W201 shocks & rear sphere life

[Charles Morgan]

Trying to sort all that will need to be done on my 190 2.5 16 suspension. The spheres were fitted just over three years ago - time for a change when everything else is being done?

The shocks look old, but aren't leaking. Records show the n/s/r shock changed in 2008, time to refresh all?

 

[ss201]

I had a 1989 190E 2.6 that I ran up to 205k miles before selling. I replaced the original front & rear shocks at 195k when I did a complete suspension refresh. Both front & rear shocks weren't cosmetically that pretty after 23 years, but when removed, weren't leaking at all. The fronts were very tired (not surprising with all that weight over the front axle), but the rears were still functioning well and probably would have seen a few more years of use.

Might be worth removing the rear shock that wasn't replaced, check it over to see if it's working OK. If it is, wire brush the rust off and give it a coat of black paint so at least it looks OK.

I've always replaced shocks in pairs in the past.

As the spheres are only three years old. I'd leave them alone.

Depends on whether you decide to keep the car for the long term if it doesn't sell. If you have an interested buyer, point this out and allow some wiggle room on the price to accommodate the next man doing it.

 

[Charles Morgan]

I've decided to keep it, so this is sort for long term in one go rather that optimise for sale.

Just picked up the point on shocks colour - mine are all yellow, if that helps identify age.

Given I'm doing the majority of the bushes I may do all the shocks at the same time as the subframe at the back will have to come off.

 

[stwat]

There is no need to replace the SLS struts in pairs. They are not shocks, they are hydraulic struts. If not leaking and working fine I would leave well alone.

If the spheres ate still doing their job then also leave well alone. You know when the seals have gone in them, as the ride will become rock hard.

 

[V12]

Spheres are probably just about run in at 3 years old.

 

[Charles Morgan]

No - spheres are run in at day one. Citroen recommends replacing them after three years as the diaphragm becomes porous and nitrogen escapes into the oil, progressively hardening the ride. These do less on the Mercedes SLS as they are effectively dampers rather than springs as well as per Citroen, but this does have hard ride.

To rephrase the question - the ride on this is hard and bumpy on poor roads, compliant on good surfaces (when you find them). It is nothing like as soft as the ride on my 190E 2.0 litre. Springs are all fine, bushes visibly need doing, so point about SLS struts noted, but front shocks do sound like candidates for doing.

 

[V12]

I was just joking about running in.
3 years sounds like a very short life for spheres from my experience!

 

[neilrr]

+1 ^^^

Very.

 

[Dieselman]

Yours is a low mileage car and on Mercedes the sphere isn't under such stress as the spring supports the body most of the time.

The only sphere that needs early replacement on a Citroen is the accumulator, even then they go longer than 3 years.

 

[John Jones Jr]

There is no need to replace the SLS struts in pairs. They are not shocks, they are hydraulic struts. If not leaking and working fine I would leave well alone.

If the spheres ate still doing their job then also leave well alone. You know when the seals have gone in them, as the ride will become rock hard.

^This.

No harm to flush the system including the ASD along with cleaning, lubing and protecting the self leveling valve while you at it.

 

[Charles Morgan]

Right the spheres have kept their place in the balloon and as the rear struts are fine, they shall stay. Very good point about a good flush.