abaykal

hi guys,

This winter, I haven't driving my car much - it actually sat in the garage for 2-3 months. However, in the garage, I realized that rear end of the car was very very low. I started the car and it said wait for the car to raise. it raised to the normal level and I drove the car that day. Since then, every night, rear end of the car floors (one side more than other but both sides are very low) and in the morning, it raises when I turn the car on.

I am fine with replacing the rears with Arnotts however, I want to make sure that is the problem. Front of the car is very good and at the right level all the time.

I checked the connections to the reserver air reservoir connections with sopy water and they seem fine. I also check the 4 connections next to the pump in the front and they were good as well. I dont know what else to check before saying the struts are leaking. is there any way to check the struts to see if they are leaking?

Thanks.

ps. I searched the forum and read a ton in the last two days but wanted to get your opinion on the specific case. what would you recommend?

abaykal

come on guys - any help is appreciated.

vikingdiesel

I have the same issue, you can either live it or replace the struts. Realistically that's most likely your problem

Ls1toAMG

How cold is it? In the winter is not uncommon to drop some in a few days. Below freezing mine drops alittle in the rear. But for the most part if it raises to normal level when starting and running it's not really enough to find a problem. When it happens while started you may find a leak. Until then you probably will be replacing things one after another. When you have a failure you will know. From my experience with American cars it will sink fast when failure happens. Most likely you have a shock leaking air. But slowly and not from the connection.

turbo97se

I experienced a similar issue .. These cars don't really like to sit around especially in the cold.

At one point, I had replaced the fronts and not the rears and the rears would often drop over night in cold weather, the fronts would stay up. After replacing the rears with Arnotts, the rears never drop even after a month of sitting .. although I have moved to a warmer climate now.

Sounds like they are on their way out but not quite there yet. Mine was the same but I chose to just replace them and not worry about it after that.

One more thing you might try is to leave it in the raised position .. .I noticed on mine that if I left the car in the raised position overnight (before I changed rears) it would not go down, but if I left it in the lower position, it would drop .. not sure why that would happen.

abaykal

I see - looks like they are on their way out. there goes 800 bucks. anyone ordered there from the following website:

http://www.carid.com/2006-mercedes-e...-39487781.html

turbo97se

One thing before you go there .. how cold is cold? Maybe wait until warmer weather (spring), if it is still going down then you should consider switching them out. Yours is a 2005 and depending on the miles I'd say it may be about time anyway

novae500

check to see if advance auto carries it online, 30% promo going now.

abaykal

Novae500 -Thanks for the heads up.

Turbo97se - it is around 10F-15F at night. I will wait to see when it warms up.

Thanks for the pointers

abaykal

looks like 30% promo gives you maximum 50 bucks off. They are selling it for 495 so I think I am better with the other link for 395.

Ls1toAMG

I noticed that too. Im thinking because maybe you don't notice it's dropped a few mm. But it's better than seeing it sagging. I'm going to try to wait till next fall to tear it apart. Don't drive it in the cold much.

turbo97se

I thought of that and measured it and left it for more than 1 day .. it did not move ... can't explain it

TheTherapist

I wouldn't worry about it bro. I read something once (wish I could remember where) from a Mercedes suspension specialist who said that this is a common occurrence (tell us something we don't know!) and if you don't mind the lowered look while parked then don't bother repairing. Apparently the part at fault is only required to keep pressure while the engine isn't running and is irrelevant while the car is running as pressure is maintained through other systems. I know I haven't explained it too well but I have owned numerous Mercs and left the airmatic in this condition for years without having to replace the shocks. "If it ain't broke don't fix it" and I guess the definition of broke doesn't include the car sitting lower when parked lol.