What about telling the current place to put the old parts back on? I tried to get this done today, but the guy kept saying "they're broken, we can't" It's clear to me now from what all you are saying that he doesn't understand how the part works and I think his "broken" comment just means they damaged the outer plastic cover.

But if they did use a hammer to get them off (who knows what they did?) then I suppose they could have done some internal damage.

Is this just asking for more trouble?

Things have gotten more complicated since you signed the work order. But, I would not want these people working on my car. You need to get it out of their hands and to another repair shop. I would do as babymog suggests and contact the Secretary of State's office first thing in the morning and try to rescind the work order.
The easiest way to get it there would be for them to reinstall the old shocks and drive it there but I suspect that your shocks would definitely be broken by the time they reinstall them.
Do you have road service that would take the car to another shop? If so, I'd simply collect the parts and have it flatbedded to an indie who could either reinstall the shocks or put in new ones.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Yes, I have road service for towing.

I'm really nervous about all this and it's almost making me physically ill. Buying an older car, I expected some "bumps in the road", but this is way beyond anything I ever imagined in my worst nightmares.

I noticed in an earlier thread that you said you took your car into International Motor Works for them to check out the SLS. What did they say when you took it in?

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Int'l Motor Works is the other indy that I was writing about in posts today when people said "is there anyone else nearby?". They told me about some front end brake caliper work and a few other things, but weren't sure about the SLS so they gave me an estimate for replacing the entire system.

So they thought there was something wrong with the system but couldn't diagnose it? Replacing the whole system has to be outrageously expensive. The pump alone is about $1200. I'd guess all the components of the system would run around $2800 plus labor. If they couldn't identify a specific problem with the SLS then they don't seem to be a viable option as an alternative repair shop.
Did you take it to them because the rear was sagging?
Is this the car you run on veggie oil? Does it have a second fuel tank in the back? How much fuel does it hold if it does?

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Yes, there's an extra tank at the back. It holds about 11 gallons.

Since the statement "Apparently, they aren't very experienced with this type of problem. I think they figured "a shock is a shock", found a standard shock listed somewhere to fit my car (though I don't know how) and went with it. The garage is part of a Firestone tire/repair chain."
This indicates they are either a Franchise or a factory owned store, call Firestone corporate, better yet have a lawyer call them. That should force a solution in your favor. they owe you the contracted job or take them to small claims court. In claifornihey we have the BAR, Bureau of Automotive Repair that can make a shop sweat bullets when they get involved in anything like this. CO may have similar. Whatever you do do not replace the shocks with conventional shocks, the SLS is a fine system and worth looking for used parts if you have to but at this stage they (Firestone) should be obligated to fix what they botched up.

__________________
'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

As I wrote last night, I was mistaken about the ownership of the shop. Unfortunately, it's not part of a chain --the signs they have up make it look like they are, but it's just an independent shop.

What's happening?

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

jallgire, how'd you make out?

__________________

1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

Hi. I'm an M/B tech. in Augusta Ga. I would have warned you of possible breakage prior to removal{I would also have made sure the replacements were correct}. Simple answer, they broke it! they bought it! the price of incompetence. Hold em' to it.

No word on the final outcome?????

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13