New rear shocks 2015 Mondeo

[david837465]

Originally Posted by NPS

Hi David, yes my car was a fleet car as well I think your right they wouldn't spend the extra. Noel

Hi again, been doing more research, I may have steered you in the wrong direction with my earlier comment that the trend had adaptive suspension. I've now found this article

https://www.motoring.com.au/ford-mon...evealed-47926/

It states both the ambiente and trend had self leveling suspension. So the eBay parts I gave you a link to would be wrong for your car.

That said, thanks to another ford forum site, I found out these are an aftermarket replacement for the self levelers. Although they appear to be normal shocks so the springs need changing too. Now I'm trying to find out what spring load I need. the site I got all this from is

https://ford.7zap.com/en/car/180/no/0/2778/20796/

and the aftermarket replacements are these

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Bilstein...75.c1#viTabs_0

The original part number for the self levelers is 1841689. The above shocks are the only aftermarkets I can find that state they are a replacement for that part number.

Hope this helps

If anyone out there knows the correct spring load for a 2016 mondeo wagon with the 149kw petrol engine, please let me know.

Thanks

[NPS]

Hi David, yes thanks David the bilstein shocks look like the ones on my wagon. Noel

[david837465]

So, after a LOT of googling and many hours, I found these.

https://geparts.se/en/rebuildingkit-...mondeo-iv.html

So I've ordered them. Wait and see now if I'm asked to pay more for shipping, it was very cheap!

The description states they are to replace Ford OE part numbers 2373325 and DG9C-18K077-AED. It appears the part number used by Ford Australia for the shock is the second one. Confirmed from this photo

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/clar...at-/1262192222

Along the way found some useful websites

https://ford.7zap.com/en/car/180/no/0/2778/20796/ (Technical diagrams and part numbers, possibly UK/Euro specific, useful if you have to order from there)

https://www-etisorigin.app.ford.com/ (this gives you technical data on your car. When I put my VIN in though, it just told me what the model and engine was, nothing else. According to TalkFord Forum it should provide a comprehensive list of part numbers. I might be doing something wrong, or maybe it doesn't work for Australian Fords)

https://www.talkford.com/threads/mon.../#post-3188663 (gave me the above links)

https://www.der-ersatzteile-profi.de...mpfer-a4973425 (german parts store that lists up to date OE part numbers and equivalent older ones)

Anyway, thanks for the help with this. Fingers crossed the kit arrives and works. Watch this space............

[david837465]

Quick update. The kit from Geparts didn't arrive. After some back and forth it turned out they did send them, but Aussie customs sent them back. Apparently our customs officers were concerned the gas in the shocks could be an explosive! How does anything ever get imported??! Anyway, Geparts were very good about it and refunded me my entire amount, despite being very out of pocket on the shipping fees (they had to pay for them to come back!). So hats off to them.

Still need shocks though.......

[cobrin]

OMG, I think the Customs Officers need a gassing. Explosive....you dumba$$e$

[adyadad]

I had the same happen with some ceramic paint treatment from the US. Hardly flammable.

[hawke]

Originally Posted by david837465

Quick update. The kit from Geparts didn't arrive. After some back and forth it turned out they did send them, but Aussie customs sent them back. Apparently our customs officers were concerned the gas in the shocks could be an explosive! How does anything ever get imported??! Anyway, Geparts were very good about it and refunded me my entire amount, despite being very out of pocket on the shipping fees (they had to pay for them to come back!). So hats off to them.

Still need shocks though.......

It’s a pretty common issue. The seller should have used a competent Customs Agent, to ensure that they had the correct paper work. There are special exemptions and classifications for gas filled shock absorbers. In fact, all shock absorbers are “gas filled”.

I ship shock absorbers all around the world every couple of weeks, and tend to use DHL, who know the issues. Never had a problem.

[david837465]

hawke - Thanks for the info

[Triga]

Gday fella's

first time commenter and just curious if anyone ended getting a good outcome for this.

I've noticed i need to replace the rear shocks and I'm NOT paying ford Australia the 1200 dollars each for a fix, after constant googling the last few days there is few options, but did notice that the Ford fusion comes up a lot as a suitable replacement fit, its the sedan mondeo in the U.S, which also seems like the same products for the aftermarket fixes on the MK5 estate and sedan in the U.K

both look the standard shocks and not self levelling which i don't give a dam on at the cost, but will new Springs be a must? hard to know or where to get them from.

thanks

[NPS]

sorry Triga have not gone any further, mine was just a querie. Noel

[david837465]

Hello again. Just saw Triga's post so thought I'd give an update on where I'm at. I think I have all the parts now. Bilstein shocks 19-250335. Lesjofors springs 4227644. Dust cover kit 350194. Once I had these I had my mechanic try to fit them. Unfortunately it didn't quite work out. The bracket the shock pin goes into was too big. You see the Nivomats use a 14mm pin whereas the standard shocks use a 10mm pin.

However, Ford UK sell the 10mm bracket for a mere $55 each. But of course, they will not ship to Australia. Ford Australia do actually sell the 10mm bracket......... for $190 each!!! (and there was only 1 in the country at the time). Even the guy at my local Ford dealer couldn't believe that mark up, so he actually gave me the part number so I could look for it on ebay (something they never do!). So after some searching I managed to order 2 of the brackets on ebay from Lithuania for $100 each. They've just arrived and everything looks like it fits together so fingers crossed! The part number is 5278397 (UK) or DG9C-18A116-AXF (international).

After all that and fitting I'll probably have spent around $1000 - $1200, still half the price of the Nivomats! And these will probably last a lot longer. If you want to give it a go, the most cost effective solution would be the kit from GEParts in Sweden (see my earlier post). But if you do order it, arrange for your own courier. DHL or Fedex, one with experience in bringing gas canisters in to the country (see earlier posts).

Another option, if you know someone in the UK, would be to order the parts for delivery to them, and have them ship it all over here.

I ordered mine through a UK website and paid their shipping costs $145 for the lot. So, if you can, try to order everything from the same site, it will cost you less. I did see the 10mm bracket on the website at the time I ordered the shocks and springs but didn't realise I needed it. D'oh!

I still can't believe how much Ford Australia rip off their customers. Just because the Nivomats are fitted as standard here shouldn't mean we are forced to replace like for like when Ford obviously manufactures cheaper replacements for the standard suspension they fit in other countries. And as for the $190 bracket, that's just taking the p***!!!

Hope this all helps. I'll update again once I've been back to my mechanic

[Triga]

hey david837465

thanks for the detailed follow up its a great help, im due a service in a week or so and will enquire at ford if they have any better solutions then paying and using the self levelling shocks they can get, surely we aint the first people to try an alternative fix? lol but being ford they will probably tell me nope no other way and sorry we cant order in parts from our international warehouses which is rubbish, so i probably on my own but will see

just to clarify these are the shocks used?

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Bilstein...75.c1#viTabs_0

seems cheap and wont have to worry about international shipping.

also are the springs a must? is that the info from your mechanic? i assume the ride height on the rear would sag a bit but would it be all that different? genuine question as i cant see the spring rating or whatever is is being all that different? any other info on that would be great

lastly the top mounting where the pin goes and your using the 10mm bracket which i did notice of the UK estate mk5 pics and images ive seen looking slightly different, can you confirm that the holes align and all fits the same.

awesome help once again and any photos you can post would be great

[david837465]

Hi Triga.

Yes, the shocks you provided a link for are the same one's I've bought. You're right, it does seem cheap, but that's the difference between over complicated self levelers and standards. I had a bit of an exchange with that supplier. They couldn't get their heads around the fact that a US Fusion is the same as an Au/UK Mondeo! By the time I finally got an answer they'd sold the shocks...

Everything I've read and been told says the springs do need to be changed. The Nivomats take some of the load with their upward pressure so the current springs would sag with standard shocks. As for the spring rating, that's the one thing I haven't been able to find out. I've taken a bit of a chance with the ones I've bought, assuming that as they're advertised for replacing standard springs they will do the job. Fingers crossed.

As for the alignments, I can't comment yet. Once the mechanic has put it all together I'll let you know.

