I have a 1992 500e with 120k. The rear suspension is making a bump-bump sound when I go over a bump. The air cells have been replaced and it is still making the noise. Any help is appreciated.

z-rated

What kind of help do you expect? A lot of things there can do bump-bump. You either need to get down there and take a look/listen, or get it to the professional shop. Nobody can help you over the internet to diagnose suspension noise.
Mike

Check the exhaust hangers (mounts) and trans mount.

Good luck buddy

And, besides that, you are a filthy slut-whore for having a 500e and whining about "bump-bump" noises. You obviously cannot appreciate what you possess.

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W108M117(1972) repaired after deer hit
W124M103(1987)
W124M103(1989) -- sold to son's friend
W124M119(1993) --
W124M103(1987 -- 5 speed Euro) - sold to forum member
W124M103(1989) -- TE
W123OM616(1977)
W201M103(1990) parts car

is your 500e the european edition?

I ran into this same issue with my wife's 93 500E. Check out the following thread for other possibilities. My solution was post #12. Good luck.

500E rear wheel clunk - driver's side

Could there be air not bled thru the system after the new cells? You have to bled them with the car running and above like 2500 rpms to have the p/s pumping hydraulic fluid thru it all back there. I disconnect the lever from the swaybar and manually invoke the system to bled out any remaining air. I do this several times; filling and then draining the cells.

There's also 2 rubber bushings on top of the rear struts, the one that's under the fender at the top can get quished/dry rotted and can give you a thud over bumps.

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Jim

1992 500E
2007 CLK63
2003 Audi RS6
2001 Audi allroad

We have already tried bleeding the system and that does not seem to work. All the bushings under the car are solid as the day it was built so I think it may be time for new shocks. My car is a US model and has never given me a moments headache since the day I bought it. Also, if anyone has eliminated the self leveling system...please let me know. For the two a**holes who cannot post a decent coment...go drive a pos bmw and for the guy telling me I don't know what I have...I know what I have because I paid for it so I know exactly what I own!

But, myarmar is correct and his advice is solid based upon the information that you have provided. It could be virtually any part in the rear suspension. If you want to try to identify the part without blindly part swapping, you have to get under there and have a very good look around and then try to do some diagnostics. Strap on some chassis ears and see if that helps to identify the knocking part. You probably won't be able to get a hold of a set of chassis ears cheaply, which means it's good advice to see a mechanic who has a set.

And, the other guy was just joking around.

I think I would disagree with you that the bushings are as "solid as the day it was built" if they are original to the car. They are 15 years old, and are probably not in great shape, but it may not be obvious.

Brett

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1997 S600 sedan

I will give the bleeding another try. Could it be the rear shocks? I have always read that they are solid for at least double the miles I have on the car right now.

Did you not read the thread kindly provided by Dieselguy? Clearly it could be the struts.

Brett

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1997 S600 sedan

Without arguing about whether they are shocks, struts, or correctly, legs, the problem on my coupe turned out to be the balls ("rubber buffers" in the parts book) that cushion the legs where they mount to the frame/trunk. They screw on the top of the leg and have another threaded piece for the nut in the trunk.

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Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe

Never heard the term "legs" for a suspension component. What defines a "leg"?

Strut probably isn't correct in this case since I believe the rear hub will be completely located by all the other suspension links. The rear strut/shock(/leg?) isn't required for hub location.

But, what is a leg?

Brett

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1997 S600 sedan

the car is now at the best mercedes shop in the city, the owner acutally has the clone to my car with a supercharger. he is convinced it is a bushing or a sway bar link that is making the noise, but will flush the system first to rule that out. hopefully i will have an answer by early next week.

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1992 500e
1995 e420
1999 e55
2004 e55
1987 toyota land cruiser fj60
2005 genuine stella scooter

I first heard this term from Carlos at JCP Motorsports in Alexandria. He is a very knowledgeable guy. He says it is neither strut nor shock, rather more like a hydraulic ram. He says it is properly called a "hydraulic leg." The EPC refers to it as a "hydropneumatic spring leg."

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Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe