How To Rebuild An ABC Valve Block To Keep Your Mercedes From Squatting! 

When I did mine, I used a bike pedal tool...$7 on Amazon....too disconnect the lines....then used carburetor cleaner to clean the valve block out....and replaced all the O-rings...saved 1000's just like you...

You should bleed pressure in the strut lines with the bleeder screws on the lines (in the wheel wells). It reduces the mess and makes it easier to get those inside two quick connects loose, although they can still be a pain. I know you need to keep cost down on this, but if anyone is doing this job on a car they plan on keeping, don't put that valve block back in without replacing the large accumulator and I also recommend replacing the pressure hose that runs towards the front of the car. Both parts are < $150 and are two of the first to fail. Mercedes used the PTFE (white) backer rings on the 2003, but went to the nitrile (black) backer rings after that. The only reason to do that is to save money. They probably cut out $2 in cost on a $100k car and greatly reduced reliability. Mercedes, actually all German plastics from that era are pretty bad, but I haven't seen wheel wells like that. Now, lets make this a convertible.

Mike, you are so brave dealing with this kind of stuff. Thank you for the video

When I changed the struts on my SL55 I thought it would lift when I turned on the car. It didn’t lift until I pushed the up button.

The silver suppository got me rolling lol.

Great job Mike! Might be time for a C5 Star machine clone/laptop with the modern Benz projects.

Hooray for Mike with the suspension

Great repair job on that ABC block😎👍 Same way I prime a suspension on Citroen C5 and it work always good job on that! 😁👍

This is a real world video.. sometimes things take longer to fix..

Good for you! See your prayers have been answered.

Watch legit street car he shows how to prime the system

Never give up , Mike . You will get done

Nice job Mike I will be doing the same thing on my cl500 come spring, need to learn curse words in German. Looks like fun.

You can tell there is no woman living with you. Cos there's no way you'd do that work in your kitchen if there was 🤣🤣🤣

You will need to perform the Rodeo with the STAR Diagnostics computer. The Autel scan tool might have that feature, but likely is only an STAR Diagnostic computer function. It's neat to watch as each wheel rises independently in the procedure like a rodeo.

Hats off to the master mechanic

Good video as always Mike 👍👍👍😎

Well done for having the confidence on this. I bought the very same kit for my last CL when I was in the UK, but it minced itself as you know and I was pissed off and passed the kit on to the new owner. It looks like such a messy job and I don’t think I have the right lifting gear to get underneath properly (it’s on the underside in the CL I think). Super satisfying job though well done, it seems to afflict all ABC’s, even my new one with great history started to droop after 3 days or so…tempted to live with it for now 🤣

Good luck with getting your car. Congratulations on getting your car to lift properly. The pop may be a different story altogether. Great win Mike.

A Mercedes story with happy ending and I love it when a plan comes together ...but wait did you just say the silver suppository is coming up? I'm not sure if anybody like to see that 😁😁

Mike I think you know as much about these cars as most techs at a Mercedes dealership

Maybe the pop sound could be from the shock mounts…

Salt eating away the plastic 👍

I have fitted my YSR Coilovers. To get the car out of park i had to remove the solenoid. It rides like a dream. Can i buy the solenoid separate or do i have to replace the gearshift mechanism? And where do i get the spares? The car drives straight and brakes 100% square. Do i have to do the wheel alignment and castor and camber? Thank you for your'e time.

Mike, you deserve a major pat on the back for this repair. WELL DONE

I was about to close the video 😂😂😂 The last one min is epic 🤣🤣🤣 hahahahahaha I can't stop laughing 😝

Danny de munk from de nederlands lift-up 👍

Mike did you ever rust treat that trunk?

I was gonna say try shoving some compressed air in the tank, but you got there first 😁

Mr persistence.

Great video, enjoyed watching

Great job it’s always nice when you are able to get what ever you fix to work again still loving your videos 👍🚘❤️💖

Mike, congratulations on your purchase of a mobile premium compressor. As they say, anything is better then nothing! By God, I hope you didn’t use this compressor without a very large expansion tank to hold your valves in place! Your buddy Peter from Kansas

Legit street cars seemed to have a similar issue

Good luck Mike! 🐒❤️🙏

Good work Mike ,

I waited 🤓, it was worth it 👍, hallelujah 👍

Hellow mike good to. See you again buddy good luck

Mike how many valve bodies in this system? Great job btw thank you.

Man there's absolutely nothing on a car you cannot fix. With common sense. At your home. You are so inspirational.

Mike, Did you see the series from LegitStreetCars on the AVC issues? Lots of info in there that may help

MIKE - your videos are how YOU & WE 'want' to see them - "CANDID", as it HAPPENS to YOU & US. Nothing exciting about a fairy tail type story where it all comes out on time, on queue and on budget! You traded that all in for this GOOD life so enjoy it all cuz WE DO! Sonny

80$ for that s... very expensive tool😄..great content. I learned something new today👍

Wow. Makes rebuilding the air suspension block in a P38 Range Rover look easy.

Good day everyone

Mike, you should invest in a garage with a work bench and lift It would make life easier.

Nicely done suspension work! That popping sound.. Have you check to top of the struts, there is meaby a some kind of bearing that should let the strut turn and if it is dry or broken might make that sound...

Great work Mike. This was an uplifting video.

