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How to change front suspension strut on Mercedes W211 – replacement guide

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Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Saloon (W211) E 220 CDI, MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Saloon (W211) E 320 (211.065), MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Saloon (W211) E 500 (211.070), MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Saloon (W211) E 240 (211.061), MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Saloon (W211) E 220 CDI (211.006), MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Saloon (W211) E 270 CDI (211.016), MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Saloon (W211) E 200 CDI (211.004), MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Saloon (W211) E 200 CDI (211.004), MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Saloon (W211) E 55 AMG Kompressor (211.076), MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Saloon (W211) E 200 Kompressor (211.042), MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Saloon (W211) E 320 CDI (211.026), MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Saloon (W211) E 400 CDI (211.028), MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Saloon (W211) E 200 NGT (211.042), MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Saloon (W211) E 280 CDI (211.023), MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Saloon (W211) E 280 (211.054), MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Saloon (W211) E 350 (211.056), MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Saloon (W211) E 280 CDI (211.020), MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Saloon (W211) E 320 CDI (211.022), MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Saloon (W211) E 420 CDI (211.029), MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Saloon (W211) E 200 CDI (211.007), MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Saloon (W211) E 220 CDI (211.008), MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Saloon (W211) E 200 Kompressor (211.041), MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Saloon (W211) E 500 (211.072), MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Saloon (W211) E 63 AMG (211.077), MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Saloon (W211) E 220 CDI (211.006), MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Saloon (W211) E 350 CGI (211.057), MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Saloon (W211) E 300 BlueTEC (211.024), MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Saloon (W211) E 230 (211.052) … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change a front shock strut on MERCEDES-BENZ (W211) E-Class [TUTORIAL AUTODOC]

Alternative products

Shock absorber

Replacement: suspension strut – Mercedes W211. List of the tools you'll need:

                      Wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      Brake cleaner 
                    
                      Copper grease 
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Combination spanner #21
                    
                      HEX bit No.H6.
                    
                      HEX bit No.H12.
                    
                      Drive socket # 10
                    
                      Drive socket # 13
                    
                      Drive socket # 17
                    
                      Drive socket # 18
                    
                      Drive socket # E18
                    
                      Drive socket # 21
                    
                      Shock absorber socket #DD6
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #17
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Crow bar
                    
                      Hammer
                    
                      Pin punch
                    
                      Hydraulic strut spring compressor
                    
                      Hydraulic transmission jack
                    
                      Fender cover
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: suspension strut – Mercedes W211. AUTODOC experts recommend:

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 W211. Recommended sequence of steps:

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 drive socket #13. 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 W211
Step 9

Remove the wheel.
Step 10

Undo the fasteners of the oil pan lower cover. Use a drive socket #10. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 11

Remove the oil pan cover.
Step 12

Clean all joints of the arm. Clean the shock strut fasteners. Clean the stabiliser link fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.

Replacement: suspension strut – Mercedes W211. Tip:
After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 13

Unscrew the fastener connecting the shock strut to the suspension control arm. Use a combination spanner #21. Use a drive socket #21. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 14

Unscrew the arm fastening from the subframe. Use a combination spanner #21. Use a drive socket #E18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 15

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 16

Detach the control arm. Use a crowbar.
Step 17

Remove the fastening bolt. Use a pin punch. Use a hammer.
Step 18

Detach the bottom part of the shock strut. Use a crowbar.
Step 19

Unscrew the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the stabilizer bar. Use a combination spanner #21. Use HEX No.H12. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 20

Remove the stabilizer rod.
Step 21

Unscrew the top fastening of the shock strut mount.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the suspension strut while unscrewing the fastening bolts. Mercedes W211
Step 22

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 23

Set the shock absorber strut on the spring compressor tool.

Replacement: suspension strut – Mercedes W211. 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 24

Compress the spring.
Step 25

Remove the protective cap of the shock absorber mount.

Step 26

Treat the shock strut rod. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 27

Remove the strut piston rod nut. Use a drive socket #17. Use HEX No.H6. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 28

Remove the top strut mount.
Step 29

Release the coil spring.
Step 30

Remove the spring.
Step 31

Remove the shock absorber dust cap and the bump stop.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – Mercedes W211. Carefully inspect the mount, the boot, and the bump stop of the shock absorber. Replace if necessary.
Step 32

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

Replacement: suspension strut – Mercedes W211. AUTODOC experts recommend:
Before installing a new shock absorber you should pump it manually 3-5 times.
Step 33

Install the new shock absorber on the hydraulic coil spring compressor.
Step 34

Install the dust sleeve and the bump stop on the new shock absorber.
Step 35

Install the spring on the shock absorber.
Step 36

Compress the spring.
Step 37

Install the upper strut mount and the strut mount bearing.
Step 38

Tighten the shock strut piston rod nut. Use a shock absorber socket #DD6. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 23 Nm torque.

Replacement: suspension strut – Mercedes W211. AUTODOC experts recommend:
Check to make sure the spring is positioned correctly. Avoid its misalignment.
Step 39

Decompress the spring.
Step 40

Treat the shock strut rod. Use copper grease.
Step 41

Install the protective shock absorber mounting cap.

Step 42

Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 43

Clean the mounting seats of the shock strut.
Step 44

Clean the mounting seats and the thread of the suspension arm. 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.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the suspension strut while screwing in the fastening bolts. Mercedes W211
Step 47

Ιnstall the transverse stabilizer link.
Step 48

Tighten the stabiliser link fastener. Use a combination spanner #21. Use HEX No.H12. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 49

Attach the bottom part of the shock strut.

Step 50

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 51

Attach the control arm.

Step 52

Support the arm. Use a crowbar. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 53

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 54

Remove the support from under the arm.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – Mercedes W211. Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 55

Support the arm. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 56

Screw the fastener connecting the control arm to the subframe. Use a combination spanner #21. Use a drive socket #E18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 57

Tighten the arm fastening to the subframe. Use a combination spanner #21. Use a drive socket #E18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 80 Nm torque.+120°

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Be sure to use new fasteners.
Step 58

Tighten the fastener connecting the shock strut to the suspension control arm. Use a combination spanner #21. Use a drive socket #21. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 165 Nm torque.
Step 59

Tighten the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the stabilizer bar. Use a drive socket #21. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 62 Nm torque.
Step 60

Remove the support from under the arm.

AUTODOC recommends:
Mercedes W211 – Do not lower the transmission jack sharply to avoid damaging components and mechanisms of the car.
Step 61

Treat the shock strut fasteners.
Step 62

Treat all joints of the stabiliser link.
Step 63

Treat all joints of the arm. Use copper grease.

Step 64

Reinstall the oil pan lower cover.
Step 65

Tighten the fasteners of the oil pan lower cover. Use a drive socket #10. Use a ratchet wrench.
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 W211. 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 W211
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 130 Nm torque.
Step 71

Remove the jacks and chocks.
Step 72

Tighten the upper fastener of the shock absorber strut mount. Use a drive socket #13. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 30 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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