Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
MERCEDES-BENZ W124 Coupe (C124) 230 CE (124.043), MERCEDES-BENZ W124 Coupe (C124) 300 CE, MERCEDES-BENZ W124 Coupe (C124) 300 CE-24 (124.051), MERCEDES-BENZ W124 Coupe (C124) 230 CE Cat (124.043), MERCEDES-BENZ W124 Coupe (C124) 300 CE (124.050), MERCEDES-BENZ W124 Coupe (C124) 320 CE (124.052), MERCEDES-BENZ W124 Coupe (C124) 220 CE (124.042), MERCEDES-BENZ W124 Coupe (C124) 230 CE (124.043), MERCEDES-BENZ W124 Coupe (C124) 300 CE-24 (124.051) … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

This video shows the replacement procedure of a similar car part on another vehicle

Alternative products

Shock absorber

Replacement: suspension strut – MERCEDES-BENZ COUPE (C124). List of the tools you'll need:

                      Wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      All-purpose cleaning spray
                    
                      Ceramic grease
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Combination spanner #13
                    
                      Combination spanner #19
                    
                      Combination spanner #22
                    
                      Drive socket # 13
                    
                      Drive socket # 19
                    
                      HEX bit no.H6
                    
                      HEX bit no.H7
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #17
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Tap wrench
                    
                      Water pump pliers
                    
                      Crow bar
                    
                      Strut spring compressor
                    
                      Hydraulic transmission jack
                    
                      Fender cover
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: suspension strut – MERCEDES-BENZ COUPE (C124). Tip from AUTODOC experts:

Both shock struts of the front suspension should be replaced simultaneously.
The replacement procedure is identical for the left and right shock struts of the front suspension.
All work should be done with the engine stopped.

Replacement: suspension strut – MERCEDES-BENZ COUPE (C124). 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 absorber upper mount. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 4

Clean the shock absorber rod fastener. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 5

Loosen the fasteners of the upper strut mount. Use a drive socket #13. Use a ratchet wrench.

AUTODOC recommends:
Don't unscrew it completely.
Step 6

Loosen the fastener of the strut piston rod. Use a combination spanner #22. Use HEX No.H7. Use a ratchet wrench.

Replacement: suspension strut – MERCEDES-BENZ COUPE (C124). Tip:
Don't unscrew it completely.
Step 7

Secure the wheels with chocks.

Step 8

Loosen the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17. Use a tap wrench.
Step 9

Raise the car.

AUTODOC recommends:
If you are using a jack, make sure it rests on a flat surface without any unevenness.Be sure to additionally secure the car with jack stands.
Step 10

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

AUTODOC recommends:
Warning! To avoid injury, hold the wheel while unscrewing the fastening bolts. MERCEDES-BENZ COUPE (C124)
Step 11

Remove the wheel.
Step 12

Support the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 13

Install the coil spring compressor on the coil spring.

AUTODOC recommends:
Use adapters and jaws of the appropriate size.The sping coils should be securely fixed with the coil spring compressor.Use high quality coil spring compressors.
Step 14

Compress the spring.

Replacement: suspension strut – MERCEDES-BENZ COUPE (C124). AUTODOC recommends:
Be careful. The compressed spring is powerful and can cause injury if it comes loose.
Step 15

Clean the shock absorber fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 16

Disconnect the wiring from the strut.
Step 17

Unscrew the lower fasteners on the shock absorber. Use a drive socket #19. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 18

Remove the fastening bolts.
Step 19

Detach the strut from the steering knuckle. Use a crowbar.
Step 20

Clean the fasteners of the stabilizer bush brackets. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 21

Unscrew the fasteners of the stabilizer bush brackets. Use a combination spanner #13. Use a drive socket #13. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 22

Remove the fastening bolts.
Step 23

Remove the stabilizer bush brackets.
Step 24

Remove the coil spring together with the coil spring compressor.

Replacement: suspension strut – MERCEDES-BENZ COUPE (C124). AUTODOC experts recommend:
While the spring is compressed, do not do any operations on it.
Step 25

Remove the fastener of the shock absorber piston rod. Use a combination spanner #22. Use HEX No.H7. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 26

Unscrew the fasteners of the upper strut mount. Use a drive socket #13. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 27

Remove the shock absorber.
Step 28

Remove the strut mount.
Step 29

Remove the shock absorber dust boot and bump stop.

AUTODOC recommends:
Carefully inspect the dust boot and bump stop of the suspension strut. Replace them if necessary.
Step 30

Decompress the spring.
Step 31

Install the coil spring compressor on the coil spring.
Step 32

Compress the spring.

