Mercedes ABC suspension repair

Local customer. Work progress video. Part 1
RestoreYourMercedes.com

[@gotglasses]

@ Victor - sorry to hear about your accident. Cars can always be fixed. I am sure you did the right thing.

[@MarkFeaGuitar]

Nice videos. Thanks for reminding to change fluids like this, not just the obvious engine oil! Cheers!

[@Enjoythevroom]

It's common when you repair one component of a high pressure system, any weak links in the system will soon fail too. Rebuilding the rear increased hydraulic pressure to normal levels again but, that also stressed weaker components. I know not everyone can afford to replace both valve blocks, but it's really the best way to fix this. Now, the next components down the line will be all the misc. hydraulic lines and the most expensive.....the shocks! This is why I replaced everything all at once. It cost me over $5,000.00 in parts and I did all the work. Buying a $130K plus SL 55 or 65 cheap for $25K+ is great but you better have that extra cash to keep the ABC system running for another 10 years.

[@vsandvs]

I agree. I own 2003 CL600 and 2003 S600 as my personal vehicles. And both had issues with ABC. But since I'm a mechanic I can always repair failed components. But my customers do not want to replace whole system. Too expensive so I repair only failed units. But there is always a next weak link. Nobody can ever say when next weak link fails...

[@dw4525]

@@vsandvs how much approximately would it cost to replace the whole ABC system on these cars?

[@Enjoythevroom]

@@dw4525 I spent about 5K in parts only including new shocks and since I did all the work that was the total. If you pay a shop to do this, you're looking at $10K and btw that includes a new or rebuilt ABC pump unit, that and the shocks are the most expensive part.

[@Enjoythevroom]

@@vsandvs Oh yes, totally get it. Buyers of these used cars usually don't have the disposable income of the buyers who bought them new! LOL. I get it, most just want to replace what's broken. In your case, the cost for parts to do the front valve block at the same time would have just been another set of o-ring kit - $50? The labor you had to charge the customer would have been the prohibitive issue huh? That's all I meant not replacing everything like shocks and pump. That would required your customer to take a 2nd mortgage on his home.

[@zxtenn]

Very good point about cleaning everything PRIOR to disassembly to avoid contamination, sure has a lot of hoses there for each pod- Very expensive toy there, people in your area lucky to have you as dealers rush in and out and always worrying about time

[@babytoymania516]

Awesome work! I need this on my SL

[@tommydle68]

EBay has the Rings and the valve kit rebuild kit I took my apart and found a piece of aluminum stuck in one of the front valve n now it's lifting mazing.

[@vsandvs]

Rebuild might not work of valves themselves are worn out. I recently went through one valve 3 times and gave up since control valves internal seals were bad. And lock valves shafts were worn and leak pass

[@bobmaichin6781]

Why would anyone put a pinstripe on an SL55 .

[@cedjazz]

The ABC is one of the best engineering innovations in Mercedes-Benz. Unfortunately, it is very scary too. I believe this is the reason why they depreciate so fast.
Mercedes-Benz always over engineer their vehicles. In my opinion they are the safest, most luxurious and most powerful vehicles on the road.
Love hate

[@vsandvs]

When ABC works its great. But at the end of the day its just amount of money to repair ABC. I just went through it with my 2003 S600-few hoses, valve blocks. And now ABC is perfect. Cost good money to fix but well worth it

[@ironworkerwella1]

Whats up Victor its Jay with the blk CL600 nice video bro!

[@dexterjsullen]

From what I understand the ABC system isn't that hard compared to engine block gasket and timing. Just keep the fluid clean and it should operate normal, also the ABC pump made out of full Metal or plastic impeller. And it best to have a garage or it be a headache since you constantly under the car with all of that oil.

[@larrycurtis2791]

After this repair did you have to rodeo the car to bleed the air out of the system my 04 s55amg is sagging on the drivers side after a few days I want rebuild the valves but I don’t have a way to rodeo the car when I’m done. Is there another way to bleed air out of the system?

[@kmobthm]

What’s up ! Wanted to ask ! W220 s55 2003 , car sits low after driving when parked ! When turning it on it goes up in matter of 15 -20 seconds perfect height , also to elevate and lower button works ? Need help what could be the problem

[@matomrkalj3050]

Hello. I have a w220 s500 2000. And i have a permanent abc warning..visit workshop! It started when i cross a bump the red light comes shortly...and now it is there soon as i turn the car on. The MB shop told me that there is liquid missing and then they would start from there. My private mechanic told me that the valve is clogged and TH-cam clips tell me its probably nitrogen acumulator. The car is leveled normaly and straight. It raises and lowers the 2 stage button within seconds...only when I press abc button on dash nothing happens...car just stands normaly...what do you think i should do? I reffild the fluid with about 1.5L additionaly and the error didnt go away...fluis is relatively black and filter not so clean

[@MFSII]

U

[@alphachingon6920]

Where is the filter positioned at? I’m starting to have some problems with my CL600 ABC its leaking as well.

