Expected life from suspension

[atless]

I have a 2002 C220 estate with 57000 miles

At service it required replacement of both stabiliser bar link rods and all the bearings

Any ideas on the expected life of these components?

I smell a rat as Mercedes have picked up 50% of the cost with no direct input from myself.

Thanks in advance

atless

 

[robbo]

Hi,

The front suspension of the early W203 C class is known to be a problem. Mine is starting to get noisy now, and it needs attention at the next service which is due soon.

Would it be possible for you to list (either in the thread or by private message) the components and parts numbers they replaced so that I can discuss this with the dealer and let them know that other out of warranty cars have had contributions for replacement suspension components?

Thanks, Robbo

 

[atless]

Robbo
Both Link rods MA 203 320 28 89. Sprinter nut MN913023 010002
2 Bushes MA203 323 21 85, Bracket MA203 323 11 40
Bracket MA203 323 12 40, Manschette MA203 327 00 90
a pretty expensive service even with Mercedes contribution, although the ride has returned to it's previous quiet state.
I may have a further go at MB as I thought that Mercedes were meant to be a "quality" car and in my book that should not require rebuilding the suspension after 4 years/57000 miles.
atless

 

[robbo]

Atless,

Thanks very much for the information, this gives me an idea of what I am going to be facing in the near future!

Robbo

 

[OlafMaxwell]

My rear susp packed up at 25k...dealer bodged it under warrnaty and it went again at about 60k. This time I went for them. MB paid the second time.

 

[humbley]

All knocks from front suspension 99% of the time are anti roll bar links,parts cheap from merc and simple to fit. dont get conned into big bills here.My w210 now at 200,000 gone through 5 sets now. been in the trade 35 years do know what i am talking about !

 

[OlafMaxwell]

For front suspension the drop links are a short term items, 25-50k, they are cheap and easily replaced. Don't neglect them, they do make quite a difference. Anti roll bar bushings will go too. I must admit though that most other makes of car will get to 75-100k without these issues but it often depends on the type of road surfaces and presence of salts etc used in winter.

Merc attitude to wear and tear is very extreme. My exhaust failed at 4,000 miles, there was a seam weld along the pipe and it split open from end to end. Merc insisted on treating it as wear and tear!!

Having bene on this site for some time and experienced a lot of other makes of car Mercedes are a 'prestige' car. That is not the same as being a 'quality' car. No other manufacturer could get away with what Merc try on their customers.

 

[Blobcat]

Front anti-roll bar bushes went on mine around 75K apart from changing them the suspension has been faultless

 

[philharve]

Front anti-roll bar bushes went on mine around 75K apart from changing them the suspension has been faultless

Hi Blobcat

Shocks still OK?

REGARDS Phil

 

[Stulc]

Y'know it really isn't right.......

The amount these car's cost when new range dramatically, and yet they cant even put quality components on the now and probably for the last good few years. I mean they want people to spend thousand's on their so called "prestige" but cant/wont/just dont make them to last more than a few years, I think they (and other's too) should be boycotted.

I spoke to the guy Iv'e took all my car's to over the years and he was saying that factor's (maybe not Euro...well not yet) were closing down because trade factor's were buying them over and not supplying to joe public because they want people to take their car's to proper garage's so as to try stop the diy'er....whether this will ever happen who know's...

basically what "they" want is for just to get in your car turn the key put petrol in and off you go!...any repair's ect you have to take it in somewhere.

 

[Blobcat]

Hi Blobcat

Shocks still OK?

REGARDS Phil

Yes still good, slight play on end of steering arms and rear nearside wheel bearing but the sussies are fine.

 

[philharve]

Hi All

Can the life of a set of dampers be expressed in terms of the cars mileage or does the type of terrain the car has been driven over influence this figure?

Would dampers fitted to a car that has been driven mainly along straight, flat road surfaces last longer than dampers fitted to a car that has been driven mainly along rough road surfaces. I would include in this latter group vehicles used in urban areas where traffic calming measures have been implemented.

The area surrounding my home has roads resembling a patchwork quilt, having been repaired many times but never resurfaced. There are also 'sleeping policemen' everywhere which must increase damper wear.

REGARDS Phil

 

[television]

Just been reading in this months trade mag about shocks, and maybe I should change my mind about them, PM me with your Email address and I willscan and send it to you tomorrow.

Malcolm

 

[philharve]

Hi television

Will do.

REGARDS Phil

 

[philharve]

Dampers ... unlimited mileage?

Hi All
No, not quite. I visited my friendly neibourhood indie today to enquire about the life of dampers and whether he would recommend replacement in a 105,000 mile car. To my surprise, after checking my C-class's suspension, he pronounced my dampers as being fine. He added that dampers produced by makers such as Bilstein, like mine, are good for huge mileages. However, springs are another matter. The indie reported replacing them by the bucket load on high mileage cars because they soften, or break, and permit the car to pitch and roll more than usual to the detriment of handling.

Has any other member been faced with the dilemma of which to replace: springs or dampers?

Regards

Phil

 

[big x]

Hi All
No, not quite. I visited my friendly neibourhood indie today to enquire about the life of dampers and whether he would recommend replacement in a 105,000 mile car. To my surprise, after checking my C-class's suspension, he pronounced my dampers as being fine. He added that dampers produced by makers such as Bilstein, like mine, are good for huge mileages. However, springs are another matter. The indie reported replacing them by the bucket load on high mileage cars because they soften, or break, and permit the car to pitch and roll more than usual to the detriment of handling.

Has any other member been faced with the dilemma of which to replace: springs or dampers?

Regards

Phil

Dampers control spring movement and wear out first. I replaced the dampers all round on my 1997 C-180 at 100k and the rebound damping rate was down to about a third of the new ones.The car now feels really crisp.Gas dampers tend not to leak oil but loose their damping properties over time whereas springs fracture suddenly.
My E320 1994 102k is still on the original suspension, no parts have been replaced.The car still feels well suspended,no excessive pitch or roll and the ride quality is smoother than the C-class. The OE Bilsteins seem to be of a better quality than those fitted to the later C-class and the springs more robust.

adam

 

[Jay Kilby]

Spings are a very funny thing and the coil rate diminishes over time. if you get a brand new spring and stand it next to the same spring of 10 years old the latter of the two will be much longer. basicly they are coiled under tension and then permanently try to uncoil them selves. i am having my whole suspension system overhauled soon i will try to take a picture of old and new together to show you.
i agree with the above post to a degree that dampers generally wear first. but if you have a car of 10+ years old and want to get the handling back to new it is a full overhaul. subframe and wish bone bushes can have a massive impact as well.