wobbly suspension on my ML430

[Rogus]

Can any help with this one - my 2001 Ml 430 has a problem when i hit a manhole or a pothole, it tends to jump side ways and has a strange bounce. I have had the shock absorbers checked and the garage said they were Ok....also the other day i noticed that the car seems to be sitting slightly higher at the back to what it usually does. i was wondering if it might be the anti roll drop links although i'm not getting any knocking when i hit bumps. Any tips would be appreciated Thanks

 

[Xtractorfan]

Have you checked the front and rear subframe bushes

 

[oigle]

Can any help with this one - my 2001 Ml 430 has a problem when i hit a manhole or a pothole, it tends to jump side ways and has a strange bounce. I have had the shock absorbers checked and the garage said they were Ok....also the other day i noticed that the car seems to be sitting slightly higher at the back to what it usually does. i was wondering if it might be the anti roll drop links although i'm not getting any knocking when i hit bumps. Any tips would be appreciated Thanks

Regardless of what your garage man told you about the shockers being OK, I would definitely be inclined to blame them. The ML is a notorious "bump steerer". The rebound control on the shockers is woeful. Get yourself a set of Bilsteins, have your wheel alignment (toe-in front and rear) checked, and enjoy the vast improvement.

 

[Rogus]

Thanks for this, i have managed to get a new set of Bilsteins for the rear so hopefully this will cure the problem. Do you know if this is an fairly easy DIY job and is there anywhere i can get a printout of the fitting instructions, i have fitted rear shocker on my previous car(Vauxhall Monterey) so have a good idea of what to do
Any help would be appreciated Thanks

 

[oigle]

Thanks for this, i have managed to get a new set of Bilsteins for the rear so hopefully this will cure the problem. Do you know if this is an fairly easy DIY job and is there anywhere i can get a printout of the fitting instructions, i have fitted rear shocker on my previous car(Vauxhall Monterey) so have a good idea of what to do
Any help would be appreciated Thanks

Actually the fronts are more critical than the rears when it comes to bump steer but both sets are worth having.
Fronts are easy to change - 20 mins work.
Rears are a whole new ball game!! I have done them myself but you will need a proper floor jack and stands and a spring compressor to change the springs on to the new Bilstein legs. It is NOT an easy job. Have to remove spare wheel carrier to access the nuts holding the legs in place at the top. Unless you are rather handy with the spanners, suggest you give it to your local indie to do the work. Took me 6 hours the first time I did one - have done a few since and can now do them in about 2 and a half. A car hoist is certainly an advantage when doing this job. With full workshop equipment and knowhow, a mechanic should be able to do it in 2 hours.

 

[Rogus]

Hi

thanks for this i have decided to let the professionals do it for me, one question i hope you can answer, the garage have told me the rear near side spring has cracked - i have contacted a breakers yard and i can get either one from a ML270cdi or a ML320. the problem is the 320 has a wheel carrier. I know the shocks are different if it has a carrier but is the spring also different or would it be ok to use it. Hope you can help

 

[Bolide]

You should replace springs in pairs

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[oigle]

You should replace springs in pairs

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

I agree with that if the springs are different. If you can get a 270 spring from the same series, I would be prepared to try it. If you were to buy new ones, I would definitely buy a pair.