View Poll Results: How many miles did you get out of your front airmatic struts.
<50k miles
6
12.00%
50k-75k miles
16
32.00%
75k-100k miles
11
22.00%
100k-125k miles
9
18.00%
125k-150k miles
5
10.00%
150k miles or more
3
6.00%
Voters: 50. You may not vote on this poll
Airmatic: Front strut life poll
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Airmatic: Front strut life poll
I wanted to see what kind of life people got out of their front airmatic struts.
If you could, comment back with:
year / model
driving style
failure type.
If you replaced them prior to failure, please note that as well.
Thank you!
If you could, comment back with:
year / model
driving style
failure type.
If you replaced them prior to failure, please note that as well.
Thank you!
Last edited by FunkTron; 02-14-2017 at 01:23 PM.
#3
MBWorld Fanatic!
'06 E55
Both OEM fronts failed independently, around 65-70k miles
Always drive in Sport 1....spiritedly
Both OEM fronts failed independently, around 65-70k miles
Always drive in Sport 1....spiritedly
Last edited by HeissRod; 02-14-2017 at 03:34 PM.
#4
Member
One of my fronts failed at 49k miles last year, my car is a 2004. Age is as much of a factor as miles. Also, just because your car is not on the ground, does not mean they are not worn out internally.
#6
05 E55.
The original front right strut has just failed at 87k miles.
The LHS is good, but I'm replacing both with Arnotts.
I'm wondering if climate has some influence on lifespan. I suspect those in cold areas fail sooner. Mine are in Australia, in a similar climate to California.
The original front right strut has just failed at 87k miles.
The LHS is good, but I'm replacing both with Arnotts.
I'm wondering if climate has some influence on lifespan. I suspect those in cold areas fail sooner. Mine are in Australia, in a similar climate to California.
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FunkTron (02-15-2017)
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#8
Member
My front right blew at about 140,000. Replaced with arnott. Raised car back to stock neutral height setting all around. 149,000 and change and the rest are still original...we will see, there was a time when i would have just changed all of them but am instead rolling the dice...we shall see..
#9
Passenger front blew out at 125k last year (04 E55). All others were still ok, but changed to coilover. Usually in Sport 1, decent roads, daily driver not raced or lead footed.
#10
MBWorld Fanatic!
My front right blew at about 140,000. Replaced with arnott. Raised car back to stock neutral height setting all around. 149,000 and change and the rest are still original...we will see, there was a time when i would have just changed all of them but am instead rolling the dice...we shall see..
#12
Junior Member
I just received news that my struts need replaced at 90K on the clock, I've owned since 61K so not sure if they had been replaced prior.
I've been searching with no luck but can someone tell me if this job requires STAR?
I've been searching with no luck but can someone tell me if this job requires STAR?
#13
Star not required. Easiest front end work I have ever done.
The secret is to remove the 3 bolts from the top ball joints to allow the stub axle to swing out of the way. I replaced the 2nd one in about 40mins.
There's a good thread here:
https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...there-any.html
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bpaulus (02-21-2017)
#14
MBWorld Fanatic!
#15
Junior Member
I swapped my fronts for Arnott remanufactured struts last week.
Star not required. Easiest front end work I have ever done.
The secret is to remove the 3 bolts from the top ball joints to allow the stub axle to swing out of the way. I replaced the 2nd one in about 40mins.
There's a good thread here:
https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...there-any.html
Star not required. Easiest front end work I have ever done.
The secret is to remove the 3 bolts from the top ball joints to allow the stub axle to swing out of the way. I replaced the 2nd one in about 40mins.
There's a good thread here:
https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...there-any.html
#16
I replaced the fronts on my E63 with Arnotts in about July 2015. About Feb 2016 two out the three bolts at the top sheared off on the RHS unit and about Nov 2016 one of the bolts on the LHS unit has gone the same way. Photo below.
Seems like substandard materials. The roads here in the Middle East are smooth as anything - it's not like the suspension is getting a beating as it would on a lot of aussie and US roads.
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bpaulus (02-21-2017)
#17
MBWorld Fanatic!
You guys may want to keep an eye on them.
I replaced the fronts on my E63 with Arnotts in about July 2015. About Feb 2016 two out the three bolts at the top sheared off on the RHS unit and about Nov 2016 one of the bolts on the LHS unit has gone the same way. Photo below.
Seems like substandard materials. The roads here in the Middle East are smooth as anything - it's not like the suspension is getting a beating as it would on a lot of aussie and US roads.
I replaced the fronts on my E63 with Arnotts in about July 2015. About Feb 2016 two out the three bolts at the top sheared off on the RHS unit and about Nov 2016 one of the bolts on the LHS unit has gone the same way. Photo below.
Seems like substandard materials. The roads here in the Middle East are smooth as anything - it's not like the suspension is getting a beating as it would on a lot of aussie and US roads.
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FunkTron (02-24-2017)
#19
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2007 Mercedes E63 AMG
ya...maybe they were replaced or worked on once before and the goon just impact gun'ed it in as they all do.
you'd be surprised what some idiots at independent shops do with large bolts...they always max setting impact gun the bolt if its a suspension bolt. all factory assembled cars use preset torque tools. if this was due to bolt failure you'd see all of our cars with the same issue.
you'd be surprised what some idiots at independent shops do with large bolts...they always max setting impact gun the bolt if its a suspension bolt. all factory assembled cars use preset torque tools. if this was due to bolt failure you'd see all of our cars with the same issue.
Last edited by hachiroku; 02-23-2017 at 04:41 PM.
#20
Possible I suppose, but unlikely. Friend of mine uses the same shop and had them put in OEM replacement fronts about the same time, no issues there. Very few rattle guns in view in the whole place.
I watched one being put in and they used a torque wrench on it (actually the one which had the two bolts give early )
I watched one being put in and they used a torque wrench on it (actually the one which had the two bolts give early )
#22
MBWorld Fanatic!
I swapped my fronts for Arnott remanufactured struts last week.
Star not required. Easiest front end work I have ever done.
The secret is to remove the 3 bolts from the top ball joints to allow the stub axle to swing out of the way. I replaced the 2nd one in about 40mins.
There's a good thread here:
https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...there-any.html
Star not required. Easiest front end work I have ever done.
The secret is to remove the 3 bolts from the top ball joints to allow the stub axle to swing out of the way. I replaced the 2nd one in about 40mins.
There's a good thread here:
https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...there-any.html
#23
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Join Date: Oct 2011
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03 E55 AMG, 06 Harley Road King Custom 06 Ram 2500 Cummins, 97 Firebird Race Car, 88 Cutlass Supreme
Anyone have an opinion on rebuilt Vs new Arnotts? Is it worth spending a couple hundred more for the new Arnott's? In another thread someone said the shock itself will go out before the bags blow on the Arnott struts.
#25
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03 E55 AMG, 06 Harley Road King Custom 06 Ram 2500 Cummins, 97 Firebird Race Car, 88 Cutlass Supreme
I guess I worded that poorly. I'm wondering about about a remanufactured Arnott Vs a New Arnott. Remans are around $460, New are $575'ish. Wondering what they actually replace on the remanufactured ones. Just new shock internals and new air bladder perhaps?