New Rear Coil springs (85 300D) ride way too high, will new tires wear incorrectly?

[Carrameow]

I changed out my Rear Coil springs on my 85 300D and a year later, they still have not "settled". I even had a heavy jack and transmission in there a couple of weeks. My guess is the springs aren't going to settle or are just the wrong one's.

The rear looks High and knock kneed. Will my rear tires wear incorrectly? Meanwhile my cars rear looks like a Muscle car, and the tires bow outwards (looking coltish) corresponding to the excessive curvature of these springs(which are Lemforder by the way)

I am going to change out these springs to my old one's ASAP!

Meanwhile, my wife surprised me by buying 4 new tires . This car is my daily driver now! Any advice....will the rear springs being out of spec ( i.e too high and strong, causing outward bow of rear tires) ruin my new expensive tires...

[Brian Carlton]

Richard,

The higher the rear gets, the less the negative camber.

In your case, it sounds like the rear is so high that you have positive camber.

If you have a 24" level, place it against the face of the tire and move the bottom outward until the level is plumb. Use a ruler and measure the distance between the level and the tire face on the bottom.

Report back with the number.

[dieseldiehard]

You could use try using the thinnest spring pads rear, or have the springs cut professionally by Coil SPring Specialties, or get the right springs. I believe wear will occur on the outer edges pretty soon if not already, and handing will be compromised compared to the way it should feel with the right camber.
Oh here's an idea!! you could put sacks of concrete mix in the trunk until it sits level

[leathermang]

How did you determine which springs to order ? and from whom ?

Perhaps you just need new front springs to level it out ?

That may not be an unusual wear pattern... look at the pictures of normal wear for a MB in the MB Chassis Manual .... that info surprised me when I first saw it ...would have sworn there was something wrong with my front end before that..

[winmutt]

For a $5 fix you could always get spring clamps from jc whitney.

[Carrameow]

I wish I had never messed with this!
I order the coil springs brand new from Worldpac,which supplies MERCEDES SHOP and they supply Lemforder's, a reputable brand. I also installed 19mm shims, as opposed to 9mm or 14mm shims. I figured 19mm-10 mm = 9mm which is less than 1 cm.
I thought the car looked ass heavy before I changed them but thats the way all 300D's look now that I check everyone I see.
I would just like to put the old springs back. Sure the new ones might lower eventually, but I dont want to wait until 20 years from now (2026 AD)

Finally every car I own (4) has is 13 to 20 years old with 150 to 250K miles and they dont need coil spring change out, so either did my BENZ.

[Carrameow]

and not using the spring tool? Or would that be ridiculous. Thats the way my indy does it, he says....

[Brian Carlton]

Originally Posted by Carrameow

I also installed 19mm shims, as opposed to 9mm or 14mm shims. I figured 19mm-10 mm = 9mm which is less than 1 cm.

Are the 19 mm spring pads the proper stock pads for the vehicle?

Each mm in pad thickness affects the ride height by a ratio of about 2.5:1 or so. Therefore your calculated 1 cm. difference will affect the ride height by approx. 1 inch. The pads will fine tune the ride height for the spring.

[Brian Carlton]

Originally Posted by Carrameow

and not using the spring tool? Or would that be ridiculous. Thats the way my indy does it, he says....

The trailing arms stop on the subframe, so, you'd have to drop the subframe to relieve all the tension off the spring. You can do this, but, you'll need to be quite careful that you don't kill yourself in the process.........the subframe is heavy and unweildy. It's mounted at three points. Two at the subframe bushings and one at the differential mount.


Since when do you have an indy??

[rrgrassi]

Well, actually over time, springs tend to wear out, and the prior owner could have overloaded the car, causing rear end sag. I had an '83 Nissan Maxima that would drag its tail. Replaced springs and struts, and the tail end lifted up giving muscle car look like you described. I eneded up replacing the front as well, and the car leveled out, and man was the handling improved. The '83 was rear drive with IRS.

[Carrameow]

That these are the wrong springs and the car is riding way too high. The 2nd independent stopped me on the highway. car goes on the jacks tonight!

[Brian Carlton]

Originally Posted by Carrameow

The 2nd independent stopped me on the highway.

YOU IN THE MERCEDES..........THIS IS THE SPRING POLICE........PULL YOUR VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY.

[OMEGAMAN]

I replaced my rear springs and I got them from worldpac and never had that problem. I wonder if you ordered the wrong springs or maybe they shipped the wrong ones.
I don't remember what thickness the pads were I just installed the springs and never looked back.

[Carrameow]

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

YOU IN THE MERCEDES..........THIS IS THE SPRING POLICE........PULL YOUR VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY.

Okay he didnt pull me over, he came up to me at a Rest Stop on the highway and we got to talking and I asked him ...

[Carrameow]

Originally Posted by rrgrassi

Well, actually over time, springs tend to wear out, and the prior owner could have overloaded the car, causing rear end sag. I had an '83 Nissan Maxima that would drag its tail. Replaced springs and struts, and the tail end lifted up giving muscle car look like you described. I eneded up replacing the front as well, and the car leveled out, and man was the handling improved. The '83 was rear drive with IRS.

Are you sure this worked? I am worried if I replace my fronts too, my car will look like it's on stilts?

WHAT SHOULD I DO?