s320 front shocks
 

I am replacing the front shocks on 95 S320. Is it necessary to compress the spring during the installation process? Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

Just as a follow up note, did the installation, easy DIY project, you do not need to compress the springs for installation.

I have an S500 I've been thinking about doing myself. Should be same procedure, W140 body type. Where did you get the shocks and if you don't mind, a quick procedure to follow would be great.

Thanks.

KG

I purchased bilstien HD shocks from mercedesshop. I ordered them monday afternoon and they were at my office on tuesday morning. Saved about $170 over the local dealer's price. The frame of my car has an upside down U shaped bracket welded to the frame which limited the travel of the upper control arm when the top of the shock was unfastened. Therefore, I did not compress the spring and everything went smoothly, however, not having a manual or responce to my post I was very nervous about it. When I did them on my 190 the shock was the only thing which limited the travel of the lower control arm and I had to compress the springs.

There is a nut on the top which has to be removed and one on the bottom. I removed the top bolt using an allen wrench to keep the shock threads from turning. Then jacked up the car until the tire was off the ground. Removed the wheel. Used a 19mm box wrench and socket wrench to remove the bottom nut and bolt. Remove the old shock and inserted the new one. Use the new nut, bolt and washers (provided) to fasten the bottom of the new shock. Reattach the wheel and slowly lower the car, at the same time have one hand on the shock and guide the top threaded part through the hole in the frame. Once the tire was on the ground, I had to push down on the fender slightly to get enough of the threads up to get the nut to start, then tighten using the allen wrench to keep the threads from turning.

Whole process took about 1.5 hours. I used the spare tire jack and a jack stand to raise and hold the car and did it one side at a time. The ride is like new again.

Jayhawk, how many miles did you get on your shocks before they needed to be replaced? Do you drive often on bumpy roads? I've got 91,000 on my S320 and am wondering when I might need to do this. Thanks.

Actually, my car only got 80,000 miles out of the first set. A friend of mine at a local shop told me that these cars were made too heavy and wear out shocks and tires quickly. But as a DIY project, it was a cheap and easy fix as far as W140's go. I bought the car from the dealer used seven months ago with 72,000. It was fine until the last 1000 miles or so. The shock on the right side would hardly move at all and when it did it made this horrible creaking sound and the left shock bounced all over the place. I don't know how the previous owner drove the car but it is like new in all other respects. My other mercedes (190) got 200,000 miles before needing new shocks.

Thanks for the info. I'll keep an eye on mine. They seem O.K. so far. I have changed the rears. The dealer convinced me that the tire wear I was seeing was from weak shocks. Maybe. The rear wheels were significantly out of line and I think that was the real problem.