This is really great!👍👏 I love watching these types of repairs and you make it look and sound easy:).. I swear there are too many people who praise some of these overhyped RU-vid mechanics for just putting air in the damm tires it seems.. Lol. You are the real deal,. Also have the same compressor and it is loud!😄

Very cool video Mike, you need that computer

Glad you finished the job because I was going to start calling you Sam

The poping sound may come from the upper suport from the front springs

Brilliant work and thanks for sharing this with us take care

You really are built differently I wouldn’t even bother messing with any abc suspension even if I was paid a salary to do it

I went to buy a 2003 w220 s600 with 69k km on it, and I was put off by the fact that car lifts up and down while idling for no reason. the soft close doesn't work, bootlid closes manually and the massage seat function doesn't work. it was also clear that there is a noise resembling somewhat of an air leak but I did not know where it was coming from or what it was. please advise thank you.

My SL 500 had the same pops in the front end until l let my girlfriend drive the car and she side swiped a curb causing over $3,000 in alignment damage and the popping noises went away. 😢

7:29 the nice thing about that clock is we can see exactly how long Mike struggles with this thing

So glad you got it! I was going to recommend you contact Alex on Legit street cars. You probably know of him. He’s a RU-vidr retired Mercedes mechanic. Great job.

Keep up the good work!

On Fcp on the W211 mercedes. There's a possibility of untighten the ball joint and retighen it. The the noise will disappear? Fcp euro suspension video. Hopefully it'll work? Or have a exorcism done to it. 😳😳😳😳😉

With a pump on the system to pressurize the fluid I don't know why you also have to add air. Oh wheels. I didn't think that ball joint on the strut would make that popping noise when turning the wheel. I think it is the ball joint on the end of the strut. Just jack it up and get a big screwdriver/pry bar and pry on it to check for play.

You will have nearly a full quantity of ABC fluid,you have lost nowhere near enough to damage the pump when you cycle the buttons.Check the level at the res b4 you add any,if its not far out you can cycle tthe buttons to open the valve at the bottom of the res that feeds the pump.Safest thing to do is either get a mate to pour some in the res if it suddenly drops or even do a full flush and filter.I had a hose blow and lost a lot of fluid even though i switched the car of very quickly.Got it recovered to my drive,fixed the hose,but nothing i tried could get the fluid to drop through the res.I started the car and got a mate to stand by with enough fluid for a full flush.As soon as i cycled the button to raise the car,it shot up like a rocket and the fluid in the res instantly started dropping through while my mate topped it up.Did a full flush and filter,no unwanted noise or damage.And that was from losing quite a bit of fluid on the road,just make sure the res it full and your mate is ready to top up when you cycle the button.

AND…We Have Liftoff🤩 Keep on plugging away at it MWM! Eventually, you will be MB (Mighty Broke) 😳😖😵‍💫

Mike, How much air is a "Bar" when you refilled with compressor? Thinking about ordering the kit, I have the same issue on passenger rear

Alex on Legit Street Cars did his block on his MB might be worth watching.

Great video Mike, what did you use to connect the compressor to the pump reservoir? about to do this to my s55 AMG, Thanks. Cheers!

Question why not just put regular shocks on the car seems like it wold be easier

My 2007 SL550 (123k miles) ABC light is on, I've told that maybe I should convert it to non Hydraulic because repairing is very expensive. The car is beautiful and has been cared for...what can I do to fix it without going broke?;Please advise. Thanks

Too bad you don’t know a guy with a lift that you could use to check it. Get under it while someone turns the wheel.

If I remember right, you only replaced one ball joint for the pop. Is the noise on that same side or maybe you need to do the other one?

I don’t have any leaks or sagging but o notice when the car is idling and parked sometimes one side will raise but then I push the abc button and it can go back to normal. Any ideas ?

You dam funny Mike you got your hands full. Stay safe.

Oh my what a name Silver suppository! Lol

Aren’t you supposed to relieve the pressure first?

Can I get the link for the parts?

Is no frustation some time take time but fixe is good mike

The heat shield around the steering knuckle

Carolina squat!

Almost like a shark bite fitting it seems.

Good Seeing You Back At It Mike, I Know That SL500 Offers It’s Challenges But She Worth It Working Out The Gremlins.. Glad The Suspension Lift Worked Out There, I Can’t Wait To See What’s Next On It.. Also On The E30, And The S80.. Keep Up The Good Work Sir!!

I was looking forward to this video and you didn't disappoint. Another excellent job. Hopefully this fixes the ABC....everything crossed....fingers, arms, legs, eyes!!! 🤗

You are so Hilarious 😂😆😂😂 and that rear end lifting, Song comes to mind This is How you Do it, Winner Winner Chicken Dinner Good for Mikey.

Well done Mike you look very stressful at the beginning of the video and it’s nice to see that you completed the job successfully keep the great videos coming thank you 🙏

Thanks for keeping the video in of the struggle to get the solenoids off. That's totally me, my goal is to start a RU-vid channel called "Yup, it's Stuck". Way to persevere and get it done!

Nice job on the valve block. That is definitely a job that requires cursing a few times.

You the man, Monkey Wrench Mike! Rusty, is the model Benz, I like.

That was a happy ending! Thanks, Mike. Oh and, "the silver suppository"? Can't wait to see that.

Hey Mike, great video!!! Where do you get your gloves?

You are the man i am about to take on this job. i have a 2002 cl600 and i had a line pop on me. So wish me luck.

How were you able to remove the lines from the block? Mine are crazy tight!

A lot of good information gotten from your video. Thanks

👏👏👍👍👊👊🙏🙏

The silver bullet suppository🤣🤣🤣

I rebuilt the valve block and mine still squats

👍🤩👍

Good job Mike, love your channel

Great video glad I watched all the way to the end

Well done MIke. I'm impressed

It was much easier on my S-Class

Get lift😂!