I need to buy some shocks for my 300D.....Im at a loss when chosing the right pair....I definately need heavy duty ones for the back. Opinions are valued, as is personal experiences.

Thanks--Matt

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1982 300DT *4-speed*// proper 617 donor for conversion // W126 big brakes // front wagon swaybar // european lights & bumpers // rear headrests // lumbar support // warning triangle // overdrive water pump pulley & 9 blade fan // Too many more to list Dark blue/ Palomino.

1983 300D euro no longer a 4 speed. . swap/parts carr

bilsteins...

that is it

I put on Bilstein comforts all around; no complaints here.

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1989 300E 144K

Bilsteins...if your going too keep the car and want the best for it.

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

2nd on the Bilsteins. I have comforts on my 85 and am very happy with it. Wish the Carquest shocks on mt 84 would go already so I can replace them with Bils but they still have lots of life in them.

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the sooner you start... the sooner you'll get done If it ain't broke, don't fix it.. Its always simpler to tell the truth...
2007 Honda Accord EX
2007 Honda Accord SE V6
96 C220
97 Explorer - Found Another Home
2000 Honda Accord V6 - Found Another Home
85 300D - Found Another Home
84 300D - Found Another Home
80 300TD - Found Another Home
Previous cars:
96 Caravan
87 Camry
84 Cressida
82 Vanagon
80 Fiesta
78 Nova
Ford Cortina
Opel Kadet
68 Kombi
Contessa

I suggest the Bilstein comforts unless you really drive a lot of chuck hole roads or carry a lot of heavy stuff in the trunk or run around w/ a load of passengers. HD shocks were too much for my 300D so I took them out and replaced them w/ Comforts.

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'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!

To be honest, my TD has run fine on Monros, but Bilstein HD's are next in line once the Monros are done, which will be soon.

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1984 300TD

I live in New York---where the roads are more holes than pavement. I usually have a tool box, a kicker box, and other random junk in the back...So I dont know whether I should go for a comfort, regular, or heavy duty shock? Any ideas? I havent gone through my steering and suspension class in school yet.

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1982 300DT *4-speed*// proper 617 donor for conversion // W126 big brakes // front wagon swaybar // european lights & bumpers // rear headrests // lumbar support // warning triangle // overdrive water pump pulley & 9 blade fan // Too many more to list Dark blue/ Palomino.

1983 300D euro no longer a 4 speed. . swap/parts carr

You have 3 reasonable options:
1 Bilsteins best
2 Boge OEM
3 KYB

They last anywhere from 5-10 years, if you divide it out you would only save a couple bucks a year getting the cheaper ones.

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1959 Gravely LI, 1963 Gravely L8, 1973 Gravely C12
1982 380SL
1978 450 SEL 6.9 euro restoration at 63% and climbing
1987 300 D
2005 CDI European Delivery
2006 CDI Handed down to daughter
2007 GL CDI. Wifes

Bilstein. I chose the HD's but RI roads kinda suck. RT

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

Shocks damp the springs, and have a role in controlling the speed of weight transfer in a corner. For the first job, they should be valved to handle the spring rate, which is pretty low for stock springs so any comfort/regular/HD shock that applies to your car can handle the stock springs. For the second job, the stiffer the shock, the faster the weight transfers on and off (if you have dual adjustable shocks, $$$, you can control the speed on and off independently). It's a bit complicated as to what is good or best, but safer (and slower) would be a softer shock.

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1984 300TD

I to am considering new shocks as well. I live in New Orleans where the roads have always been more pot hole than pavement. Blis HD or comforts? I suppose the HD would deliver a stiffer ride with less give? The comforts more forgiving?
Also can anyone tell me just what ride charteristic the shocks deliver as apposed to what the srpings influence? I just picked up a 25 year old 300D and am looking to bring it back as it is to be my daily driver. I want solid handling with less mush and sway but don't want to err on the side of ratteling my teeth out of my head.
Any insight would be really appreciated.
R

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I would'nt say I've been missing work...

1982 300D Turbo Diesel

The greatest impact on ride is the spring rate. I could write several pages on what springs influence, but essentially they handle the wheel travel over bumps, the weight that is transferred in a turn, and their height also affects the vehicle's height, therefore the car's center of gravity.

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1984 300TD

Ok Tank,
So if I wanted to reduce body roll in the turns I would want stiffer springs as well as HD shocks?

And what is all this talk about the Vogtland srpings?

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I would'nt say I've been missing work...

1982 300D Turbo Diesel

This is helpful -
It is clear that Bilstiens are way way preferred!
How many of the rest of you that recommend Bilsteins hands down have tried other brands of shocks?

How much better are they than KYB (1/2 the price) or Monroe (1/4 the price)?

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Current Mercedes
1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed

Gone and fondly remembered:
1980 orient red 240D 4-speed

Gone and NOT fondly remembered:
1982 Chna Blue 300TD

Other car in the stable:
2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT