1999 Mercedes Benz 230

I HEARD A LOUD BANG AND FELT THE VEHICLE SHUDDER VIOLENTLY. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. I THOUGHT THAT PERHAPS THE ENTIRE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD FALLEN OFF THE CAR BUT IT HAD NOT. UPON CLOSE INSPECTION I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS FRONT SUSPENSION HAD COLLAPSED AND THE FENDER AND WHEEL WELL WERE RESTING ON THE TIRE. I WONDERED IF THE A-ARM BALL JOINT HAD BROKEN SO I JACKED UP THE CAR. WITH THE CAR JACKED UP IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE UPPER SPRING POCKET ALSO CALLED A SPRING PERCH HAD TORN AWAY FROM THE BODY OF THE CAR. IT HAD RUSTED THROUGH, YOU COULD SEE A CLEAR RUST LINE AT THE CREASE WHERE THE CUP OF POCKET MEETS IT'S FLANGE. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, MY OTHER MBZ IS AN 88 WITHOUT A SPECK OF RUST IN THAT AREA. WHAT'S WORSE IS THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THIS MODEL AND YEAR WITH EXACTLY THE SAME MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR

WITHOUT ANY MEMORY OF HITTING ANY BAD POTHOLES OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT COULD HAVE COMPROMISED THE SUSPENSION. WHILE SITTING IN LINE TO PICK UP THE CHILDREN AT SCHOOL THE TOP SUPPORT ON THE COIL SPRING GAVE AWAY, RELEASING THE SPRING AND CAUSING THE FRONT OF THE CAR TO STRIKE THE GROUND. UPON THE INSPECTION OF THE COIL SPRING SUPPORTS AT A GARAGE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE OPPOSITE COIL SPRING HAS BEEN 3/4 COMPROMISED, RESULTING IN THE REPLACEMENT OF BOTH COIL SPRING MOUNTS. THE RESULTS OF THE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC HAD IT OCCURRED ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH. *JB