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How to change front suspension strut on Mercedes W203 – replacement guide

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Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class Saloon (W203) C 180 (203.035), MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class Saloon (W203) C 200 Kompressor (203.045), MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class Saloon (W203) C 320 (203.064), MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class Saloon (W203) C 200 CDI (203.004), MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class Saloon (W203) C 270 CDI (203.016), MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class Saloon (W203) C 220 CDI (203.006, 203.008), MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class Saloon (W203) C 32 AMG Kompressor (203.065), 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 30 CDI AMG (203.018), 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 320 CDI (203.020), MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class Saloon (W203) C 280 (203.054), MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class Saloon (W203) C 350 (203.056), 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 270 CDI (203.016) … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change a front shock strut on MERCEDES-BENZ W203 C-Class [TUTORIAL AUTODOC]

Alternative products

Shock absorber

-49%

Reviews - 3

STARK SKSA-0130348 Shock absorber Front Axle, Gas Pressure, Suspension Strut, Twin-Tube, Top pin, Front Axle, Suspension Strut, Bottom Clamp, Top pin, Twin-Tube

Article number: SKSA-0130348

compared to RRP 108.2

54,49 GBP

Price per item

incl. 20 VAT, excl. delivery costs

Replacement: suspension strut – 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: suspension strut – Mercedes W203. AUTODOC recommends:

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.
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:
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:
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: suspension strut – Mercedes W203. AUTODOC experts 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.
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: suspension strut – Mercedes W203. Carefully inspect the mount, the boot, and the bump stop of the shock absorber. Replace if necessary.
Step 35

Remove the old shock absorber from the hydraulic coil spring compressor.

Replacement: suspension strut – Mercedes W203. Tip from AUTODOC:
Before installing a new shock absorber you should pump it manually 3-5 times.
Step 36

Install the new shock absorber on the hydraulic coil spring compressor.
Step 37

Install the dust sleeve and the bump stop on the new shock absorber.
Step 38

Install the spring on the shock absorber.
Step 39

Compress the spring.
Step 40

Treat the upper shock strut mount. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 41

Install the upper strut mount and the strut mount bearing.
Step 42

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: suspension strut – Mercedes W203. Be sure to position the filtering element correctly. Avoid misalignment.
Step 43

Treat the shock strut rod. Use copper grease.
Step 44

Decompress the spring.
Step 45

Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 46

Treat the mounting seats of the shock strut. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 47

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.
Step 48

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

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the suspension strut while screwing in the fastening bolts. Mercedes W203
Step 49

Treat the mounting seats of the shock strut. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 50

Fix the shock absorber strut on the steering knuckle. Use a crowbar.
Step 51

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 52

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 53

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

AUTODOC recommends:
Mercedes W203 – Do not lower the transmission jack sharply to avoid damaging components and mechanisms of the car.
Step 54

Fix the shock absorber strut on the steering knuckle. Use a crowbar.
Step 55

Install the fastening bolts.
Step 56

Screw in the fasteners connecting the suspension strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #19. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 57

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 58

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 59

Secure the brake hose bracket. Use nippers.
Step 60

Connect the ABS sensor wiring.
Step 61

Connect the brake pad wear sensor wire.
Step 62

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

Step 63

Ιnstall the transverse stabilizer link.
Step 64

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 65

Treat all joints of the stabiliser link. Treat the shock strut fasteners. Use copper grease.
Step 66

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use copper grease.
Step 67

Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – Mercedes W203. After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 68

Install the wheel.

AUTODOC recommends:
Warning! To avoid injury, hold the wheel while screwing in the fastening bolts on the car. Mercedes W203
Step 69

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 70

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 71

Remove the jacks and chocks.
Step 72

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 73

Treat the fasteners of the shock strut mount. Use copper grease.
Step 74

Remove the fender protection cover.
Step 75

Close the hood.

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