Symptoms
A thump over bumps (a cracked coil), sagging ride height, a wallowing or bouncy ride, oily shock bodies. Corrugated roads kill shocks: see the Canning Stock Route sidebar.
The fix, step by step
- Support the chassis on stands, take the axle's weight on a jack, remove the shock and sway-bar link, and lower the axle carefully until the spring can be lifted out, without overextending the brake hoses and locker lines.
- Fit springs in matched pairs using the correct Mercedes colour code for your wheelbase and load, then refit the shocks and torque everything at ride height.
Tools & part numbers
- Koni Raid shocks (W460/461/463) or OE dampers
- colour-coded W460-pattern springs (e.g. front LWB 460 321 06 04, rear LWB 460 324 07 04; confirm fitment for your truck)
- jack and stands
- spring compressor if required
Where to buy the parts
Koni Raid shock, front (W460/461/463)Expedition Imports ↗Amazon ↗
Koni Raid shock, rear (W460/461/463)Expedition Imports ↗Amazon ↗
Front spring LWB 460 321 06 04Expedition Imports ↗Amazon ↗
Rear spring LWB 460 324 07 04Expedition Imports ↗Amazon ↗
Hunting a used or discontinued part? Search eBay Motors for Mercedes-Benz G-Class W461 parts →
Rated for a competent home mechanic with a decent tool kit. Confirm torque figures, fluids and procedures against the factory service manual for your VIN, support the truck on stands rather than a jack, and work at your own risk (disclaimer). Some parts links are affiliate links, which pay us a small commission at no cost to you.