[Triga]

ok mate thanks again

[Triga]

any update as yet mate?

after getting my car serviced with ford and having no luck in trying to discuss my issue and about alternative fixes im ready to pull the pin and do something myself

they are absolutely useless with after sales customer care, i mentioned the rear shocks are shot and just inquiring about a price the mechanic rolls out and just smiles and say probably around 1000 bucks each, i was like no worries mate, any way of getting standard setups from the European models through ford, nah nah nah cant do anything... so **** weak

anyways enough rant

[NPS]

Hi Triga and David, Have been in contact with Bilstein said there was nothing in there range said I would have to go to Ford to get them at there bulls--t price. David he said that bilstein number that you gave would never be imported into Australia didn't say why. Catch you all soon Noel.

[NPS]

Hi Triga and David, just found something on ebay 2x rear KONI STR.T shocks for FORD MONDEO V sedan ,hatchback, wagon. $495.95. Seller info
united_autoparts Looks like there in Sydney maybe worth looking into.Noel

[Triga]

hi NPS,

thanks for ya help mate but these shocks will fit but the description for fitment excludes self levelling models, which kind of puts us in the same spot as were are trying to get the complete conversion to standard shocks and springs and slightly different top mounts and i hope david will return soon with the outcome to how his went

[NPS]

Hi Triga, Mine was a fleet car and not fitted with self leveling I thought David's was the same. Noel

[Triga]

hi NPS

out of the 3 models in the wagon i believe the Trend and Ambiente models both have the self levelling shocks in them, the titanium model has i believe electronic adaptive shocks of some kind. so to get reasonably priced standard shock replacements we are needing to get the parts that come standard on the European made car ( mostly identical ). as far as my research goes David may have found the best solution

cheers

[hawke]

Have you guys thought of having shocks made to sample? I often have one-off shocks made - mostly for open wheel race and sports cars. Normally take 4-6 weeks to make, and sell for about $350 each.

[Triga]

hi hawke

great idea mate, i havent really looked into getting them made or (refurbished) if thats even a thing? but definitely was going to enquire at a suspension specialist. do u have a recommend place that is nation wide? or just a local one that u use?

thanks

[hawke]

Triga,

These shocks are probably like most automotive ones, sealed either by welding or peening over, so practically unrebuildable. There will be some guys who say they can rebuild, but that just means they put new oil in them. While some seals and shims are often available, pistons, valves and glands are just not available.

I'm the Australian Distributor for AVO shock absorbers, but I only service the shocks I sell. I'm sorry to advise, but I don't know of anyone else in Australia who makes one off shocks.

I have no listing for these cars, but I'll speak to the factory tonight to see what they know. They recently did a special run of shocks for old Vincent Black Shadow motor bikes, so I suppose anything is possible.

[hawke]

I spoke to the factory last night in the UK, and they said that they have had no enquiries regarding these shocks. They speculated that the aftermarket supply must be OK in the UK and Europe.

[david837465]

Looks like I've missed some posts.
So, I have the new shocks on, but not the springs! Turns out good old Ford have designed the Mondeo so the whole strut assembly has to be removed in order to change the springs. Apparently the mechanic didn't have the hoist he needed to do this. So now I'm looking for someone who can change the springs!
Anyway, the good news is the standard shocks work fine. Bad news, the car sags about 2 - 3cm on the old springs. Another option might be a spacer in or on the spring. Any thoughts.............?

[Triga]

hey david

awesome to hear the shocks worked out for ya, is the sag noticeable when driving or towing? still feel floaty and clunk when hitting pot holes? or do the new shocks hold the car as it was, just a bit lower?

interested to hear because i do load mine up with a trailer and roof rack with weight on for camping and the ride sags like buggery anyways im thinking from the old shocks not taking the weight no more but the new shocks like you have done will hold it better without bottoming out?

i didnt think the springs look all that difficult to do but i havent fully looked at it

[david837465]

Hey Triga and everyone else.

I BEAT FORD!!!!!

It's all done, shocks and springs, and it all works great. No more spongy floaty feeling at the back!

