Easy as ABC - DIY hose replacement

[@davidhamilton436]

Great video, I understand what pressure these ABC pipes are under as when one of my pipes split it knocked the pressure accumulated off its rubber mountings which also needed replaced. The noise was deafening and I thought the front left side of the car had disintegrated. Immediately parked up and all of the ABC fluid leaked out onto the parking space. 🇬🇧👍👍

[@beidlern]

Wow Chris, thank you so much for posting your hose replacement option for the crazy ABC set up. Funny thing is I started watching some of your other videos, the black cat is pretty cool it’s been a while since my wife and I drove our 85 Renault encore 1.4 L, we got 40 miles a gallon driving from California all the way to Mount Rushmore of course going through Yellowstone with no AC. My wife would soak and ring face towels in the ice cooler for us to place on our necks to cool off.

[@MikazaGlobal]

I been watching how to and got to say u are the best car handy master.tru honest saving education..God bless you brother..

[@broken55muffler31]

Thank you!! Made me want to try it on my 04 s55 and its an amazing ride while abc worked. Now i feel more comfortable doing the hose fitting fix myself! Than k you again.

[@Rafymon98]

Thank you for sharing your experience. You have shedded light towards a problem I am experiencing with my 2005 CL55. I am now very motivated to fix my CL using your method. Thank you

[@BobBenz55]

Will come in handy for my SL600 👍🏼

[@Jason-Jason]

Great job Chris, thanks!

[@Adamsyed567]

Thanks for posting this. I want to get a different hose made. What kind of compression fitting did you put onto the 3/8 hose? Please post a link or product name so I can source it. Thanks so much

[@bobd9868]

I wonder if a dremel tool might be a better choice for cutting as it would give you more control on the depth.

[@chrisjamesbehan]

Probably. I didn’t have one handy at three time.

[@georgebushisntcool]

It’s amazing job man, I have the C216 with the next gen ABC and I have read they made the quality of the factory hoses better. Do you know if they are steel braided in that because they look similar to yours?

[@chrisjamesbehan]

I don’t know. I know there were improvements to the system, but I suspect the hoses are still rubber and not braided. If you look up a used part on eBay, I suspect you will be able to see :)

[@nadhanna5980]

Hi, Thank you very much for your detailed video, I have 2001 CL 55 AMG with the same problem. I live in California US. Can you please tell me the type/name/number of the hose and the fittings you have used and where did you buy them, I can't find them here in California. Thank you and God bless

[@chrisjamesbehan]

Hi mate. I went to a hydraulic shop (there are more around than you think). The fitting is compression with an olive (might be called a ferrel in your country). The pipe is 10mm, which is the required internal diameter of the olive. The compression element and thread does not really matter as long as it clamps over a 10mm pipe. The hose itself is of a twin-steel-braided design, which is why it is able to cope with the pressure. The factory Mercedes hoses are not steel-braided, which is why they fail. My suggestion would be to take screenshots from within the video and make your request with a local hydraulic shop if you can get to one - or in the body of your email to a mail order option.

[@Guy-bx3tf]

Hello. Love your so in detail video. I’m not sure if anyone has asked or done what I’m thinking of doing. Would you or anyone know if you could get a hydraulic specialist make a full braided hose to replace every ABC hose. I’m not not concerned about originality. My original pipes are too rusted. I’m about to replace my rear ABC suspension with new ones I just got. Was thinking of putting air rides on it but I kinda like the handling. Oh and I’m going full out customising the Cl500.

[@chrisjamesbehan]

The hose used in the video is braided, but the braid is between layers of rubber. Any hydraulic shop can make them; just visit or call one close to you and ask. The hoses need to be capable of 3000psi (from memory - anyone reading is welcome to correct me!) As for replacing all your hoses, yes - of course this can be done (should you be so inclined), but remember that much of the system is made up of steel bore too, which seldom fails; so you’ll want to keep these. Many run the entire length of the car. That said, you’ll have seen in the video that the rubber hose I replaced needed to be cut away from this steel bore pipe - and a 10mm olive fitting applied to accept the replacement rubber (braided) hose. If I were going to do them all, I’d also cut off and ditch the stupid quick release fittings on the shocks themselves and replace with a threaded receptacle (that can actually be undone in a few years). The original fitting always seizes and you can never get the bugger off! Good luck and hope you enjoy your (to be) tricked out CL.

[@conorhackett5698]

@@chrisjamesbehan +1 on all of this. I have actually had all the rubber replaced by Pirtek.. and paired up to the steel pipes using nut and olive fittings. I have a full thread on stripping the system out, refurbing and refitting, if interested.

[@chrisjamesbehan]

Hey Connor. Yea please. Perhaps you could post as a new comment so that others watching can easily find it.

[@Adamsyed567]

@@conorhackett5698 that’s awesome. Where did you post the thread?

[@conorhackett5698]

@@Adamsyed567 Google overhauling abc on my r230 on the mbowners club forum.

[@joshhancill7273]

Hi I just seen your video of your Ford puma in the US. Can you make a video on the process you had to go through to get your car over there as we want to do a road trip in our car.

[@chrisjamesbehan]

I documented the process at the time on a blog site actually - that should help you, but you’ll need to start at the beginning! usapuma.blogspot.com

[@m1ch43ll5]

Hi, do you know where to find a cause why the steering wheel in cl500 always stay in place while driving? Don't know if the problem is with one broken thing but on the highways I have to fight with car to keep it on the lane, on roundabouts I can drive endlessly in circles. If I'm not mistaken power pump from ABC is powering also power steering, but it works with nor errors for now. Ideas?

[@chrisjamesbehan]

Sounds like the PAS side of the pump is done. You probably need a new tandem pump I’m afraid.

[@keepinitrealTRUTHFUL]

My heater and a/c. Stop blowing all of a sudden... Seem to be on but no fan/wind 2004 cl600

[@WiiZKiiD23]

i grabbed the collar with vice grips and spun the line off the

[@chrisjamesbehan]

No way! Really? Had no idea that was a thing - but makes sense will try that on the next one!

[@WiiZKiiD23]

@@chrisjamesbehan after doing it I wouldn’t recommend it, just work the collar. I had to go back teflon tape the threads. I was able to get the other 3 loose but working the collar with air and penetrating oil

[@keepinitrealTRUTHFUL]

Has it been hold up

[@chrisjamesbehan]

Perfectly. It’s a bit slower than the other corners when I alter the level with Star, but performs perfectly during rodeo and no leaks at all

[@videosourceonebusinessacco5438]

Good job...have you done any ac work yet...I too have a CL55...2003 and the a.c. compression has just locked.