Mercedes-Benz C-Class Front Suspension Strut: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults
Confirmed: a genuine technical bulletin addresses a dull thumping noise from the front axle on bumps, relating to the strut top mount bearings — plus a finding that torque arms are a known weak spot worth checking if a knock survives other repairs.
Illustration for editorial purposes
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OEM Part Number: confirm via VIN — front struts (aftermarket) Bilstein 24-241304 / Meyle 026 625
| Front strut / shock absorber (aftermarket) | Bilstein 24-241304 (B6 Performance monotube, for standard suspension); Bilstein 24-251341 (B4 OE Replacement monotube, DampMatic); Bilstein 24-251310 and 24-251433 (monotube gas, spring-bearing); Meyle 026 625 0017 (twin-tube gas, sold in pairs). |
|---|---|
| Front lower arm / wishbone (aftermarket) | LH febi bilstein 107472; RH febi bilstein 107473 (lower front, with ball joint); LH Lemförder 38213 01; RH Lemförder 38214 01 (lower front); LH Ridex 273C1234; RH Ridex 273C1292; Meyle 016 050 0161/HD (LH) and 0160/HD (RH) (centre, with ball joint) |
| Top mount / strut bearing (aftermarket) | Sachs 803 367 (no rolling bearing required, left and right); Lemförder 43295 01 (same fitment); febi bilstein 100409 (elastomer, 10 mm inner, 73 mm high); Maxgear 72-4588 (elastomer); febi bilstein 29475 (plastic bearing); Ridex 1626F0016 (bearing, 82 mm inner) |
| Genuine (OE) numbers quoted | Mercedes A 205 323 00 20, A 213 323 00 20 and A 253 323 00 20 (top mount, Sachs 803 367 and Lemförder 43295 01) |
| Fitment notes | fitment to later W205 facelift cars should be confirmed. |
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Front Suspension Strut: The System That Quietly Does All the Work
Everything the road throws at the Mercedes-Benz C-Class — bumps, potholes, cornering loads — passes through these components before it reaches the cabin, so wear here tends to show up as vague symptoms rather than one clear failure point. A systematic check beats guesswork every time.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Front Suspension Strut: What It Does
On the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the front suspension strut combines a shock absorber and the coil spring's mounting point into a single assembly, controlling how the suspension compresses and rebounds. Once it wears, the car keeps bouncing after a bump instead of settling quickly, and tyre wear often becomes uneven if it's left unresolved.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Front Suspension Strut: Watch: Replacing It
W205 front suspension maintenance guide, partly diagnostic
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Confirmed: A Genuine Technical Bulletin Worth Knowing About — Mercedes-Benz C-Class Front Suspension
If a dull thumping noise has developed from the front of the car on bumps or uneven roads, this is genuinely worth knowing: a confirmed technical service bulletin specifically addresses exactly this symptom, relating to the shock absorber and strut top mount bearings, which support the load of the front suspension and allow smooth rotation as the wheels turn. These bearings can corrode over time and stop turning freely, producing this specific dull thumping or knocking noise, worth referencing this bulletin directly with a specialist if this exact symptom develops.
It's also genuinely worth knowing a useful diagnostic technique: with the road wheel removed, checking whether the gaiter and attached bump stop are loose rather than securely fitted at the top of the shock absorber's piston is a simple test, since a loose gaiter or bump stop tends to be relatively quiet on a smooth road but rattles noticeably on a poor surface.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Front Suspension Strut: Warning Signs, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice
These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Front Suspension Strut Guide for symptoms of worn bushings and ball joints, confirming fitment against your VIN, and rubber vs polyurethane guidance.
More Mercedes-Benz Front Suspension Strut
The same part, covered across other Mercedes-Benz models.