Replacement: strut mount – Mercedes W203. Tip from AUTODOC:
The replacement procedure is identical for the mounts of the left and right shock struts of the front suspension.
All mounts of the front shock struts should be replaced simultaneously.
All work should be done with the engine stopped.
Replacement: strut mount – Mercedes W203. Use the following procedure:
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:
Warning! To avoid injury, 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:
Important! Hold the suspension strut while unscrewing the fastening bolts. Mercedes W203
Step 26
Remove the suspension strut.
Step 27
Set the shock absorber strut on the spring compressor tool.
Replacement: strut mount – Mercedes W203. Professionals recommend:
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.
AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: strut mount – Mercedes W203. Carefully inspect the mount, the boot, and the bump stop of the shock absorber. Replace if necessary.
Step 32
Treat the upper shock strut mount. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 33
Install a new top shock strut mount.
Step 34
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: strut mount – Mercedes W203. Be sure to position the filtering element correctly. Avoid misalignment.
Step 35
Treat the shock strut rod. Use copper grease.
Step 36
Decompress the spring.
Step 37
Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 38
Treat the mounting seats of the shock strut. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 39
Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.
Step 40
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 41
Treat the mounting seats of the shock strut. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 42
Fix the shock absorber strut on the steering knuckle. Use a crowbar.
Step 43
Install the fastening bolt.
Step 44
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 45
Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.
AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: strut mount – Mercedes W203. Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 46
Fix the shock absorber strut on the steering knuckle. Use a crowbar.
Step 47
Install the fastening bolts.
Step 48
Screw in the fasteners connecting the suspension strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #19. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 49
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 50
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 51
Secure the brake hose bracket. Use nippers.
Step 52
Connect the ABS sensor wiring.
Step 53
Connect the brake pad wear sensor wire.
Step 54
Clean the mounting seats of the stabiliser link. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 55
Ιnstall the transverse stabilizer link.
Step 56
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 57
Treat all joints of the stabiliser link. Treat the shock strut fasteners. Use copper grease.
Step 58
Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use copper grease.
Step 59
Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner.
AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: strut mount – Mercedes W203. After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 60
Install the wheel.
AUTODOC recommends:
Warning! To avoid injury, hold the wheel while screwing in the fastening bolts on the car. Mercedes W203
Step 61
Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 62
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 63
Remove the jacks and chocks.
Step 64
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 65
Treat the fasteners of the shock strut mount. Use copper grease.
Step 66
Remove the fender protection cover.
Step 67
Close the hood.
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