W124 lifted wagon - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

johnscars · #1 09-03-2011, 01:20 PM

Yesterday I'm pretty sure I saw a lifted W124 wagon in heavy traffic, and didn't get a close look. I like the idea of having extra ground clearance. Any input on how to adjust/raise the rear SLS. I understand the front requires a pair of rubber front spring spacers (anything else?) Anyone have any experience with this?

netboy · #2 09-03-2011, 03:21 PM

Never lifted a Benz. It would be nice to ride in a lifted one before you did the mod. Some lifts really stiffen the ride. Thats one thing I love about these cars is that they float at interstate speeds.

johnscars · #3 09-03-2011, 04:10 PM

Yeah, I agree with the high-speed ride quality. I'm a huge fan of that, and hope not to impact that characteristic. I'm not thinking big lift, just up it an inch or two for added clearance on rutted dirt roads. The front coil spring spacers are under 20mm at the max, and the pair I have are shorter. But I'm not going to install them if the rear stay's down. I was under the impression that there was an adjustment for the rear's height...wrong?

sixto · #4 09-03-2011, 04:24 PM

There should be an adjustment at the leveling valve. In a 123, ride height is adjusted by lengthening or shortening the link between the leveling valve and the frame -

2" lift is a lot! You'll be very close to the upper end travel limit of the suspension. You might grab air if you go too fast over a bump. Suspension geometry will be off so you might get unexpected tire wear.

Sixto
87 300D

Biodiesel300TD · #5 09-03-2011, 04:30 PM

Sixto is correct. The 124 valve and 123 valves both have connecting rods that can be adjusted to raise or lower the rear end's riding level. But lifting the rear 1-2" may cause the rear to ride differently because you've extended the car above the normal height, so the springs are going to have less cushion. How much different it will be I can't say. But I could see it being a little more bouncy and floaty.

johnscars · #6 09-03-2011, 04:58 PM

Thanks guys. Setting aside the lift goal, I'm also interested in the right height. Is there a correct height, or recommended height range? Are front and rear supposed to be the same? Or rear slightly higher/lower? Over the past 2 months I've put new bilstiens on the front and new MXV4s all around, and gotten a good alignment. but I'm sure no one is checking the height/clearance, and I'd like to know I've got it where it should be. I'm not sure how to measure the car's height, but a quick once around shows that currently it sits with both front wheels having 4" between/above the tread to the flat outer edge-height of the mid-fender. In the rear the measurements were 3.75" Driver's side, and 3.4" passenger side. (And I'd expect these numbers would be greater with tire wear.)

sixto · #7 09-03-2011, 05:04 PM

Good question. I don't recall seeing ride height specs but I've never looked. The more common way to measure ride height is to measure vertically from the middle of the wheel (the MB logo is convenient) to the fender lip. This removes tire size and wear from the equation.

Static rear suspension height is theoretically easy to determine - it's when the drive axles are level. I don't know of a corresponding reference for the front suspension. I suppose you could find a 4Matic with level axles to use as a reference.

Sixto
87 300D

sixto · #8 09-03-2011, 05:11 PM

124 FSM section 40-0300 has the procedure for checking vehicle level, section 40-0001 is chock full of specs for various models but nothing as simple as measure from obvious point A to obvious point B. Looks like you need some funky special tools.

Sixto
87 300D

iwrock · #9 09-03-2011, 05:18 PM

Your going the wrong way!

johnscars · #10 09-03-2011, 05:44 PM

Thanks Sixto, do you think I should be looking at correcting the rear's imbalance, or trying to get it even with the front (raise rears .25+")...On the lift side of things, seeing Iwrok's beautiful lowered wagon show's how much mine's already lifted! What size wheels, Iwrok?

pawoSD · #11 09-03-2011, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iwrock

Your going the wrong way!

If you drove those two cars around MI for a while you'd be missing your front bumper, rockers, and most of the undercoat/underside components from the car in a week or so.

Also, the tires would all be flat and the wheels bent.

MTUpower · #12 09-03-2011, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

If you drove those two cars around MI for a while you'd be missing your front bumper, rockers, and most of the undercoat/underside components from the car in a week or so.

Also, the tires would all be flat and the wheels bent.

My car is lowered a bit, but nothing like this- and IMHO it's getto and not benzworthy. You'd have to have golteef to drive a car like the wagon...