Hey All,

I'm wondering if the bounce test is a valid way of measuring the dampening ability of my the Mel's shocks. I performed the test the usual way and it keep moving after I let go.

Any other car and I'd say these shocks are gone....this Mel is a MY2000 and has 19K miles of no load mileage.

What do you guys think? Gilly?

__________________
Ed "Don't Benz's just feel better..."

Current wives...
2000 ML430 Skyview "The Mel"
2000 CLK430 Cab "The Cab"
85 300D Turbo "The Diesel"

Past wives...
92 300E
85 190E

"One should as a rule respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to
avoid starvation and to keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond
this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny, and is likely to
interfere with happiness in all kinds of ways."
Bertrand Russell

How does it drive?
I'd say if you go over a large bump (or even a small one for that matter) and you definitely feel it bounce an extra time or two, that's probably a better test than the bounce test.
Why are you suspecting you need shocks I guess is the bottom line.
About the only problem I've seen with ML shocks is a bad creak in the rear.

Gilly

Hi Gilly,

Thanks for replying to my poorly worded question. To answer you, it feels bouncy. I've read the ML has self-adjusting shocks, mine was built 6/2000 and may not have the updated shocks.

Well, if the stiffness depends on impact feedback and I typically run my tire pressure mid to high 30's, that could explain why it feels bouncy. The dealer had it in for service and they dropped the tire pressure to 28psi which is the lowest I ever go. All summer it's been in the 30's which may be why on dips in the road it feels way too bouncy now.

That's why I tested it while filling up the other day, then I remembered about this self adjusting feature. I wondered if at standstill it would be normal for the shocks to be soft??

I'll listen for creak/squeak from the rear, is the ML designed shock a warranty item? It seems more suspension than merely shock absorber.

Rgds, Ed

__________________
Ed "Don't Benz's just feel better..."

Current wives...
2000 ML430 Skyview "The Mel"
2000 CLK430 Cab "The Cab"
85 300D Turbo "The Diesel"

Past wives...
92 300E
85 190E

"One should as a rule respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to
avoid starvation and to keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond
this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny, and is likely to
interfere with happiness in all kinds of ways."
Bertrand Russell

Hi!

My ML - 1999. -- 110000.00 ml.Very good shape. I love that machine.
Bounce what mints that? - You feel every crack on the pavement.
If you feel too much pavement, yours tire very hard, and not so good. I install Goodyear Fortera - Excellent Tire. Much Better then Michelin. Very quiet
.Pressure 32.00.Rides like a Cadillac.
Remove at the back seats the plastics panels, you don’t need them. And you can see what kind the difference.
My ML was very unstable in high speeds twisty rods.
Run like a horse from left to the right and so.
I install new Monroe front shocks much better then what was original,(ARVIN).Rear Monroe don’t have.
I don’t want pay high price for funny names of manufactures.
I'm looking for good staff.
The rear suspension, perfect. Get a can of multipurpose grease the green one. And you start to love yours ML.
You can imagine - all MB engineers are on the forums,
And loafing how people don’t know so many thinks and ignore them
.So many comp. CD skipped tree times in 3 years, That ML is so bad.
So many rip-off yes, the Mercedes man doesn’t want the Lexus.etc cars. The Lexus owners are different people. Not complains why don’t knows something better.
When people go for service, never comp.Lemon.etc.Ask how to fix that problem.Mech is just a man. He can’t spend all day on one car. Give a good tip for the coffee.
I heard so many bad thinks how to change full pump on ML.
I ask mech.he show me, is very easy. Nice clean work.
How people treat you, how see you.
I know the marketing is on self distraction’s many treks.
This is not the true qualities.

Regards.

The rear shocks should be under warranty, assuming of course the truck is still under warranty.

I am unaware of this "self adjusting" shock on an ML. You must be thinking of a car with ASD or something, not ML's.

I like the tire pressure on ML's at right around 32. Kind of a tradeoff between comfort and carrying capacity. If you really have to load it down, put 35 to 40 in the rear tires, but for a full tank of fuel plus 2 or 3 passengers in the back and a little extra cargo, 32 at all 4 seems fine. It'll improve the tire mileage and fuel mileage over the 28 psi. Remember this (underinflation) is how the whole Ford/Firestone problem started. To me an overinflated tire makes the ride seem "harsh", not bouncy. Not ENOUGH bounce at 35 to 40.
"This is not the true qualities"

Gilly