After driving car off ramps finishing my trans cable issue I found the passenger side front of the car leaning down versus the drivers side. Tried to get some movement by resting my body on that side and bouncing a bit but it seems frozen completely. Jacked it up and removed tire to look at what might be the issue. Thinking strut but not sure how to tell. Never been replaced. I am posting some pics in case someone might see something I am not. Also found a part under car after driving off ramps but not sure if it has anything to do with it. What do you think? thanks

 

If it is leaning it could be the strut or spring but it would be hard to tell from the photos. If it were me I would drive the car and check the level of the car several times before I elect to replace a perfectly good whatever. I did notice what appears to be a oil leak on the strut boot this could be an indicator.

 

Thanks Gus. Also, checked under the hood and find I have electrical connectors going to the top of the strut assembly. Am I now limited to what kind of strut I can use?

 

Can you get a photo of it?

 

Do you know if your car is equipped with adaptive control?

 

Here it is.

 

Looks like CATS. Better, but more expensive, than the non-CATS.

Wires lead to Bilstein ADCM (Adaptive Damping Control Module). Mine's in the boot.

 

I am not familiar with the adaptive control but that looks like it might be one. Your car is a 3.0 isn’t it? Well if you are looking to replace them you might need to take out a loan from the bank.

 

Might not have a choice. Need the new ones.

 

Do I use the existing wires to attach and do the bilstein accommodate what I have now? Thanks

 

Probably, but I don't know. I hope a call to Bilstein would reveal all.

 

Well just to confirm, car is leaning on that side and my thought is the only thing that would cause this would be the strut correct? I checked the tie rods and other things down there and it all seems sturdy so has to be the strut? Or should I be looking elsewhere? Don't want to buy them and find out not the case. Thanks

 

I believe you can ditch the CATS if you wish.

 

Could it have a broken spring? You'd need to check high up as well as the obvious lower part. Count & measure # turns of coils.

We get a lot of broken ones here due to the potholed roads.

 

Bad shock will not be a cause for body lean. If your car is still leaning after settling, then it's not the shocks.

Are you sure your suspension is not binding somewhere?

 

+2 on that..

Get a whole set of high quality shocks for less than the replacement of one or two CATS shocks.

Honestly I hate these things...

Just converted the rear suspension on the R350. It had factory air springs back there for self leveling. Ditched them for ML rear coils and new shocks. It rides perfectly and all at a cost less than just fixing the airbags.

 

I was happy to find that I didn't have them.

 

How does the CATS system work?

 

From the little I read on the CATS system is it possible that it might be over compensating causing the lean? Is it possible that you disconnect from the module in the trunk and see what takes place?

 

What was the part you said you found under car? Pics?