Here's what I used;

Bilstein shocks 19-250335
Lesjofors springs 4227644
Shock Top Mount 5278397 (UK) or DG9C-18A116-AXF (international)

I also bought a dustcover/bump stop kit, but it didn't fit so I won't list it here. My mechanic managed sort that out with parts he had to hand though.

All up I've spent $1200. More than most people have to pay to replace their rear shocks, but still just under half what Ford Au wanted!!! The shocks and springs were $594 ordered from Autodoc UK (they charge 145GBP for delivery! But that appears to be the same for all the European sites). The top mounts cost another $200. I found them on ebay in Lithuania. I could have bought the top mount with the other parts and saved a bit there, but didn't know I needed them at the time.

I made a mistake with the fitting though. The guy who was supposed to do the whole job couldn't fit the springs. He charged $120 for the shocks and wheel alignment. Turns out to do the springs you need to remove the rear cradle. I'm not sure what this is, but apparently it's a big job. He said he needed a transmission hoist for it, but didn't have one. He also assured me the original springs would be fine.... they weren't!

After some Googling I found Precision Suspension in Wollongong. I can't recommend these guys enough. They knew exactly what the issues were the moment I told them I had a Mondeo. I wish I had found them earlier. They fitted the springs and did another wheel alignment for $300. To put that in perspective, another Wollongong suspension specialist, who are well known and been there for years, wanted $330 for fitting the springs, and another $140 for the wheel alignment! Also, they didn't have a clue what self leveling suspension was!! So, if you're in, or near the Illawarra, go to Precision Suspension. They really do know their stuff.

Triga, to answer your query about the springs, yes, they need to be changed. The sag is about 3cm unladen. However it is obvious when you look at the car and increases little by little with each person who gets in. If you're towing, you definitely need the proper springs. I'm no expert in this, but I believe with standard suspension the full weight is taken on the springs and the shocks just control the springs rebound. I don't think standard shocks provide any uplift. So you will probably still get some sag with standard shocks, but not as much as you're getting now with blown self levelers.

Lastly, I think the kit I found from GeParts in Sweden is still worth consideration (https://geparts.se/en/rebuildingkit-...mondeo-iv.html). It would be the most cost effective way to buy all the parts. But you MUST organise your own courier who understands how to ship gas filled shocks into Australia. GeParts appear to make their own stuff in house, which is what Hawke was suggesting. Looks like they have some good reviews online.

I can't think of anything else right now, if I do, I'll post again. Any questions, please drop me a line. And for all us Mondeo owners who feel ripped off by Ford Au, you can beat them!!!

[Triga]

well done dave, its a ridiculous headache now made all a little easier by your pursuit to not get ripped of by all this.

i will be doing the same soon following ya advice, awesome stuff !!

[david837465]

Just a quick update. Recently had my car service by the same guy who sorted the springs out for me. He noticed the springs and shocks looked identical to the ones on the Mustang. So, when he got hold of another Mondeo wagon, he took the shocks and springs off a Mustang and put them on the Mondeo. Apparently it looked fine. The Mondeo sat the same height above the wheel, with the Mustang shocks and springs, as it did with it's own. Anyway, he's sent his findings off to Fulcrum and they are doing their own tests.

If this is right, then any shocks/springs marketed for the Mustang can likely be used for the Mondeo. There's plenty of aftermarket shocks and springs for the Mustang available in Australia, so this would make changing them significantly less expensive.

And it's yet another example of Ford screwing it's customers. It doesn't surprise me at all that Ford uses the same parts across a number of models. But do they tell us? No. They charge us $2400 for shocks they know full well could be replaced for a third of that!

[Triga]

hi david

yes very interesting and good info

i am currently going a slightly different way with the springs but have used the shocks you suggested

with me wanting to load up the car with plenty of weight i went for air bags

rather cheap kits from Queensland that fit in the spring and providing the extra lift and weight bearing ill need.

i haven't tried it out fully loaded yet as its still winter weather and no get away as yet.....

but as a daily drive i measured the height and its slight more then standard with a firm ride of course but its in the rear so not so noticeable

these are the people to speak to if anyone is looking into it https://airbagman.com.au/