1985 300D - Rear Tires Bowed in - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Ya Mar · #1 08-12-2010, 11:00 PM

Hello All!

I just installed the new coil springs and shocks for the rear suspension. Tomorrow I'll do the front, but first I'll need to file the hole in the engine compartment so I can use my spring compression tool for the front springs.

Anyways, with the new springs and shocks in the back and the old dead ones still in the front, the back of the car is really high up in the air. It looks pretty funny.

However, I noticed that the rear wheels are bowed in pretty badly. The top of the tires are leaning in, and it's clear that if I drive it like this I will get serious wear on the inside edges of the tires. Plus I'm sure it will affect the handling.

The old springs I took out were broken in two pieces and completely flat on the drives side and passenger side, so the car has been riding low for a long time. I'm sure what type of damage this has caused but something isn't right.

Does anyone know what might be causing the tires to be so bowed in?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

pawoSD · #2 08-12-2010, 11:45 PM

Did you drive it after all this? The suspension needs to be worked in/settle. Go find some good speed bumps and go over them a few times, that should do the trick.

Diesel911 · #3 08-13-2010, 12:36 AM

Be sure to get back to us on what fixes it. Not to much is written about the Rear Suspension.

I know there are 2 Rubber Bushings on each Trailing Arm but I am not sure what happens if they go bad.
I have also read there is different thicknesses of rubber Spring Pads that go under the Springs.

t walgamuth · #4 08-13-2010, 05:18 AM

how is your ride height? Bowed in suggests to me it is sitting too low.

Ya Mar · #5 08-13-2010, 11:34 AM

Right now the back end is really high up and the front is as low as it gets. This is because I haven't swapped out the front coil springs yet, which are really old (probably original).

I think when I put in the new front coil springs the back end will come down a bit and the car will be level, but it will be riding pretty high.

After the new suspension is in I might take it to a garage for a 4 wheel alignment and see if they comment on any of the suspension parts being worn out.

t walgamuth · #6 08-13-2010, 12:52 PM

Too hiigh will cause negative camber too. I would drive it for a few months with all the new parts unless it is so whacked up it is unsafe. then I probably woudl throw a couple of sand bags in the rear to get it down until it all settles in.

scottmcphee · #7 08-13-2010, 01:08 PM

Did you tighten all the suspension bits while the car was jack up off the ground in the rear (wheels dangling)? On my car, different suspension I know, you have to rest the wheels on the car's own weight before tightening everything down. Maybe something similar going on with your rear?

Ya Mar · #8 08-13-2010, 01:50 PM

I did let the suspension back down before I tightened the new shocks.

I'm starting a new thread regarding difficulty getting the new coil springs in the front. If anyone has any ideas about that problem.....

Ya Mar · #9 08-14-2010, 12:07 AM

Now I have the new front coil springs in and this has leveled out the car a lot. I can still see that the rear tires are bowed in, but I'm not sure what to do. I'm going to take it to a garage for an alignment and see what they think.

dieseldan44 · #10 08-14-2010, 12:40 AM

I had the same issue a few years ago.

Go for the alignment, and then drive it for 1k miles (assuming its not severe).

The camber went away in my case.

t walgamuth · #11 08-14-2010, 08:03 AM

There is no camber adjustment available in the rear of a 123 benz. I suggest driving it for a while to see how it settles out before taking any mechanical action. A little negative camber on the rear won't hurt anything.