I had noticed rear suspension leaning to one side after turning off engine. Has been like that for 2 years. Ride is fine since engine starts hydraulics that lift the car. However, most recently some noises are happening when I hit road bump
I had noticed some noises from the front when I hit bumps and I thought it was from the suspension So I brought it in to the dealer shop for diagnosis. Here is the diagnosis and the cost.
Rear suspension dropping is diagnosed to be a leak from the rear suspension airbags and also need valve to be replaced at the same time. This is on one side but they believe both should be done and it requires the subframe to be dismantled etc etc. Hence Labot to be 9 hours costing $2925. Parts to cost $2259.
Total estimate is $5416.57 . Can this be reduced by doing one side?
The noise coming from front suspension is diagnosed to be coming from control arms and ball joints that are aged and need to be replaced estimate is $5138.62 and part are $2302.60 and labor is $2600.00. Once again they want both control rods and ball joints to be replaced since all are aged is what is conveyed.
I cant do both at same time. Would like to 1. Reduce the cost of the estimates by doing only what is necessary or if not 2. prioritize one to be done now and another later.
Can you comment on what you would all do? How would you approach optimization? How would you prioritize? Thank you
George : You have given me a lot of good suggestions in my earlier threads. So let me force you to add more verbiage here.
- Sounds coming from aged control rods and aged ball joints oes not mean both. I asked the guy whoich one is more aged or showing more wear and tear and why not do that. Which one makes the noise? They dont seem to do that diagnosis instead replace both cheaper to do both etc.
- The left air bag on the Merccedes reaqr suspension is torn and hence one side leans on parking but the hydraulics lift the car equally when its running and its fine. I have noticed this issue for 2 years and never posed a proble, Now I hear some noises.
- I would like to attempt one of them but refine it further.
Help me out here with your more objective professional input
Airbag is torn. You agree. So, why not replace broken parts?
Not fixing 1 part eventually leads to not fixing 2 parts and so on.
Yes thats what I mentioned to dealer why not do the one bag that is torn. Why do both and rack up 5K charges. So also tell me which contro rod and ball joint worn out most. Nothing is broken. One othe rchoice the dealer tells me is I would have to live with noises. I am trying to see which is higher priority the rear suspension or the aging control rod
Unfortunately both have high priority and both need repair now.
Mercedes Benz cars are expensive to buy and even more expensive to fix.
A person could defer some repairs, such as a wrinkled headliner, but suggest not to fiddle about regarding safety issues. As an example, when I rejuvenated my truck’s front wheel bearings – routine maintenance — I noticed a problem with the front brake assemblies. I immediately parked it up and used a different mode of transport. Then I decided since the front brakes had problems, I better t double-check the rear brakes and they also both needed some renewal. All four corners in good repair now. An inconvenience, but remained safe.
My advice?
Sell the Mercedes and get a Honda, or even an Acura.
The repairs are not going to get any cheaper on the Mercedes. You’re pouring good money into a black hole.
Fix the control rod and ball joint and if I am not mistaken you can convert the rear air bags to shocks. with a little modification. it might be cheaper than replacing the rear airbags. ride quality will be a little different.
Good suggestion. While on the subject of rear airbag - can I not have them replace the torn airbag and why should the entire subframe be dismantled to do that?
I’d look into converting it to regular springs:
Air Suspension Conversion Kits | Strutmasters Conversion Kits
If you are complaining about squeaky rubber bushings, they will all need to be replaced, or you will return with the same complaint. “Noise” is a vague description, you might describe the sound.
These things need to be assessed in person, bushings examined, ball joint play measured.
This suggests that there is nothing critical, you are complaining about a noise which is just a nuisance. The suspension bushings on my Dodge have been squeaking for ten years during cold weather.
If the other airbag fails 6 months later, many customers object to paying for the same labor twice. Do you want the job done right the first time?