GSF vs MB for front springs

[ROBB]

I need a pair of springs for my merc to pass an mot and i have got a price of £107 inc vat from MB, which i thought was quite good. When i called GSF - £72 in vat :bannana:

Does anyone know if the quality would be the same? Am i better off sticking with the MB ones?

Cheers

robb

 

[jaymanek]

Ask what make they are.. at £72 they will probably be OEM.

 

[Donbronski]

Doesn't OEM mean Original Equipment Manufacturer anyway?

So would that not mean that they are MB....?

 

[Dazzler]

Doesn't OEM mean Original Equipment Manufacturer anyway?

So would that not mean that they are MB....?

Depends wether it says OEM or OEM standard

 

[ROBB]

Ask what make they are.. at £72 they will probably be OEM.

GSF ones are "Leisure-force" - never heard of them

 

[marty359]

Sorry to jump in but are uprated springs available without lowering the car, can anyone recommend any?

Ive had 2 springs snap over the last year and now I need another 2.

 

[MPK]

I recently changed my front springs on my W210, reason being the tyres were wearing badly on the inside and wheels in motion were unable to get the car alignment back in spec. The MB ones cost me £97 inc VAT and were colour coded with 3 paint marks to the chassis of the car - Not sure if GSF are colour coded to your exact chassis or whether this makes a whole lot of difference, but the car raised by 15mm when complete and the alignment then could be completed in spec. Car no longer crashed over speed bumps and seems to handle a lot better and tyre wear is even again.

For £30 quid, I'd stick with MB,s springs to match your car.

 

[jaymanek]

GSF ones are "Leisure-force" - never heard of them

Nahh go for the MB ones.

 

[grober]

GSF ones are "Leisure-force" - never heard of them

LESJOFORS http://www.lesjoforsab.com/default-uk.asp

Get the MB ones for all the price difference. You should get a more accurately rated spring. Quality wise I doubt there is much difference.

 

[ray_hennig]

Make sure you get the right rating ...

Go for the MB ones if you are in any doubt. MB will know the exact spring required for your car, derived from the VIN.

Unless you are super confident that you know what you need.

Just my 2 cents.

RayH

 

[Ian B Walker]

Mb springs are matched to your chassis. Depending on what spec your car is, eg. air con, auto etc. will depend on what spring you will get. Learnt a lesson long ago. Avoid 3rd party springs.

 

[219]

You need to add up the options on your car according to a 'points' system to determine the weight on the front or rear axle as required - this then determines which of 3 or 4 springs applicable to your model is correct , along with the rubber spacer at the top which comes in 3 or 4 thicknesses ( identified by 'bumps' on the bottom edge ) there is a list of part numbers on the russian MB Club website for most models , referenced against points . Your dealer will be able to determine this for you from the chassis no and supply the 'correct' springs - aftermarket suppliers like GSF or ECP will only supply a generic spring which may or may not give the correct ride height . OEM manufacturers such as Bilstein of Boge do list MB part numbers against their various springs so you can order the correct springs via a motor factor .

 

[tromppost]

Always keep the receipt with the Mercedes parts, some you get a two year warranty! and yes some do fail again once changed like airmatic pumps.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Ask your MB parts counter for a discount - you may be surprised.

 

[ROBB]

Thanks for your advice guys, ill be sticking with the MB ones

Have a banana!! :bannana:

 

[AllanE]

To fail an MoT, I presume you have a cracked/broken coil, so it may be worth giving the new springs a good coating of waxoyl or similar - most paint or powder coating flakes off after a few miles in my experience.

 

[jaymanek]

im not sure its rust that makes these fails? In my opinion its just bad design.. we replace so many springs its unreal..

 

[AllanE]

So, if it's not rust, just what is the failure mode?!?

 

[IanT]

So, if it's not rust, just what is the failure mode?!?

I think it's a materials and design issue too, had similar problems with some Vauxhalls. With the Merc springs being inboard on many models, they are subjected to much larger compression forces and so uneven loading in the spring seat compounds the issue. The ones I've seen fail (Vauxhalls) have all been less than a quarter of the way up the coil from the bottom and the failure has always been a diagonal crack.

Ian.

 

[jaymanek]

Well for example on a W203 the rear spring often catches the base of the spring perch...