RF air strut/corner won't lower. Stuck fully extended
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 118
Likes: 10
07 Cls550
RF air strut/corner won't lower. Stuck fully extended
I'm about to set this thing on fire & be done with it.
I was in the process of adjusting my ride height using adjustable links because the right front corner always sat a little higher than the leff. It wasn't even visually noticeable but I knew it & had to "fix it".
Not sure how it happened, might of turned the ignition switch on to check the voltages of the left sensor while the right sensor was either disconnected or the leveling arm in the wrong position regardless at some point the right front strut fully inflated lifting the RF to the max.
I can't get the RF to lower, it's stuck at 80mm. I tried bleeding the air by disconnecting the air line, using a 9v to activate the solenoid, still nothing.
Bought a bidirectional scanner, to raise/lower each corner but still can't get it to lower to normal ride height. It's showing the RF strut pressure around 1 bar but won't go any lower, assuming because that's atmospheric?
With no pressure in that air strut how is it possible the RF corner isn't sitting on the wheel?
What could possibly be holding it in the extended position? Everything was fine before I touched it.
I was in the process of adjusting my ride height using adjustable links because the right front corner always sat a little higher than the leff. It wasn't even visually noticeable but I knew it & had to "fix it".
Not sure how it happened, might of turned the ignition switch on to check the voltages of the left sensor while the right sensor was either disconnected or the leveling arm in the wrong position regardless at some point the right front strut fully inflated lifting the RF to the max.
I can't get the RF to lower, it's stuck at 80mm. I tried bleeding the air by disconnecting the air line, using a 9v to activate the solenoid, still nothing.
Bought a bidirectional scanner, to raise/lower each corner but still can't get it to lower to normal ride height. It's showing the RF strut pressure around 1 bar but won't go any lower, assuming because that's atmospheric?
With no pressure in that air strut how is it possible the RF corner isn't sitting on the wheel?
What could possibly be holding it in the extended position? Everything was fine before I touched it.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 118
Likes: 10
07 Cls550
Forgot to mention that I tried compressing that corner. Removed the wheel, put a jack under the ball joint & tried to compress it that way but it just started lifting the car, not compressing the strut.
Just disconnected the upper & lower strut bolts. Tried to compress the strut itself with the jack & it won't move.
There has to be air still stuck in the strut despite what the scan to says. Now the question is, how do I remove it if I can't deflate it? Prefer not to destroy it
Just disconnected the upper & lower strut bolts. Tried to compress the strut itself with the jack & it won't move.
There has to be air still stuck in the strut despite what the scan to says. Now the question is, how do I remove it if I can't deflate it? Prefer not to destroy it
Last edited by Ken Keith; Jun 17, 2026 at 07:06 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,978
Likes: 1,322
From: Republic of Texas
'99 and '05 E55 AMG
@Ken Keith
Failed sensor reading one Bar while pressure is actually much higher along with a potentially failed solenoid. This points to pins bent/broken in the connector. Difficult to see but a phone camera helps. If using Xentry, it should show "open circuit".
Our buddy HemiAlex had a problem similar to yours and the source was a bent pin that failed to enter the socket of the connector.
Failed sensor reading one Bar while pressure is actually much higher along with a potentially failed solenoid. This points to pins bent/broken in the connector. Difficult to see but a phone camera helps. If using Xentry, it should show "open circuit".
Our buddy HemiAlex had a problem similar to yours and the source was a bent pin that failed to enter the socket of the connector.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 118
Likes: 10
07 Cls550
@Ken Keith
Failed sensor reading one Bar while pressure is actually much higher along with a potentially failed solenoid. This points to pins bent/broken in the connector. Difficult to see but a phone camera helps. If using Xentry, it should show "open circuit".
Our buddy HemiAlex had a problem similar to yours and the source was a bent pin that failed to enter the socket of the connector.
Failed sensor reading one Bar while pressure is actually much higher along with a potentially failed solenoid. This points to pins bent/broken in the connector. Difficult to see but a phone camera helps. If using Xentry, it should show "open circuit".
Our buddy HemiAlex had a problem similar to yours and the source was a bent pin that failed to enter the socket of the connector.
After some research it sounds like scan tools take the pressure reading in the air bag, rather the air pressure going to it. Which would explain my situation. Zero pressure in the line and a faulty solenoid keeping the air in the strut.
I've tested this with a 9v battery, trying to activate the solenoid. I can hear it clicking but it won't release the air pressure.
I'm assuming you probably can't just replace the bad solenoid and requires a new air strut.
Any su
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 349
Likes: 60
2004 E55 AMG / 2019 Audi Q7 / 1991 300TE
hey man, check out my thread from a couple years ago. is it possible that the link elbow is bending the opposite directon that it should be?
https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...messed-up.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...messed-up.html
Last edited by kiluminati616; Jun 18, 2026 at 02:07 PM.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 118
Likes: 10
07 Cls550
It's the release valve. I bleed all the air out then drilled a tiny hole in the air bag to release it. There was a lot of air stored in there.
Also explains my inability to level the front no matter how many adjustments I made. The right front would always sit higher. Which makes sense if it wasn't releasing any air.
On a side note I bought a Creader Elite v3BN bidirectional scan tool for around $170. Seems to be working pretty well. It'll allow me to adjust ride height & was finally able to turn off the tpms sensor when I switch between summer/winter tires.
Mines came programed with Mercedes but you can download manufacturer specific programs for $30-50.
Also explains my inability to level the front no matter how many adjustments I made. The right front would always sit higher. Which makes sense if it wasn't releasing any air.
On a side note I bought a Creader Elite v3BN bidirectional scan tool for around $170. Seems to be working pretty well. It'll allow me to adjust ride height & was finally able to turn off the tpms sensor when I switch between summer/winter tires.
Mines came programed with Mercedes but you can download manufacturer specific programs for $30-50.
