A-class and speedbumps

[barryls]

My A-class makes a loud bang when it goes over some speedbumps, anyone else had this problem, do I have a broken spring?

 

[Blobcat]

Hi & Welcome,

I wouldn't be surprised at all, if you lean on each corner do you get any noises? I would definitely recommend getting the suspension checked out.

 

[BlackC55]

Both front and rear springs are common.

 

[Micman]

I remember when I had my A-class I had nothing but trouble with the rear suspension - it would creak and groan and I had loads of bits changed. Even had to have complete new rear wishbones and new rear dampers - all courtesy of Merc fortunately as it was still under warranty.

I remember them telling me at the time I had the new wishbones fitted that the design had been modified due to common fault - the A-class was never recalled for the repair though.

On one occassion the spring mount broke away leaving the spring pushing on the wishbone. A friend of mine who runs a garage told me one of his customers had an A-class and the rear suspension collapsed while he was driving on the motorway! Didn't surprise me.

You mention speed bumps - I went over a speed bump in mine once and the manual gearbox gear linkage rod came lose leaving me without 1st gear!

And another time in my A-class... no I'll stop there you don't want to hear it - arrghh the memories....troublesome little car

 

[gbtyke]

I am new to the (New) A Class and find it very close to the ground. The flattened pyramid type speed bumps catch the undertray if driven over with the wheels astride but full width speed bumps can usually be taken OK slowly.

 

[lucyyomi]

I am also new to this mercedes business. It felt like a good idea to buy the little A class. But it is a bumpy ride. No matter how slowly you try to climb over these speed bumps, you still hear the clanking.
If I have passenger in the car then I find I will definately scrap the bottom as I try to sloooowly go over.

Gosh is there any help out there that will not cost an arm and a leg

 

[Cole@MBS]

To answer that.........No, its the joys of owning a A,class!

Welcome to the forums!

 

[Uncle Benz]

Not only the front and rear springs, but the front spring lower seats are made of aluminium, and frequently break. They are part of the front struts. Lower wishbone bushes can split too.

The rear radius arm bearings wear also, and usually seen by excessive negative camber of the rear wheels.

 

[mattkh]

I am new to the (New) A Class and find it very close to the ground.

Hi
I have yet to see a low A class.
Please ut up a picture.

 

[mattkh]

I wouldn't be surprised at all, if you lean on each corner do you get any noises?

Hi
Please elaborate. How heavily to lean on and where.

 

[gbtyke]

Don't know if this shows what you want?

Hope it's uploaded.

The clearance to the plastic under tray is less than 4" - that's static and will compress when hitting the bump.

 

[Dringo]

I have the A180 CDi.
Its always bottomed out on bumpy roads, scrapping the floor par cover on the road. Worse when loaded up as well. The A Class is a low car, presumably since they sorted the suspension issues.
I also catch the speed bumps and the suspension sis generally so stiff than the full width ones have to be taken quick slowly to avoid the rear wheels losing contact with the road for a couple of inches.

Merc told me that the undercover was pretty thick plastic which is just as well. I was worried I was scraping the Engine sump!

No chance of taking the A-Class down dirt tracks with a raised middle - grinds all the way!

Lastly, if you drive too close to curbs at the front when parking, you can get a very solid sounding clunk and instant stop. There's some low part of chassis or cross member there which catches curbs.

Other than that, its a smooth and easy ride.

 

[rhud]

Have no trouble on normal roads in my A Class 169,inc speed bumps etc. However my daughter lives at the end of a farm track with a few deep potholes and I have to slow down to almost stopping to negotiate them without scraping.

However I have standard 15" steel wheels with standard higher profile tyres. Would bigger alloys with lower profile tyres make a difference?

 

[television]

Have no trouble on normal roads in my A Class 169,inc speed bumps etc. However my daughter lives at the end of a farm track with a few deep potholes and I have to slow down to almost stopping to negotiate them without scraping.

However I have standard 15" steel wheels with standard higher profile tyres. Would bigger alloys with lower profile tyres make a difference?

The overall diameter stays the same no matter what wheels and tyres you put on,,so it would not help

 

[mitko]

Hi All,
I am new to this forum and also just bought a second hand 2007 A180 CDI Avantgarde. The reason I joined the forum was to ask this same question about the low clearance of the new A class, whether it was just me or it's an A class "feature", and whether 17" or 18" wheels would help, I have 16". Both my questions were answered here! So not much you can do other than slowly go over the speed bumps!

And I must say for a small car it's quite expensive. For an extra 3-4k we could have got a decent C class with reasonable mileage... Coming from a 2004 Renault Megane it's quite a shocker how small the boot is!

Not sure it will last more than 1-2 years. Only thing is I need my wife to learn how to drive and then it will be traded in for a bigger Merc. Other than that I must say that it's quite a nice ride if you don't count the speed bumps of course and the boot space. They could have made is a little bit bigger!!!

 

[rhud]

Agree that great care is needed with speed bumps. However my A has proved excellent in snow. Guy at the local MB dealership was telling me he has chosen to drive an A in recent weeks for this reason.

 

[npuk]

On certain bumps it does bottom out. Happens with 17" too but mine has sports suspension so sits about 10mm lower.

 

[grober]

Laws of physics-- reducing the ground clearance lowers the roll centre of the car which is quite important for stability in a relatively upright vehicle like the A CLASS. Mercedes learned this the hard way after the infamous first A class elk test.
[YOUTUBE]DOMADgJQeLw&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Kyliewww]

The ground clearance is my only (well one of!) gripe with our A-Class. I can't even drive over mini-roundabouts without scraping!

 

[Howard]

Here's a nice low one ....

Look at it carefully , see the extra 7 centimetres forward of the wing mirrors ? thats there to enable HWA / AMG to fit the 3.2 Kompressor engine in