Hood Strut / Shock replacement DIY

Problem:
You open the hood of your Mercedes to check your oil or to work on some other ailment that she is suffering
from and the hood closes on you whacking you in the back. If this happens to you, the gas struts / shocks that
lift and hold the hood up need to be replaced.

Purchase Parts:
I purchased two Shock/Struts from Autohaus Arizona for $25.95 Ea or $51.90 for the set. (Dealer wanted
$180.00 for the Honor, installed of course)
Contact: 1-800-240-4620 or

http://www.autohausaz.com/

Tools required:
Small bladed screw driver or insert with driver. I used an insert. A 3mm or 4 mm (.125” or 5/32”) is perfect.

Take a look at your shocks and you will notice the lower end of each rides on a ball joint. They are held onto
the ball joint by a retaining spring clip. These clips will need to be released in order to slide the new shocks onto
the ball joint.

This is done by holding the screwdriver parallel to the piston rod and sliding the blade under the clip.

You will not be able to mount the shock over the ball socket unless the clip is wide open. Once you get the
screw driver slide under the clip, you can open the clip up by wiggling the clip forward away from the shock (if
needed, twist it a little). Take your time in doing this so the clip doesn’t spring off and get lost. It will
eventually fully open the further you advance the clip.

Wiggling the clip forward.

Clip fully Open ready for mounting. Note how the clip is precariously hanging on to the extreme right side.
You will need to do this to both ends of every shock you are mounting.

We are now ready to change the shocks on our girl.
Open your hood. The hood will only open at about a 45 degree angle. You will soon realize that your new
shocks are a lot longer and unless you are Superman will not be able to mount them with the hood at this angle.

In order to open the hood wider you will need to release the latch with the big Orange sticker that says PRESS.
You press this in and the hood will open to full extension for the shocks as Gregs210 so wisely predicted.

Hood Wide Open. See how shocks are fully extended. ☺

Now we are really ready to change the gas shocks.

Have an assistant on stand by to hold the hood open. Only work on one side at a time. Remove the clips at the
top of the existing shock. This is done by Wiggling the clip forward until it comes off. If you do this slowly
you can catch the spring clip in your fingers. Once this clip is removed apply force on the shock towards the
centerline of the car and the ball socket will pop free. Then remove the clip at the bottom of the shock and once
again apply force on the shock towards the centerline of the car and the ball socket will pop free. You will now
be holding your old shock free and clear from the car.

To install the new shock, first check that the clip is still in the “Open” position. Push the ball socket over the
ball joint and then wiggle the clip back into its existing groove. When it is seated and properly locked into
place in its groove you will not be able to pull the ball socket off of the ball joint (at least, not without a rather
extreme amount of force). I worked the top side first then the bottom, but it probably doesn’t matter.

The opposite side of the vehicle is replaced using the same procedure.

Once your shocks are replaced, move your hood up and down to make sure nothing is binding or loose. Before
you close her up for good, make sure you position the latch with the big Orange sticker that says PRESS back to
its normal position. (As you close the hood you will pull the latch forward to its normal “locking” position.

Good luck, I hope this helps someone someday!! And as Gregs210 would say “Take care and enjoy the ride”

BuffaloBenz
November 26, 2008