AUTODOC recommends:
Be careful. The compressed spring is powerful and can cause injury if it comes loose.
Step 33

Clean the coil spring mounting seats. Use a wire brush. Use all-purpose cleaning spray.
Step 34

Clean the shock absorber mounting seats. Use a wire brush. Use all-purpose cleaning spray.
Step 35

Clean the mounting seat of the suspension strut mount. Use a wire brush. Use all-purpose cleaning spray.
Step 36

Install the spring together with the compressor.

AUTODOC recommends:
Make sure that the coil spring is correctly positioned in its mounting seats.
Step 37

Install the top suspension strut mount.
Step 38

Screw on the fasteners of the upper strut mount.

Step 39

Install the dust boot and the bump stop.
Step 40

Install a new suspension strut.

Replacement: suspension strut – MERCEDES-BENZ COUPE (C124). Tip from AUTODOC experts:
Before installing a new shock absorber you should pump it 3–5 times by hand.
Step 41

Screw on the fastener of the strut piston rod.

Step 42

Install the fastening bolts.
Step 43

Tighten the lower fasteners on the shock absorbers. Use a drive socket #19. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 110 Nm torque.
Step 44

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

AUTODOC recommends:
Lower the hydraulic transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging assemblies and mechanisms.
Step 45

Secure the wiring to the strut.
Step 46

Install the stabilizer bush brackets. Use water pump pliers.
Step 47

Install the fastening bolts.

Step 48

Tighten the fasteners on the anti-roll bar bush brackets. Use a combination spanner #13. Use a drive socket #13. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 20 Nm torque.
Step 49

Decompress the spring.
Step 50

Remove the coil spring compressor.
Step 51

Clean the wheel rim mounting seat. Use a wire brush. Use all-purpose cleaning spray.
Step 52

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use ceramic grease.
Step 53

Install the wheel.

Replacement: suspension strut – MERCEDES-BENZ COUPE (C124). AUTODOC recommends:
To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when screwing in the fastening bolts.
Step 54

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 55

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 56

Remove the jacks and chocks.
Step 57

Tighten the shock absorber rod nut. Use a combination spanner #19. Use HEX No.H6. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 60 Nm torque.
Step 58

Tighten the fasteners of the upper strut mount. Use a drive socket #13. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 20 Nm torque.
Step 59

Remove the fender protection cover.

Step 60

Close the bonnet.

Was this manual helpful?

Please rate this manual on a scale from 1 to 5. If you have any questions, feel free to ask us.

Need New Tyres?

Find out which tyre and wheel sizes are compatible with the MERCEDES-BENZ W124 Coupe (C124) model

MERCEDES-BENZ COUPE (C124) tyre size

How to change front coil springs on MERCEDES-BENZ W124 Coupe (C124) – replacement guide

Free download PDF 1.93 MB
How to change rear shock absorbers on MERCEDES-BENZ W124 Coupe (C124) – replacement guide

Free download PDF 1.47 MB
How to change rear coil springs on MERCEDES-BENZ W124 Coupe (C124) – replacement guide

Free download PDF 2.46 MB
How to change front brake pads on MERCEDES-BENZ W124 Coupe (C124) – replacement guide

Free download PDF 1.5 MB
How to change rear brake pads on MERCEDES-BENZ W124 Coupe (C124) – replacement guide

Free download PDF 1.25 MB
How to change front brake discs on MERCEDES-BENZ W124 Coupe (C124) – replacement guide

Free download PDF 2.22 MB

How to change front suspension strut on MERCEDES-BENZ W124 Estate (S124) – replacement guide

Free download PDF 2.79 MB
How to change rear shock absorbers on MERCEDES-BENZ W124 Coupe (C124) – replacement guide

Free download PDF 1.47 MB
How to change rear shock absorbers on MERCEDES-BENZ W124 Convertible (A124) – replacement guide

Free download PDF 1.46 MB
How to change suspension strut on a car – replacement tutorial

Universal

Free download PDF 1.53 MB
How to change shock absorbers on a car – replacement tutorial

Universal

Free download PDF 1.07 MB
How to change front suspension strut on Mercedes Vito W639 – replacement guide

Free download PDF 3.76 MB

Unlock your car maintenance assistant!

Track expenses, manage logs, schedule replacements, and more.

2 ways to clean the EGR valve – which one is better?

180K views

Published on: 04/09/2025
Top 7 signs of a bad starter

7K views

Published on: 20/03/2025
Extend your engine's life: Avoid these 3 damaging factors | AUTODOC tips

9K views

Published on: 07/10/2021
Preventing Engine Failure: Head Gasket Inspection Tutorial | AUTODOC

13K views

Published on: 13/10/2020