My 2004 Mercedes Benz E320 aka The Benz

[tjc78]

A defect that took 15 years to show up?

[87gtVIC]

So it was just sitting there in the driveway when the epic fail happened? Holy smokes.

Yes.

Most likely a manufacturing defect.

A defect that took 15 years to show up?

This was my initial thought. Bizarre for a defect to show up this many years later.

[Giraffe]

Not all manufacturing defects will lead to immediate failure. Difficult to tell from the picture, but I'll bet you'd find some stress cracking if you took a really close up picture of where it broke.

Call it a defect helped along by daily use.

[87gtVIC]

Benzo is back in action. Front struts and springs replaced and slapped in new rear shocks. Still waiting on one last rear spring, though I doubt I will change them out. Attempted to remove the necessary bits in order to get the spring out of the lower a arm and its a bear. One honkin' 12mm hex headed bolt through the knuckle and lower a arm to a 21 mm nut just is seized in place. Rear springs are most likely staying put.

[gadget73]

probably just a fatigue failure over time. Springs move a lot and eventually if you bend stuff it'll work harden and crack. Lucky it happened when and where it did.

[sly]

potholes in Dave's area are notorious by nature.

[87gtVIC]

Made a last ditch attempt at replacing the rear coil springs by following this video below:

Fail.

The bolt securing the lower a arm is seized inside the bushing.


I am also glad I measure the toe ahead of time as I had a suspicion there was a cam for toe adjustment on that toe arms bracket to the subframe..... and I was right. I wish the damn video mentioned you would need to get an alignment afterwords.

The internet...cant trust it.

No worries though I just set the toe to how it was before and all is well again. Got to use my toe plates as well as my turn plates (wheel on top of plates that turn and allows you to make adjustments).

The rear springs will go in a box just in case I am FORCED to do the repair.

[87gtVIC]

OH almost forgot.

The spare was out of air when I needed it to use to get the car in the back yard as the car was slammed due to the broken front spring. The valve stem on the tire was leaking.....

Ordered a new one (as it is a funky size) and I am now back in business....hope not to need it.

[gadget73]

Leave it to the Germans to use non-standard valve stems.

[87gtVIC]

Yeah tell me about it. I had to go out and buy special tools as well....large hex sockets, e torx, and triple square sockets. WTF!

[Rodentkiller]

When I had to change valve stems on MBZ rims I never had to go to the dealer to get "special" valve stems for a MBZ.

[87gtVIC]

When I had to change valve stems on MBZ rims I never had to go to the dealer to get "special" valve stems for a MBZ.

Nor did I for the four driving wheels. The spare in the other hand requires a special uncommon size.

[87gtVIC]

Attempted and succeeded at replacing the rear springs....third times the charm I guess in my case.

This time I followed this lead: https://forums.mbclub.co.uk/threads/...2#post-1879821


It is a bit sketchy but it did work and my rear springs are replaced!

The compression plates holding tight to the first rear spring I removed:



Old springs out...getting crusty looking down at the bottoms...



New springs in



Sitting pretty




If this method did not work I would have attempted dropping the sub frame as that would have been my only option left as the lower a arms bushing were seized at both ends. Doesn't matter now...Job is done. No fear of it breaking on me.

[gadget73]

I hate springs and spring compressors. They make me very nervous. Single best thing about air suspension, releasing stored energy is simple and safe.

[87gtVIC]

I agree. Definitely need to be cautious. I did feel safer with this style as the spring really couldn't go anywhere. While handling it though I was weary if it would explode in my grasp.