Mercedes-Benz E500 Shocks and Struts
The Mercedes-Benz is a vehicle that luxury owners seek out. One reason that they enjoy this model is its shock and strut system. It uses what is known as a 4MATIC and AIRMATIC system to protect drivers from tough bumps on the road.
What is the Mercedes AIRMATIC shock system?The Mercedes-Benz AIRMATIC system is an upgrade over the past 4MATIC one. The former used large shocks and struts to protect your wheels from damage, and it was used in vehicles as diverse as the 5500 and the W124. However, the AIRMATIC uses air to dampen the effect of the road on your wheels and your engine.
The AIRMATIC is attached to the wheels of each sedan in the E500 class, making sure each tire will adjust to the road conditions. It is also capable of granting you an extra two to three inches of road clearance over tougher driving conditions.
What parts do the Mercedes-Benz shocks and strut system include?In addition to the struts and shocks, the AIRMATIC system of the Mercedes also consists of coil springs and control arms to ensure that your drive is smooth. You can install a lift or lower kit to change the way your E500 car rides, as well.
Lowering kits, for example, can reduce your air flow and improve your fuel efficiency. It also helps to add a slightly different aesthetic look to your car, particularly if you add low-rider springs to your bottom.
A lift kit also helps pull your car off the road and makes it less susceptible to various forms of damage. For example, it can help prevent your car from bottoming-out on tall terrain and hills or on bumpier and rough roads.
What changes were made to Mercedes-Benz parts over the years?The E500 has had various tweaks that change the way the AIRMATIC system works. For example, some higher trims will have a 5.0-liter engine with a supercharger. These changes increase the size of the engine and make the shocks and struts larger to compensate for an increase in drivetrain horsepower.
Other elements that influence this system on your Mercedes include the suspension of your vehicle and the torque output. The suspension influences the design because its build changes through the years. For example, 2002-2004 models had a smaller type than later ones.
As for torque, the higher the level you produce, the stronger the struts and shocks need to be to compensate. Thats because higher levels of this force will shake the frame of your car a little bit more. As a result, stronger shocks and struts help to protect it from serious damage.