As the price of fuel has skyrocketed in my area ($4.59 gal yesterday) I have been using my 81 240D a lot more for work, and leaving the F350 at home. While the trunk has an amazing amount of space the suspension is struggling with the weight of all my tools and parts! Does anyone know of a way to add some capacity to the suspension? I notice that in the FSM there is a variety of spring applications for bad roads, taxis, etc. As I doubt I can get new springs from the dealer for a 30 yr old car is there a donor vehicle I should look for for some heavier springs? From a wagon perhaps? Can I add some taller spring pads as well? As usual any advice is greatly appreciated- Scott

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1984 300TD 1981 240D

Oddly enough more robust springs may still be available. Check with the sites sponsor. Also get a handle on how much weight you are trucking around with you.

It really cannot replace a ford F350 truck. You might pull the back seat out as well. Better weight distribution using the back seat areal.

Wagon springs:

http://www.allpartsexpress.com/ShopByVehicle.epc?q=1981-MERCEDES--BENZ-300td--/l5_3.0l_diesel_turbo-Rear--End--/--Suspension&yearid=1981&makeid=MERCEDES+BENZ%40%40MERCEDES+BENZ%40%40X&engineid=1194308%40%40300TD+%2FL5_3.0L_DIESEL_Turbo%40%40300TD&catid=Rear+End+%2F+Suspension&subcatid=Rear%20Coil%20Spring&mode=PA

Don't know if they're direct fit or not. Call Phil.

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CC: NSA

All things are burning, know this and be released.

82 Benz 240 D, Kuan Yin
12 Ford Escape 4wd

You're four times

It's hard to

more likely to

concentrate on

have an accident

two things

when you're on

at the same time.

a cell phone.

www.kiva.org It's not like there's anything wrong with feeling good, is there?

Scott,
This is a good question! I often wondered this same thing on my 300d. Is there for the Airbag type for load hauling? I installed a set on my Toyoota pick up 5yrs ago and they worked great! (yes i understand leaf springs are different than IRS but just wondering)
Put 5 people in my 84 300d with some luggage and it was a low-rider!! LOL!

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2006 Jetta TDI DSG 320k miles
1997 Ford F150 325k miles 4.2L V6 "Work Truck"
2008 Tundra 225k miles 5.7L
1982 240D.....sold
1984 300D...Totaled OUCH!
1985 300D Turbo 222k miles "Dos" sold to 79Mercy
1986 300SDL 98K miles "The Beater"....sold
1987 190E 2.3 16v Euro spec 115K miles....sold

Over here in Holland it is all the rage to all big LPG tanks in the back of your thirsty older classic cars. They sell additional springs that fit along side the existing suspension called hulpveren

See

http://link.marktplaats.nl/1000048720

(It is in dutch but there is a photograph)

As for the maximum weight I guess that is on your owner's documents? Most vehicles are rated for a specific weight by the powers that be...

I think you've got quite a good chance to get the heavier duty (standard) springs though as they are bound to be made for the North Africa market... ask an Australian member - most of their cheaper spares seem to originate from North Africa!

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

are the springs original? they could also be tired, making the whole a$$ dragging condition worse. I had the same problem with mine, and I ordered new springs, thickest spring pads I could get, and heavy duty shocks, installed them all, and it raised the car way up and handled far more weight. I did it primarily because I had a utility trailer, and it hardly noticed the trailer after the new springs were installed

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This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

translated version.

http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fauto-onderdelen.marktplaats.nl%2Fmercedes-benz-onderdelen%2F1000048720-hulpveren-mercedes-w201-w202-w123-w210-w108-w109-w126-w140.html

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Is it a difficult job to do this? My 300D is sitting kinda low at back too and all it takes is a full complement of adults in the back and that back really sits low. Ride comfort is good though...

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1987 300TD
1984 300D
755,000 KM and going strong
BC Canada

Changing W123 rear springs is in my opinion an easy job - you just need to be patient and careful. However the springs are not necessarily the problem with the ride height. It is more likely that the rubber parts on the subframe and the differential mount could do with renewal.

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

W123 TD wagon springs fit perfectly. I installed them, along w/HD shocks, years ago. Rides and handles like a completely different car. Might not be beefy enough, still, for several hundreds of pounds of tools. W116 SD rear springs are really beefy, and are plug-and-play.

Jay

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On the road, currently:
'83 300D (German spec.) 168k mi. - - Wolfgang (tucked snugly away for the winter!)
'87 300D 375k mi. - finally went over to "The Dark Side"
'87 300TD 225k mi.
Cannondale 66cm CAAD5 w/Campy/Jamis Aurora
Hujsak Custom Fixie/Landshark Track Shark Custom/Ahearne Custom 29'er

When I have to carry a lot of weight in a car I use the passenger foot well and rear seat foot wells for heavier stuff. This helps spread the load more evenly, for less tail dragging and better handling characteristics. Just a tip.

I also agree that tired rubber bushings and differential mounts would help. My 79 240D is all original still, so I have lots of sag when carrying a heavy load.

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1979 240D, 4spd manual, Power Sunroof, manual windows, 147k miles, Pastel gray/Black MB Tex.
1991 300D 2.5 - Smokes like it's on Crack!

I will be adding SLS to my SD... I have a donor (or two) TD to transplant parts from...

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Good stuff so far! Thanks! The rear does not sag when there is no weight, but definitely with 2 passengers, or a trunk full of tools. Sounds like the wagon springs might be the way to go with some new shocks and bushings. Sounds like it's a bolt in. Anyone know if 300SD springs are compatible, as I happen to have a 300SD parts car in stock! Also will I have any alignment troubles in the rear with taller springs? The other thing I will probably have to address is some tires with more load capacity in the same size. Any suggestions?

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1984 300TD 1981 240D

I routinely carry several hundred pounds in the trunk. freon jugs, compressors, relcaimers, vacuum pumps, massive amounts of tools, wrenches, meters, etc... I HATE the way the SD sags.
I doubt the SD springs would help much. it's a slightly larger trunk, but it's got an aluminum deck lid, so from factory, I bet the 240 has more weight on the springs, so heavier capacity. the TD has more weight, so they should be stronger, but they have the SLS rams to assist, so I'm not sure.

I've never been happy with air shocks, the cheap plastic fittings always seem to fail... I've not tried airbags, I'm sure they are an improvement.
I just wanna try to sub in SLS... I think it'll be fun.

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Sorry folks I forgot to say. Here are some links for rear springs (doh):-

Which springs are best?

And the best 'till last:-

Suspension springs interchangeability

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!