Ive felt that the rear of my 82 300CD sagged a bit. The other night I was backing out of a driveway down the apron, and the spare tire bottomed out. I think that if I was a big higher and not as saggy, all would have been well.

When I press down on the rear of the car, it does one bounce before coming to rest. I assume that is shocks though (Ive not replaced the rears yet). How can I best check the springs? Are the rears doable with more common parts available from parts stores?

__________________
Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)

Shocks generally have little or no effect on ride height. If your rear is sagging and there's not a big load in the back of the car, chances are it's time for springs. There is the possibility of something else being bent or broken, but it's less likely. Get under and look and if nothing else is messed up, it's time for springs. I haven't done springs on a W123 so I can't speak as to their difficulty.

__________________
Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

X2 Time for Springs...
Not only will they bring the car back to original height...but you can feel the difference in the ride... for the better...
Springs do not last near as long as everyone leaves them in their cars...

__________________
1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/10414-help-i-need-check-stretch.html

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/156207-photo-step-step-post-showing-w123-evaporator-removal-1983-240d-1982-300td.html?highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

Check rear subframe mounts and rear differential mount first. Those wear long before the springs do.

__________________
1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

That is probably true... but if they were ' plumb wore out' how much potential sag could they produce ?
I am just referring to the subframe mounts since the differential mount is not going to affect the height of the car...

__________________
1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=10414

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/156207-photo-step-step-post-showing-w123-evaporator-removal-1983-240d-1982-300td.html?highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

Sure a collapsed rear diff mount will cause the rear end to sit lower. Why do you think it wont??

A combination of worn rear subframe mounts and collapsed diff mount will cause the rear to sag.

__________________
1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

The differential mount is bolted to the body... it is not in the suspension between the where the tires touch the road and the frame is being supported.

If the subframe mounts were totally collapsed ... how many inches do you think that could lower the car ?

Also, he said his tire hit the ground... not a low hanging differential...

__________________
1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=10414

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/156207-photo-step-step-post-showing-w123-evaporator-removal-1983-240d-1982-300td.html?highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

Take another look at how it is all supported. The rear diff is bolted to the subframe, the back of the diff is bolted to the mount which is bolted to the body of the car. In other words, the diff mount acts as another subframe mount.

A collapsed rear diff mount could drop the rear end about 3/4 of an inch. I know this to be true because the mount in my W115 collapsed, a new MB mount raised my rear end up abut 3/4 inch.

Here is a pic of a new and old mount:



Here is a thread i found which supports my facts: Bad Differential Mount? Rear end drops

__________________
1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

Ok.. lets accept your claim of 3/4 inch drop..

How much can a spring allow the car to drop ?

__________________
1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=10414

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/156207-photo-step-step-post-showing-w123-evaporator-removal-1983-240d-1982-300td.html?highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

How do i know?? Every spring is gonna wear at different rates..

__________________
1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

LOL,...
I said how much CAN a spring potentially allow the car to drop ?

__________________
1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=10414

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/156207-photo-step-step-post-showing-w123-evaporator-removal-1983-240d-1982-300td.html?highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

It COULD potentially cause the rear end to collapse on it rubber stoppers, IF the spring breaks completly.... That the answer your looking for?

__________________
1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

Right. Potentially, the full distance from "the highest the spring ever held the car when new" and "with all possible spring resistance worn completely out, the spring just rests coil upon coil with no resistance".

Which is a heckuva lot more travel than 3/4", however much it measures out to. You can spring the back end of these things probably 10" or more by shoving down on the bumpers.

__________________


~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

Why not replace subframe mounts, springs, rear diff mount, and shocks all at the same time to save future headaches?

__________________
1981 300TD 4 speed manual
Euro bumpers, zender valance and skirts, H&R springs, billy HD's, leveled sls, real AMG Pentas 16x8 et11, vdo boost/egt gauges intergrated into ash tray, eurolights, led 3rd brake light

Don`t forget the Trailing Arm Bushings. If you are going that far into it, go all the way.

The first thing I replaced was my Differential Mount. It was the original with around 340K miles. i noticed a difference in the car. 6 months later, I dropped the whole sub frame, Diff, axles etc....

I replaced the sub frame bushings, trailing arm bushings, painted every thing, replaced the diff with a lower milage one and added new axles.
I was a totaly different car. really stiffened it up, and raised it up some.

I didn`t change the shocks, they were still good.

Amazing what a few rubber mounts will do.

Charlie

__________________
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