R230 350sl. 2005. Front shock absorber removal.

[Windowstew]

Hi everyone.
My car has failed it’s MOT because of wear to the lower ball joint on the shock absorber.
I have worked out that it’s better to replace the complete shock absorber than just the joint.
I have bought some Bilstien B4s as I have been very pleased with them on my other car, a 986 Boxster.
Can anyone give me any advice on fitting them please.
Thanks,
Stew.

 

[sausage]

Might be worth a look: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=r230+lower+ball+joint+replacement

 

[Uncle Benz]

The springs are hard to swap over. The coils are so tight you can’t get a conventional compressor on them. I’ve made up a kit that I can use in my press to put them on. They come with the lower spring seat sitting on a circlip that has three positions on the damper. It fits into a groove, and there are a choice of three grooves. Look carefully at your original. If it only has one position measure the length to get it the same.

 

[SL63 Mark]

I had both front ball joints injected with resin on my R230 SL. That had ABC suspension, so might be different to yours. It cost about £100 each side as I recall. That sorted the problem permanently. There may be no need to replace the struts - worth checking, I would say.

First thing, I would find a good local Mercedes independent specialist, and check with them.

 

[Uncle Benz]

I had both front ball joints injected with resin on my R230 SL. That had ABC suspension, so might be different to yours. It cost about £100 each side as I recall. That sorted the problem permanently. There may be no need to replace the struts - worth checking, I would say.

First thing, I would find a good local Mercedes independent specialist, and check with them.

The reason that this is a good option on ABC equipped cars is the cost of the struts is huge. The Bilstein dampers for the front of a 350 are only circa £90 each, and they are brilliant quality. New dampers really freshen up a car. They deteriorate gradually over time and don’t really get noticed. New ones feel so great.

 

[SL63 Mark]

The reason that this is a good option on ABC equipped cars is the cost of the struts is huge. The Bilstein dampers for the front of a 350 are only circa £90 each, and they are brilliant quality. New dampers really freshen up a car. They deteriorate gradually over time and don’t really get noticed. New ones feel so great.

Ah, OK that makes sense. Strut replacement would be the way to go on a non-ABC car..

 

[Uncle Benz]

Ah, OK that makes sense. Strut replacement would be the way to go on a non-ABC car..

I’ve often considered cutting out the bottom balljoint from these cheaper struts and seeing if it’s the same as the ABC cars. Never gotten around to it…

 

[LostKiwi]

I found replacement ABC strut ball joints. @ajlsl600 even managed to press the ball joint out of a knackered strut I had kicking about.

 

[ajlsl600]

Yup. Mr benz tried really hard to spoil that option. There was, is a German parts outfit that will sell the ball joints was all put on here some yrs ago. No idea where now...

 

[ajlsl600]

I’ve often considered cutting out the bottom balljoint from these cheaper struts and seeing if it’s the same as the ABC cars. Never gotten around to it…

It ain't. Looked into dat.

 

[Craiglxviii]

The reason that this is a good option on ABC equipped cars is the cost of the struts is huge. The Bilstein dampers for the front of a 350 are only circa £90 each, and they are brilliant quality. New dampers really freshen up a car. They deteriorate gradually over time and don’t really get noticed. New ones feel so great.

New struts are now $200-500 for R230s, on AliBaba.