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Are Arnott struts still a good replacement on w221s? I have a torn rear strut dust boot and we are contemplating replacing both rears as they are the original MB struts.
I have read mixed reviews in the past on them and possible Chinese part sourcing. Let me know what y'all think. Our car is a 2008 S550 with ADS and also driven no more than 1200 miles a year. This will be my first time I've done struts on an S-Class but not the first time I've had my hands and head in everything German from fräuleins to M272 balance shafts.
Thanks!
Last edited by Uranium238; Jul 5, 2024 at 02:50 PM.
Are Arnott struts still a good replacement on w221s? I have a torn rear strut dust boot and we are contemplating replacing both rears as they are the original MB struts.
I have read mixed reviews in the past on them and possible Chinese part sourcing. Let me know what y'all think. Our car is a 2008 S550 with ADS and also driven no more than 1200 miles a year. This will be my first time I've done struts on an S-Class but not the first time I've had my hands and head in everything German from fräuleins to M272 balance shafts.
Thanks!
I would pass but if you don't mind doing the work more then once then go for it since they are luck of the draw ...
Why not just replace the boot. These shocks are kind of easy and fast to replace so two boots would be 100 bucks and a bit of labor. If there are no leaks and the top bushings are good, no need to replace. Even top bushings may be available for your car.
long and the short of the link for arnott is buy oem if you can.
Why not just replace the boot. These shocks are kind of easy and fast to replace so two boots would be 100 bucks and a bit of labor. If there are no leaks and the top bushings are good, no need to replace. Even top bushings may be available for your car.
long and the short of the link for arnott is buy oem if you can.
How would one get the new boot only over the strut dampening reservoir since you'd have to slide the boot from the bottom of the strut upwards and the small end of the boot would have to stretch far enough to go over the reservoir?? I need to change my boots hence why I'm asking...
Last edited by Ultrakla$$ic; Jul 5, 2024 at 07:19 PM.
Boots require separation of the air spring from the shock. Naturally deteriorated rubber is a sign of age and should be treated similar to a ruptured profilactic....'cause when the rubber breaks, you're dead. I see rebuilds directly from MB dealers are a reasonable $500-$600 range not including core.
I replaced all 4 original struts with Arnott's one year ago and have regretted it ever since. One of the replacement struts was bad and had to be replaced so I was out the extra labor cost in addition to the inconvenience. The ride quality is not the same as the OEM units. I also replaced the valve unit and compressor with Arnott parts. The valve body went bad after 8 months which caused the compressor to overheat and fail. All were replaced by Arnott but again I was out the labor cost and not having use of my car for a couple of weeks while going through the warranty replacement process. I have NOTHING good to say about Arnotts!!!
If the boot has failed, the bag won't be far behind. A new dust boot is not the solution. As far as manufacturer, that's subjective. I don't drive my 221 but maybe 2kmi/yr, and it just sits in the garage (bad also, I know), and I do all my own work, so I don't mind experimenting a little.
I heard @John E has some experience replacing 221 struts and might be willing to cut you a deal on the labor
I replaced my front passenger side with MB OEM parts at my trusted Indy for $1880 for the part plus labor. I asked about Arnott and he said they quit putting them on cars 3 years ago due to customer complaints and warranty issues. One of the owners was driving his Sclass with Arnotts and blew one while driving to Las Vegas. That was it at their shop.
Bumping this thread. I lost the rear right air spring today. Heard a louder than normal hiss and one side looks like a slammed Impala driving around Crenshaw.
There are no right rear Bilsteins in stock and paying $1,132 just for one is not an option right now. Need to replace in pairs and Arnott is the only supplier I can find where I can get at least 2 years out of it.
Now should I go with a rebuilt Arnott strut or with a new? Their website says the new ones are assembled in the USA, but that's pretty ambiguous when it comes to parts sourced for assembly. But what about the ADS? Will I lose it?
They sell rebuilds I see where Continental supplies the air springs. Thoughts??? Which would should I got for? I need this car back on the road by the 23rd this month. Thanks.
Because I need it back on the road right now unfortunately. If I could get both rear Bilstein pairs for under 1500 (Rock Auto used to have the right side) I would have ordered them minutes after the pop.
Bumping this thread. I lost the rear right air spring today. Heard a louder than normal hiss and one side looks like a slammed Impala driving around Crenshaw.
There are no right rear Bilsteins in stock and paying $1,132 just for one is not an option right now. Need to replace in pairs and Arnott is the only supplier I can find where I can get at least 2 years out of it.
Now should I go with a rebuilt Arnott strut or with a new? Their website says the new ones are assembled in the USA, but that's pretty ambiguous when it comes to parts sourced for assembly. But what about the ADS? Will I lose it?
They sell rebuilds I see where Continental supplies the air springs. Thoughts??? Which would should I got for? I need this car back on the road by the 23rd this month. Thanks.
I WAS an Arnott fan but I am not anymore. I bought all air springs for my 2013 W221. In front the left one had a bad leak. FCP Euro sent me a replacement before I even returned the defective one, so they did good. The replacement worked fine.
I lost that car before installing the rears and after long wait I found my current 2012 model, which is the same build for the suspension. Went to install the rear struts and the right side make terrible clunking sound. Did the installation twice making sure it is all correct, did leveling and all but no help.
Bought two Bilsteins from RockAuto and it is all good.
Rock auto did not even charge for the core so I have my old working rear struts collecting dust.
I can give it to you free but you would need to send me a paid shipping label. The rear struts were working fine and I replaced them just for preventive maintenance as I think they are original with the car but at 13 years old they may fail at any moment, but it would put your car on the road until you find the new replacements.
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