SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: 2002 SL55 MORE rear shocks !! - 2 Questions..
#1
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2002 SL55 MORE rear shocks !! - 2 Questions..
Dear oh knowledgable people on the forum.....
I've read all the posts on here about the ABC system and the issues but I was lucky enough to buy a 55 last year that had already had both rears (MA230 320 46 13 and MA230 320 47 13) done at 23,362 miles on 19/6/2008.
About a month into the new ownership (Sep 2011) I noticed I had the limp rear drivers side problem after leaving the car for a couple of weeks.
Starting the car and cycling the height adjustment always sorted the problem and I never had any warning lights come on.
Yesterday the car went to the dealers for an MOT and they failed it on the rear PASSENGER side having a serious leak !
My 2 questions are:-
Putting the limping R/O/S issue aside, is there an MB service note that says that rears should be replaced in pairs ? - Is so, my dealer cannot find it on the MB system ?
Second question, the limping side, I gather from all the posts that this is down to a valve not seating properly and letting the pressure leak back into the system but is that a value AWAY from the suspension unit or part of it.
I suppose what I am getting to is do I replace both or just one ?
I shall be writing to MB once done as the car now only has 51,549 miles on it - Surely these units have a design fault - I can't believe they expect their units to only last on average 25,000 miles ? - This feels like a Consumer Rights Act issue as that can't be considered to be a reasonble period of time nor a reasonable wear rate. (Especially when you find they cured the problem after 2007)![Wink](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
Can anyone help ?
I've read all the posts on here about the ABC system and the issues but I was lucky enough to buy a 55 last year that had already had both rears (MA230 320 46 13 and MA230 320 47 13) done at 23,362 miles on 19/6/2008.
About a month into the new ownership (Sep 2011) I noticed I had the limp rear drivers side problem after leaving the car for a couple of weeks.
Starting the car and cycling the height adjustment always sorted the problem and I never had any warning lights come on.
Yesterday the car went to the dealers for an MOT and they failed it on the rear PASSENGER side having a serious leak !
My 2 questions are:-
Putting the limping R/O/S issue aside, is there an MB service note that says that rears should be replaced in pairs ? - Is so, my dealer cannot find it on the MB system ?
Second question, the limping side, I gather from all the posts that this is down to a valve not seating properly and letting the pressure leak back into the system but is that a value AWAY from the suspension unit or part of it.
I suppose what I am getting to is do I replace both or just one ?
I shall be writing to MB once done as the car now only has 51,549 miles on it - Surely these units have a design fault - I can't believe they expect their units to only last on average 25,000 miles ? - This feels like a Consumer Rights Act issue as that can't be considered to be a reasonble period of time nor a reasonable wear rate. (Especially when you find they cured the problem after 2007)
![Wink](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
Can anyone help ?
#2
It is either a valve block or a shock. A valve block will have no external leaks usually. A shock usually will leak at the top and be visible. You will also be losing some pentosin.
If they saw a leak it is most likely the shock and you don't have to touch thr valve body.
If they saw a leak it is most likely the shock and you don't have to touch thr valve body.
Last edited by alx; 05-26-2012 at 10:33 AM.
#3
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They have not seen any leak on the drivers side rear shock and there has never been anything on the garage floor - only the passenger side has a visible leak - so valve block is my suspicion from what you say.
#4
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I certainly do not think you have to replace ABC struts in pairs. Apparently, a company called Arnott makes after market struts for our cars and they carry a lifetime warranty. Check post #6 https://mbworld.org/forums/sl55-amg-...ying-sl55.html
Maybe you can find a good indy that can do the install and save a few bucks or quid![Smilie](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Do keep in mind the Indy would need MBs Star diagnostics system because they will need to "rodeo" the system once the new struts are installed.
Maybe you can find a good indy that can do the install and save a few bucks or quid
![Smilie](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Do keep in mind the Indy would need MBs Star diagnostics system because they will need to "rodeo" the system once the new struts are installed.