I have concluded that the factory Bilsteins do a phenomenal job of body control and therefore would be concerned that some cheap knockoff would not have the damping performance of the Bilstein. So that is interesting.

John E

I was genuinely surprised by this too. I was unable to discern any difference in damping or ride quality between the left front with a cheap $150 Suncore strut and the old original or new Bilstein strut on the right front. I tried some heavy breaking to check for dive and took some roundabouts and S curves much too fast as a test, and our car just drove normally. Others may perceive differences I didn’t.

My theory is as long as Airmatic has no leaks, all 4 corners of the suspension behave the same whether the struts are old or new until one inevitably fails.

The fact that Suncore had two faulty solenoids raises quality and maybe durability concerns but the first Suncore I installed fit and functioned perfectly.

My image of Bilstein is now slightly tarnished due to their allowing an assembly error to get out the door.

Wouldn’t it be fun to have an air strut shoot out? There appear to be many different brands of struts. Is there a gem out there, a real high quality durable inexpensive (Chinese) bargain? Given the low value of these old yet awesome cars, cheaper than Mercedes dealership parts prices will help keep more of them on the road.

Then again using OEM Mercedes Benz parts makes sense to me too.

kevm14

The challenging conditions that impress me on my S550 are bumps that would send a lesser car into bouncing NEVER causes a bounce in my S550. Even those nasty speed bump tables. It compresses and rebounds exactly once and you can really feel the shock valves working to keep everything in check. You can also drive this car over unbelievably crappy pavement and it is always totally in control and usually comfortable. I drive almost exclusively in Sport mode because I prefer a more firm ride. I believe mine are original - 2007 with 102k (on 18" wheels which may also contribute to my good results). I think what usually happens, aside from the air bag issue, is the shocks can leak and deteriorate in performance over time. If they aren't leaking, they should probably perform pretty close to new.

Now don't get me started on the junk Monroe units that MB went to on the W212 (for Airmatic cars). I don't know what happened between MB and Bilstein in that time but I declare it was a crime.

Senecat

These front struts are so easy to remove and install that it could be fun to try a few. If any vendors were interested in sending a test unit free of charge to keep I'd certainly make youtube review vids with them, if I had any clout on youtube anyway

Ultrakla$$ic

John E

Hey Senecat, I downloaded the Mercedes WIS off eBay. I spent quite a bit of time looking for those lower strut clips with no luck so I was impressed when you were able to pull up the part number I needed. I knew then I just had to have a copy.
The eBay seller said I would receive something in the mail.

I got the a link with password via email, so I downloaded the compressed HiDrive(2) folder. When I open the folder and right click on the 01 file, I do not see the option to extract with 7-Zip.
Do I need to wait for whatever is coming in the mail?

Thanks!

Senecat

All digital. I have no idea why they would send anything via snail mail. Contact the seller. The link is what you pay for. The file will have the complete WIS and EPS database as well as the software and virtual machine. They're big files.

Senecat

EPC, not EPS