Used Mercedes-Benz CLA Suspension Leg

A suspension leg (also called a strut or MacPherson strut) is a combined spring and damper unit that forms part of the front suspension on many cars. The Mercedes-Benz CLA uses a MacPherson strut layout at the front, so yes, front suspension legs are a genuine part on this model. If you need a rear suspension leg, the CLA also uses a multi-link rear setup that incorporates strut-type components, so rear legs exist too. Always confirm front or rear and NS (nearside/left) or OS (offside/right) when requesting a quote from a breaker.

The first-generation CLA ran from 2013 to 2019 as the C117, and the second-generation C118 launched in 2019 with a substantially redesigned platform and suspension geometry. These two generations are not the same car underneath, and suspension legs from a C117 will not cross over to a C118. Always source a leg from the correct generation, and confirm the match against your registration with the breaker before buying.

Trim level alone — SE, AMG Line, or Sport — does not determine which suspension leg the car was built with, as these are cosmetic and equipment grades rather than distinct suspension specifications. What can vary is the spring and damper rate, which Mercedes-Benz sometimes applied differently to sport-suspension-equipped cars even within the same trim name; whether your car has a sport or standard suspension setup is something you should confirm with the breaker against your registration. The physical leg itself may look identical, so getting the breaker to cross-reference your reg is the safest approach.

Engine size can influence suspension leg specification on the CLA because heavier or more powerful variants — particularly the AMG CLA 45, which is significantly more powerful than the standard four-cylinder engines — may use uprated suspension components. For standard petrol and diesel engines across the C117 or C118 generations, differences are less clear-cut, but it is worth telling the breaker your exact engine code alongside your registration. Do not assume a leg from a 200d fits a 45 AMG or vice versa without the breaker confirming compatibility.

The C117 CLA received a facelift around 2016, bringing styling and interior updates, but the fundamental platform and suspension architecture carried over from the 2013 original. In principle, suspension legs from pre-facelift C117 cars should be compatible with post-facelift C117 cars, but whether any running-gear detail changes were made at the facelift point is something you should confirm with the breaker against both registrations before purchasing. Named generation boundaries are a reliable guide, but part-level interchange across a facelift always warrants a double-check.

Suspension legs are side-specific — the nearside (NS, driver's left, kerb side in the UK) and offside (OS, driver's right) legs are handed components and will not swap between sides. Always specify NS or OS clearly when contacting a breaker, and double-check the leg you are quoted matches your side before agreeing to buy. Fitting the wrong side is not possible without modification, so getting this right from the start will save you time and money.