I bought my car at 125K. Not sure if it had shocks replaced.

Bottom line is the car does not float so I have had no reason to think my shocks are worn out... until now.

Some of you may recall I was ragging on my new Yokos since they got so noisy after just 12 months. Well, even after I fixed a dented rim and replaced the Yokos with Michelins, changed two ball joints and had the car aligned.

The michelins are starting to make noise and I have noticed cupping on outside treads. I suspension seems to check out OK and the alignment shop said that the numbers checked out, and that cupping is probably shocks.

The car is at 150K and I have noticed the ride had gotten rougher at some point (IMHO another sign if failing damping). But at that time, it was something I attributed to my "adjusting" to the car and therefore only in my head.

Now I am really thinking the shocks could be culprit but can they fail at say 65 MPH such that the wheels hop and over time cup the tread but at the same time, the shocks still work fine as far as boating or floating? My car does not rebound more than once (which seems normal) in dips. But maybe at freeway speeds they allow wheel hop oscillation which causes the cupping? I can not feel anything in the car.

Starting to dread my tires getting louder. I would like to stop this now.

Wondering what the rest of you think.

If it is the shocks, then are correct part numbers for the front (750) and rear (430) ? Edit: NO, Bilstein still has the PN's switched for our cars, front to back. See below...

I'd say 110% that you are running stock shocks. Replace w/HD Bilstein unless you are really dropped. I'm sure you have seen how low I am with stock pads. I'm also running HD shocks. Sport is really hard on pot holes and for everyday DD, but awesome if you track.

See attachment from tirerack. You will have to search under E430 for them

Armani

GL!

Thanks. I went with the W0133-1910430 for the rear and W0133-1910750 front. I hope they are stock damping. I don't want a harder ride.

Nice. The HD has been good to me

Don't forget 4 wheel alignment and if you take it to a non MB. Make sure to drop the two front covers. If not, they will get lazy and not adjust the camber bolts. Speaking from experience. NTB-

Armani

Shocks are in. Car sits as before. Here's the results:

I am confused. You mention 750 for the front and 430 for the rears but the pictures have numbers flip

I asked in the thread opener if that was correct. There is a long history of messed up shocks PN's for these cars from Bilstein. And yes, they are STILL BACKWARDS in the Bilstein catalog.

I ended up putting the ones they said were for the rear, on the front, and vice versa, as that is the way they need to go and the way the long threads said they should go in.

More complete summary here:

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w210...ml#post5393182