Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class Saloon (W203) C 200 Kompressor (203.045), MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class Saloon (W203) C 200 CDI (203.004), MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class Saloon (W203) C 220 CDI (203.006, 203.008), MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class Saloon (W203) C 200 CDI (203.004), MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class Saloon (W203) C 180 Kompressor (203.046), MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class Saloon (W203) C 200 Kompressor (203.042), MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class Saloon (W203) C 200 CDI (203.007), MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class Saloon (W203) C 200 CGI Kompressor (203.043), MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class Saloon (W203) C 230 Kompressor (203.040), MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class Saloon (W203) C 220 CDI (203.008), MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class Saloon (W203) C 280 (203.054), MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class Saloon (W203) C 230 (203.052), MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class Saloon (W203) C 220 CDI (203.006), MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class Saloon (W203) C 320 (203.064) … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change front springs on MERCEDES-BENZ W203 C-Class [TUTORIAL AUTODOC]

All the parts you need to replace – Springs for C-Class Saloon (W203) and other MERCEDES-BENZ models

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Replacement: coil springs – Mercedes W203. Tools you need:

                      Wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      Brake cleaner 
                    
                      Copper grease 
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Combination spanner #21
                    
                      HEX bit No.H6.
                    
                      HEX bit No.H7.
                    
                      HEX bit No.H12.
                    
                      Drive socket # 16
                    
                      Drive socket # 19
                    
                      Drive socket # 21
                    
                      14Х2.5-mm strut nut socket
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #17
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Tap wrench
                    
                      Crow bar
                    
                      Nippers
                    
                      Hydraulic strut spring compressor
                    
                      Hydraulic transmission jack
                    
                      Fender cover
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: coil springs – Mercedes W203. AUTODOC experts recommend:

Both coil springs of the front suspension should be replaced simultaneously.
The replacement procedure is identical for the left and right coil springs of the front suspension.
Please note: all work on the car – Mercedes W203 – should be done with the engine switched off.

Carry out replacement in the following order:

Step 1

Open the bonnet.
Step 2

Use a fender protection cover to prevent damaging paintwork and plastic parts of the car.
Step 3

Clean the fasteners of the shock strut upper mount. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 4

Loosen the upper fastener of the shock strut mount. Use a combination spanner #21. Use HEX No.H7. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 5

Secure the wheels with chocks.
Step 6

Loosen the wheel mounting bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 7

Raise the front of the car and secure on supports.
Step 8

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the wheel while unscrewing the fastening bolts. Mercedes W203
Step 9

Remove the wheel.
Step 10

Clean the stabiliser link fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 11

Unscrew the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut. Use a drive socket #16. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 12

Remove the stabilizer rod.
Step 13

Disconnect the brake hose bracket. Use nippers.
Step 14

Disconnect the ABS sensor wiring.
Step 15

Disconnect the brake pad wear sensor wire.
Step 16

Clean the fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 17

Unscrew the upper fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use HEX No.H12. Use a drive socket #21. Use a ratchet wrench. Use a tap wrench.
Step 18

Clean the fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 19

Unscrew the fasteners connecting the suspension strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #19. Use a tap wrench.
Step 20

Remove the fastening bolts.
Step 21

Disconnect the steering knuckle from the shock absorber strut. Use a crowbar.
Step 22

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 23

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 24

Disconnect the steering knuckle from the shock absorber strut. Use a crowbar.
Step 25

Unscrew the top fastening of the shock strut mount.

AUTODOC recommends:
Mercedes W203 – To avoid injury, hold the suspension strut while unscrewing the fastening bolts.
Step 26

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 27

Set the shock absorber strut on the spring compressor tool.

Replacement: coil springs – Mercedes W203. Tip from AUTODOC experts:
Note that when using a spring compressor, spring coils need to be securely gripped, compressing the spring on the opposite sides.Ensure the correct position of the spring in the retainer.Make sure that the spring coils tightly entered the lock handles.
Step 28

Compress the spring.
Step 29

Treat the shock strut rod. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 30

Remove the strut piston rod nut. Use a 14Х2.5-mm strut nut socket. Use a drive socket #21. Use HEX No.H7. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 31

Remove the top strut mount.
Step 32

Release the coil spring.
Step 33

Remove the spring.
Step 34

Remove the shock absorber dust cap and the bump stop.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: coil springs – Mercedes W203. Carefully inspect the mount, the boot, and the bump stop of the shock absorber. Replace if necessary.
Step 35

Install the boot and a bump stop onto the shock absorber.
Step 36

Install the spring on the shock absorber.
Step 37

Compress the spring.
Step 38

Treat the upper shock strut mount. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 39

Install the upper strut mount and the strut mount bearing.
Step 40

Tighten the shock strut piston rod nut. Use a 14Х2.5-mm strut nut socket. Use a drive socket #21. Use HEX No.H6. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 20 Nm torque.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: coil springs – Mercedes W203. Be sure to position the filtering element correctly. Avoid misalignment.
Step 41

Treat the shock strut rod. Use copper grease.
Step 42

Decompress the spring.
Step 43

Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 44

Treat the mounting seats of the shock strut. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 45

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.
Step 46

Screw the top fastening of the shock strut mount. Do not tighten it.

AUTODOC recommends:
Mercedes W203 – To avoid injury, hold the suspension strut while screwing in the fastening bolts.
Step 47

Treat the mounting seats of the shock strut. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 48

Fix the shock absorber strut on the steering knuckle. Use a crowbar.
Step 49

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 50

Screw in the upper fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #21. Use HEX No.H12. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 51

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: coil springs – Mercedes W203. Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 52

Fix the shock absorber strut on the steering knuckle. Use a crowbar.
Step 53

Install the fastening bolts.
Step 54

Screw in the fasteners connecting the suspension strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #19. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 55

Tighten the lower fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #19. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 110 Nm torque.
Step 56

Tighten the upper fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #21. Use HEX No.H12. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 100 Nm torque.+90°

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Be sure to use new fasteners.
Step 57

Secure the brake hose bracket. Use nippers.
Step 58

Connect the ABS sensor wiring.
Step 59

Connect the brake pad wear sensor wire.
Step 60

Clean the mounting seats of the stabiliser link. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.

Step 61

Ιnstall the transverse stabilizer link.
Step 62

Tighten the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut. Use a drive socket #16. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 60 Nm torque.
Step 63

Treat all joints of the stabiliser link.
Step 64

Treat the shock strut fasteners. Use copper grease.
Step 65

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use copper grease.
Step 66

Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: coil springs – Mercedes W203. After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 67

Install the wheel.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the suspension strut while screwing in the fastening bolts. Mercedes W203
Step 68

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 69

Lower the car and working in a cross order, tighten the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 110 Nm torque.
Step 70

Remove the jacks and chocks.
Step 71

Tighten the upper fastener of the shock absorber strut mount. Use a combination spanner #21. Use HEX No.H6. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 60 Nm torque.
Step 72

Treat the fasteners of the shock strut mount. Use copper grease.
Step 73

Remove the fender protection cover.
Step 74

Close the hood.

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