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Topic: Another "Broken" Shock

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BugMan
Moderator Group

Joined: February-07-2005
Location: United States
Posts: 3175

Posted: April-25-2010 at 6:56am \| IP Logged	Tweet

Okay my mechanical expert friends. I own an older Mercedes S500 (2001). Afew months ago, I had to replace the left front shock because the dealer told me it was "broken".

So what exactly is a broken shock? Does that mean the shock itself has snapped because mine just seems to not hold air that is obviously pumped into it to keep the car level. I am really suspicious about it being "broken". I flipped out when I had to pay for the last one because...well let's just say that I could have bought an older road-worthy car for about the same money.

So here's the question...can shocks be rebuilt because I hear no noise on the right front...the shock is just not retaining air which leads me to believe there might be some seals or something else that could be replaced by someone that knows what they're doing.

Somebody that knows something about shock absorbers...please help!

Thanks,

Bug

WOOWOO
Track Owner

One Sweet Lady

Joined: August-13-2003
Location: United States
Posts: 2017

Posted: April-25-2010 at 7:50am \| IP Logged	Tweet

Here is my point of view on your shock. Around here we call them BUSTED!!! The fluid in it has leaked out and the shock is DEAD! You can feel it especially in the front tires when you hit a pot hole! Steering wheel will jerk to that side.

I know for Bobby's Toyota truck, on the back, there is a right and left side shock. They didn't tell him that at the store and the right one broke first trip out. Broke at the bottom mounting bracket.

p.s.-I'm not a mechanical expert!

Edited by WOOWOO on April-25-2010 at 7:51am

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Thats LIFE!!! Get over it and get on with it!!!

theoldfordboy
Heat Winner

Joined: September-21-2007
Location: United States
Posts: 93

Posted: April-25-2010 at 8:04am \| IP Logged	Tweet

Hey Bugman paint the next one you put on it green and white and right holiday on it maybe youll get a little better service. lol seriously tho sometimes things like that just happen hit a big "chuckhole" or, as my wife is famous for bounce of a curb and you can very easily trash a shock the problem you have is the cost of replacement and in the mercedes line there is no way around that good luck with it

racingwrench
Track Champion

Joined: November-12-2005
Location: Canada
Posts: 572

Posted: April-25-2010 at 1:01pm \| IP Logged	Tweet

Not a german expert but I am a mechanic so here goes. Conventional oil or gas shocks do not change ride height and can fail either by leaking out their charge and no longer dampen the oscillating motion and can appear wet. Also depending on the way the shock is mounted (gm rwd monte etc) the stud or even the eyelets can break off of the shock body which usually leads to clunks and other damage caused by the shock ending up in bad places. With air shocks they affect ride height and with small leaks you notice that if the car sits a while that corner or end of the car will sink but when running the pump will produce enough air to keep the ride ok. Now they can also break mounts or wear out mounting bushings or the fittings can break off but you generally notice ride height issues unless its a bushing. Air shocks are pricey I haven't come acrosss anyone who rebuilds them up here in the north. They are exensive for a domestic so I would guess its real bad when you have a weak dollar and deal with euros. With those fancy cars major leaks could cause engine lights to come on with error codes I suppose. I would hazard a guess that IF the dealer was being legit they did a really bad job of explaining the issue of a cracked or worn mounting issue. If you are crafty and have some time. You could put on your racing helmet and build some mounts after you scale the car and mount some coil overs at any rate of spring and shock you desire (used ones from a test if your lucky) and block the lines off. If the shock uses bolt eyes to mount and it has somehow stretched it I would wonder if the shock was jamming internally to keep it from extending but still should be explained and shown to you.

5dirtracing
Team Owner

Joined: December-08-2007
Posts: 1382

Posted: April-25-2010 at 10:15pm \| IP Logged	Tweet

give it a spoonfull of crout and park it between 2 volkswagons and it will be better by morning...

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tyrodtom94
Track Champion

Joined: January-01-2005
Location: United States
Posts: 637

Posted: April-26-2010 at 6:43am \| IP Logged	Tweet

Did you check the prices online ?

I see retail of about $1800 for a Mercedes origional replacement part or half that for a Bilstein. Of course if you're having this done at a Mercedes dealer they're not going to want to install other than origional equipment.

Too many Mercedes are owned by lawyers for anybody to expose themselves to the risk of making cheaper replacement parts for them.

WOOWOO
Track Owner

One Sweet Lady

Joined: August-13-2003
Location: United States
Posts: 2017

Posted: April-27-2010 at 2:22pm \| IP Logged	Tweet

Sell it "as is" and buy U an AMERICAN MADE vehicle!!!

Can get a good one for the price of 4 shocks!!!!

Edited by WOOWOO on April-27-2010 at 2:23pm

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Thats LIFE!!! Get over it and get on with it!!!

BugMan
Moderator Group

Joined: February-07-2005
Location: United States
Posts: 3175

Posted: May-01-2010 at 5:23am \| IP Logged	Tweet

Oh trust me had I known what I was getting into I would've never bought an S-Class.

I ran into some clients that bought patio room from me last week...they have a Lincoln (American made) and a friend who has a Cadillac. They both had the same issues with their older rides although their shocks weren't 1800 (they were more like 1200).

Anyway, Racingwrench is on the money there with the type I have and Tom is dead on about what I had to pay for the last "broken" shock (I think it was 1832 for the Mercedes brand).

Woo-Woo...I will most definitely go with an American car next time...they have come a very long way in quality. There are cars (and SUV's) in both major lines (GM and Ford) that I like and the reliability has come a very long way which I have to have being on the road all of the time. My boss has a new Explorer XLT and it's nice. Another friend has one of GM's SUV's and they are both happy with them. Now that I have to carry the entire store around with me (window samples, door parts kit, patio room samples and windows, and siding samples and parts), I am going to need an SUV. I am driving LadyBug's Saturn VUE (2004) and it's not bad either...I just don't like the way then automatic transmission shifts. "Big Ben" actually gets better gas mileage than the VUE (26-27 hwy vs 22 for the VUE).

Thanks again for all of the suggestions and BTW, it's (Big Ben) is for sale.

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