How to prevent the damage of air springs/How to extend the service life of air springs/struts etc.?
An air strut with separable air springs
If your vehicle offers a separable air suspension (Audi Allroad A6 C5, Mercedes-Benz W164, BMW X5, etc.), you should regularly (about once a week) lift the car to the maximum position, and remove dirt with a high-pressure cleaner (keep the cleaner at a distance to the air spring about 30 cm/12 inches, otherwise water pressure can damage the air spring). The highest position may vary depending on your model and regulation options. Therefore, please test this by trying the different modes available to you (Sport, comfort, dynamic, off-road) and choose the one that sets your vehicle to the highest position. The dirt will most likely be found under the fold of the pneumatic chambers. If you find a frozen layer of bitumen on the piston guide (the part of a strut on which the air spring is installed), it is recommended to clean it as well. Whenever possible, avoid riding on fresh asphalt, as fresh bitumen mixed with sand immediately results in a build-up of abrasives on the piston and in turn contributes to accelerated wear and tear of the air spring.
 

A complete air suspension shock
Many cars such as Mercedes W220 or W211 are set up with a complete air strut - shock absorber and air spring visually form a complete spare part. In many cases, you can easily recognize these by the metal cups with which the air spring is tightly mounted. To best avoid any damage, we highly recommend to regularly check the condition of the dust protection seals of the air strut.

What is the difference between an air spring and an air strut?

The air spring is a part of the air strut. Some vehicles (e.g. Mercedes ML) allow you to change the air spring separately. At our online shop you have the opportunity to buy either the whole air strut or only the air spring. For some type of vehicles it is not possible to change the air spring separately. In this case the whole air strut should be replaced.

Which side of my car is the Right and Left?

The right and left sides of an automobile are determined as if sitting in the car facing forward. Thus, the left side is on the left when sitting in the car facing forward, and the right side is on the right. For American cars, the driver’s side is on the left, and the passenger sits to the right of the driver. For cars in Japan, Britain, Ireland, the Bahamas and some other former British colonies -- where they drive on the left side of the road -- the passenger sits on the left side, and the driver (along with all the driving controls) is on the right.

What does 4MATIC mean?
4MATIC is the marketing name of a four-wheel drive system developed by Mercedes-Benz. It is designed to increase traction in slippery conditions.

What does AIRMATIC mean?
AIRMATIC is a Mercedes-Benz trademark for vehicles with air suspension systems. Compared with a conventional steel suspension, the AIRMATIC air suspension provides advantages in terms of handling safety and ride comfort. The AIRMATIC air suspension automatically adjusts the damping force on each wheel according to the current state of the road.

What does ABC mean?
ABC (Active Body Control) is a registered Mercedes-Benz trademark. It is a high-quality suspension system, which automatically adapts the suspension setting to the respective driving situation. There is also a crosswind stabilisation integrated in ABC systems.