[@irenemartinez2953]

i have a 01 CL55AMG the ABC light went off plus sahs car too low. im not driving it anywhere but since its too low how will they tow it to a car shop? plus anybody know by any chance what could of made the car automatically go low and Abc light go off

[@gotglasses]

How long was car parked ? Over a week or so this can happen and be normal. If only a few hours you have a problem that should be looked at by mechanic. Assuming there is no puddle of oil on the street, go ahead and start the car. Push the Ride Height control twice. Car should raise and be fine to drive so long as there are no red ABC warning lights.

[@julesviolin]

How do you initially de pressurise the system without spillage and which is best hose to disconnect 1st ?
I assume no proper drain point?!

[@matthewm5640]

Yes, there are drain points close to each wheel.

[@carlosboezem7708]

Hi Victor where can I buy these O Ring and Seals for My SL500 2003

[@sputnik8407]

Hi I see you have this one r230 and a r129 as well . Is there alot of difference in the reliability in those two cars ??? Can't make up my mind which one to get ..

[@vsandvs]

I'm my opinion r230 has more issues and less reliable than r129. R230 is more comfortable and advanced since its newer but it cost way more to maintain.

[@sputnik8407]

Hi thanks and happy new year !!

[@cg2racer]

where are you located?

[@thatrmah6401]

hey Victor I own a mercedes cl55amg and one of the abc line is leaking badly near the front engine (under neath exhaust manifold) is this something I can repair on my own? do I need any special tool? thanks!

[@YouTube.TOM.A]

the biggest problem with ABC PLUMBING is that all those lines are Factory installed in the car before the engine and transmission. I once had to change a line and it was a munster, because I did not want to remove the front sub frame. I ended up getting a replacement line and fishing it through the engine spaces having to bend and twist the line and then reform it to contour it against the chassis and behind the heat shields. Hope you got it repaired by now.

[@thatrmah]

+Tom A thanks for the reply! I found out my pump to damper line that was leaking and I had to pick up the part from my local mb. It took me almost 10 hours to install because I feed the line directly without removing the subframe or any other parts. It works fine but now my abc/power steering pump is bad, my car would only raise/lower when I step on my rpm to 2500 and keep it steady while raising/lowering the car.

[@YouTube.TOM.A]

That may be more a factor of fluid density and condition. than the condition of the pump.. the Fluid need to be flushed periodically and believe me, more people do unnecessary ABC pump changes than you might expect. The pump is very robust and often can survive if there is a fluid supply going to it. Dirty fluid prevents valves and O rings from sealing and can cause a multitude of different symptoms. Exercise the ride height Button to raise and lower the car to get rid of air trapped in the system, Struts, and accumulators, [ this is why they do the RODEO ], then take the car for a long drive on roads with curves where the system will have to work, responding to weight transfers in the chassis. Remember Low Pressure will always cause the RED [ ABC Warning ] to be on All the time while driving. If there is no RED warning the system pressure is NORMAL.

[@tommydle68]

True but my has 60000 miles i got lucky. And it was just a little look like a nail clipper from the pinky stuck on the rubber

[@vsandvs]

Yeah man, you got lucky on yours. Its weird that something was stuck in there. ABC system has to be super clean, maybe something got loose during manufacturing, etc.
One of my V12s has 85k miles and front valve seals replacement fixed it but rear valve did not work out.

[@CarGhost]

can you help me diagnose my problem with the abc suspension?

[@TheGrandGandalf]

What's your problem with the ABC?

[@emiliobruh7485]

switch to coilovers and call it a day

[@mrkongsimr]

I´m tinking about a car like similar to this 500sl 2004 . Does this break down all the time ???

[@andybenz6579]

Do you know Mercedes warranty ABC 25 year’s after class action lawsuit

[@recalcitrantone]

Hi, do you have link sir?

[@johnseibert9234]

Need that link or is it under recalls

[@matthewm5640]

Wasn't 25 years for the SBC system? I have the letter for that.

[@MrMaxxx333]

что у тебя с английским ?

[@vsandvs]

Kak umeu tak i razgovarivau, lol

[@MrMaxxx333]

@@vsandvs лол это ты типа так обзыввешься на мириканский манер?

[@vsandvs]

@@MrMaxxx333 Nu kak bi ya v New York jivu mnogo let. Kak umeu tak i razgovarivau. Klientam video nraviatsia i eto samoe glavnoe dlia menia

[@igoreek98]

Русский))

[@vsandvs]

Klient po Russki ne razgovarivaet

[@igoreek98]

vsandvs Виктор, можно пообщаться? Установил новые суппорты, блок SBC. А магистрали в ужасном состоянии, даже шланги не стал откручивать из-за ржавчины. На этих машинах вообще люди меняют магистрали? Или ездят до утиля? Что посоветуете?

[@vsandvs]

@@igoreek98 mojesh pozvonit' mne. Telefon na website RestoreYourMercedes.com. ya mnogo ne pishu, po telefonu bistree