Mercedes Suspension Malfunction: What You Should Know
Mercedes cars are typically equipped with an air suspension system, which differs from a traditional air suspension system. It’s important to be able to recognize a malfunctioning air suspension so that you can know when to bring your car to an automotive specialist for servicing. In this article, we’ll go over how an air suspension system differs from traditional suspension systems, what to look for when your Mercedes’ suspension is compromised, and how you can keep these issues from occurring in your own vehicle.
What’s the difference between a regular suspension and an air suspension system?
Generally speaking, traditional suspensions and air suspensions aren’t that different; they contain many of the same parts and pieces required for optimal suspension functioning. However, an air suspension utilizes pressurized air to keep the car from hitting the ground and the wheels, and optimizes the driving experience to absorb road impacts more efficiently. Plus, they’re usually more expensive.
Air suspension systems usually encounter issues with either the air compressor which generates the air needed for the system, or the air bags themselves which hold the air, rising the vehicle up off the ground effectively. As you can see, if one or more of these critical components of the suspension isn’t working properly, it can lead to noticeable performance issues. though traditional suspension systems aren’t all that different from air suspensions, it’s important to have a Mercedes specialist diagnose and treat your air suspension issues to ensure a high quality of repair.
What to look out for when the air suspension encounters issues
Air suspension systems exhibit certain symptoms when they encounter issues, and it’s important to follow up on these concerning symptoms right away to restore your Mercedes’ function and prevent further damage to your car. Here’s what you should look out for when the air suspension system becomes compromised, damaged, or requires servicing:
Performance issues
The suspension in your car is what keeps the driving experience comfortable. Furthermore, it helps the driver handle the car optimally, making the driving experience more manageable and stable. Usually when a Mercedes air suspension runs into problems the back of the car feels looser and doesn’t handle as uniformly.
Odd noises when the car is off
If you hear odd noises coming from your car after it is off, sometimes this is normal, but sometimes it could be due to an air leak. If there is an air leak in an air bag from the suspension, the air compressor won’t receive the message to turn off, and it will continue to run even after the car is turned off.
Car sits lower
Another common reason for Mercedes owners to bring their car in for suspension diagnosis is when the car is sitting lower than usual. If the air suspension cannot properly fill the air bags, the car will not lift properly from the ground.
What could be the reason for your air suspension failure?
There are a number of different reasons why your air suspension may fail in your Mercedes, and we’ve already touched on both of them. These are the two most common causes of air suspension failure you should know about:
Leaking air bags
Leaking air bags can occur due to damage or wear over time. They are problematic, as the bag will not fill with air, and usually the car will sit lower on the side of the faulty airbag.
Air compressor malfunction
Air compressors are used for a number of different reasons, and they usually all function quite the same. It runs off of a motor that gathers air in and pushes it out into the air bags to lift the car off the ground and other suspension components. If the compressor fails, your car will likely be undriveable until the issue is fixed.
How to keep your Mercedes’ suspension in good working condition
It’s important to stay on top of your Mercedes’ maintenance, as the better you adhere to a maintenance schedule with qualified automotive technicians, the higher the quality of your car’s performance and reliability. Here are a few things you can do to keep your Mercedes’ suspension working properly:
• Hire a Mercedes specialist
• Stick to your maintenance plan
• Have suspension inspections performed regularly
• Use quality parts for replacements
The Mercedes experts here at Munich West have attended to numerous suspension issues for clients of Decatur and Atlanta, GA. As the leading European specialists in the area, we’re known for our expertise and affordability. To learn more about our shop’s qualifications or appointment availability, please call us directly today.
* Mercedes SLS GTs image credit goes to: Andrius Kaziliunas.
