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#1
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Which springs are best?
Dear All,
I'd like some advice about rear spring replacement on my 1981 W123 300D. According to the MB dealer I need part number 123 324 35 04 These cost about 200 euros a piece. I've asked an independent chap and he says he can get Monroe SP0660 springs for me (suitable replacement for 123 324 35 04) These cost 75 euros a piece. I've also seen others advertising replacement springs for 50 euros a piece. Does anyone know what is good? I don't want to have to replace them again! (I've taken the overwhelming advice from this forum and bought HD Bilstein shocks all round) Any help will be greatly appreciated. I don't really need or want some reinforced super stiff spring - I don't need a Stuttgart Taxi effect! (A search on the forum for recommended spring manufacturers was not successful!) |
#2
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Id go with the dealer ones. Monroe does not make good stuff.
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1981 300SD 512k OM603 |
#3
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If your springs are just sagging a bit and not broken you might be able to help yourself by installing thicker spring pads at much less expense.
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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC] ..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis. |
#4
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Hmmm good tip but will it work?
Thanks for the tip - but will it work? I thought the saloon already had the thickest rubber pads (the ones that are installed on the top of the spring).
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#5
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Well if Monroe are pants
If you don't rate the Monroe stuff how would you rate German made but cheap stuff?
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#6
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honestly I have no idea if Monroe makes good springs or if Mercedes (or whoever makes them) still makes good springs. I did have a set of monroe shocks which only lasted 20 thousand miles though. These springs have a lot of metallurgical engineering behind them and I'm not sure Id trust an american manufacturer over a german one. Id pay the premium seeing as how these can affect ride quality, handling and safety.
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1981 300SD 512k OM603 |
#7
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Finding the original manufacturer is a big problem
Quote:
Finding the originating manufacturer or source of "original" Mercedes parts is indeed a big problem - not just for rear springs |
#8
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Here's why I want to change them
Here is a picture of why I want to change them:-
The closely compressed coils (shown here at the bottom of the picture - the spring is shown upside down) at the top of the spring are very close to each other. I'm sure that these bits are meant to be a bit stiffer as I can easily compress them to nothing by pressing down on them. The over all length of the spring, however, is not that far from the new specifications... |
#9
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How about Sachs P/N 996-167 for 90 euros a piece (plus shipping)?
They've got a really nice web page:- http://www.zf.com/brands/content/en/sachs/products_sachs/online_catalog_sachs/online_catalog_SACHS.html and http://webcat-services.zf.com/index.asp?SPR=4 |
#10
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That's a progressive rate spring. Not stock for a 123. I would simply go to the salvage yard and get some factory springs for not much money and go for it. They pretty seldom wear out.
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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC] ..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis. |
#11
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Not entirely true.
How many nubs were on the rubber spacer? 1 2 or 3?
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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg 1995 E420 Schwarz 1995 E300 Weiss #1987 300D Sturmmachine #1991 300D Nearly Perfect #1994 E320 Cabriolet #1995 E320 Touring #1985 300D Sedan OBK #42 |
#12
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Quote:
What does the coding of 1 2 3 nubs mean? |
#13
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Interesting comment
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Having taken the whole suspension apart I can see that a saggy rear end is also dependent on the sub frame bushings, trailing arm bushings and the rear differential mount... |
#14
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I've found some information for the nubs by looking through some old postings on this forum: the nubs indicate the height or thickness of the rubber
There seems to be some confusion about what means what so I looked on the febi website to see what they sell ( www.febi.com ) Number of nubs Rear Springs Front Springs 1 9.5mm 8mm 2 N/A N/A 3 19mm 18mm 4 N/A 23mm I don't know (yet) the connection between the rubber thickness and the type of coil spring though. |
#15
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Oh cr*p all my nice spaces for the table above got automatically removed. There are meant to be 3 headings "Number of nubs" "Rear Springs" and "Front Springs" - you'll have to align the information by sight to see which number fits under each heading
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