How to Change the Rear Shocks on a Mercedes S320

Repacing the Rear Shocks on a Mercedes S320
1. Park the S320 on a level surface. Place a wheel chock in front of, and behind, the front wheels.
2. Place the jack under one side of the rear of the S320, and lift it until the wheel is off the ground at least three inches. Place a jack stand under the S320 near the jack and carefully lower the car onto the stand. Do this on both sides. The wheels should be just touching the ground.
3. Open the trunk. Pull the carpet liner off the far inside corners, revealing the shock absorber's top bolts.
4. Remove the bolts, typically 14 mm, with a proper-sized wrench.
5. Slide under one side of the car near the rear wheel. With both the correct sized wrench and socket, remove the shock absorber's bottom bolts. These bolts and nuts are usually either 19 or 21 mm in size. Set these bolts aside. Repeat for the other side.
6. Grasp the bottom half of the shock absorber and push up, freeing the absorber from the bracket pocket. Pull down on the shock absorber, removing the upper rod from the mounting hole. Repeat for the other side.
7. Preassemble the new shock absorbers prior to installation. Place the large metal washer over the rod, cupped side facing up, and follow it with a rubber bushing. Do this for both shocks. Put the extra two washers, bushings and nuts into the trunk.
8. Slide the shock absorbers under the S320, one by each wheel, and slide under the vehicle.
9. Insert the shock absorber rod into the mounting hole and push upward on the bottom portion of the shock, placing the bottom mount of the shock into the mounting pocket.
10. Insert the large bottom bolt into the bottom mounting hole, and install the nut by turning clockwise. Tighten to approximately 40 to 50 foot-pounds.
11. Repeat steps 10 and 11 on the other side.
12. Place the jack under the rear axle member and slowly lift the axle until the shock absorber upper rods are completely through the mounting holes into the trunk.
13. Place the rubber bushings over the shock rods from inside the trunk. Place the metal washers over the rods against the bushings, cupped side facing down.
14. Install the mounting nuts onto the shock rods by turning clockwise. Tighten to between 30 and 40 foot-pounds. If there are two pairs of nuts, install the second nut onto each shock rod. Use the wrench on the bottom nut and socket on the top nut to lock in place.
15. Lift the car with the jack high enough to pull the jack stands out. Lower the vehicle. Remove the jack and wheel blocks.