Shocks for 300D Turbo Diesel - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Capt Kirk · #16 03-05-2002, 11:32 PM

Yeah that would be pretty bad if some one got hurt because I sold them a pair of shocks because I didn't think the quality was good enough for my self.

When ever there is a question about shocks I'm going to tell my story about the Monroe shocks. Soon younger MB enthusiasts (dunno how much younger they can get

) will gather around at my feet to hear my stories. Kinda like an old ship boat Captian

Smokey · #17 03-06-2002, 01:17 PM

I have somewhat of a soft and dead ride due to old slightly compressed springs. Would it be effective to use additional spacers below the springs to get a stiffer ride or do I need to replace the springs? Also what about the wear in the bushings for the swing arms? Would this have much of an effect on ride?

Capt Kirk · #18 03-06-2002, 07:52 PM

Spacers?

you mean the rubber bowl with a hole in it looking thing? (spring pad)

If your ride sucks as a result of your springs you have to replace the springs to fix it. And the sway bar bushings would affect ride as well.

#19 03-12-2002, 06:12 PM

Your car either came with Boge or Febi/Bilstein shocks, which are
to last for the life of the car, but usually loose their crispness at
about 90,000 miles. The car wont ride as well nor like a Mercedes- Benz by the use of anything other than these brands.

Mercedes coil springs never wear out. An accident can be a good
reason to replace a coil spring although supported by reasonings.

These two issues are chief among what set apart the excellences
that distinguish the Mercedes but all too few come to a deep
abiding recognition of these core issues until they have spent their money.

Capt Kirk · #20 03-12-2002, 09:53 PM

Wow there Cheif, your just thread hoping today.....

Coil Springs do wear out, it's a fact of life.

#21 03-13-2002, 02:09 AM

...is it Capt Kirk? well, hell-o there anyway!

I dont know what's meant by "thread hoping." I have no clue. Is that something bad?

What can be confirmed by Mercedes AG is that the coil springs are
not a consummable item during the life of the car, under normal
circumstances. A rare occurance could make spring replacement
a necessity, yes. Rare means exactly that: rare. Ride height can
be adjusted by reading the paint daubs on the coil springs. The
rubber pads that the coils are seated upon have notch indications
which correspond to the paint code daubs, all of which are also
encoded in the VIN number, which in turn tells all the accessories
that came on that unit during assembly. For example, if a unit
gets an A/C plus a sliding sunroof, then that car gets coil springs
marked by a specific paint code daubing and rubber seating pad.
There is a whole science underlying this one component of the
suspension. To say that coil springs wear out and leave it in the ether is misleading, incorrect, willful neglect and potentially harmful to the vehicles driveability, provided reasonings are not
fully divulged. It surprises that one of the most dangerous areas
of the car to attempt to repair is the R&R on the coil springs yet
many have no awareness of just how serious and needless the exchange of the coil springs can possibly be.

A TSB issued several years ago in re the 240D Diesels in service
in Germany and primarily devoted to taxi fleet assignment revealed that every single repair as outlined by the factory for
service life of that particular series could be performed by serial
keepings. All maintenance items went through 750,000 miles, 3
engine rebuilds and disposal of the body shell thereafter. Mind
you this was for taxi service. No mention was ever made in that
TSB for replacement of the coil springs at all. There are other
evidences but space doesnt permit. I'd refer you to contact the
factory direct in Sindelfigen or Esslingen in Germany for any more
information that you lack.

Capt Kirk · #22 03-13-2002, 11:36 AM

It's age, not milage (although that would add to the problem) that causes springs to wear out. While it's nice to compare my 230,000 mile car to a 750,000 mile taxi it wouldn't be exactly an apples to apple comparison. My car has accumilated it's 230,000 miles in 20 years, the taxi had accumilated those 750,000 in a quarter of mine. Those taxis are also not on the road anymore, so comparing the age of their springs and their ability to support the car isn't possible.

Also, I really don't think that MB thought the normal life of the car would exceed 15 years.

For my car it needs the springs replaced because the old ones are not able to keep the car's butt in the air when I have anything in the back seat. Now you can go in there with all your fancy tools and factory gibber-jabber but the end result will be the same, except it'll cost me $200 my way and $1000 your way.
Just because I haven't been factory trained doesn't mean I don't have a clue what I'm doing or talking about.

thebern · #23 03-13-2002, 11:40 AM

wgstephen,
I recently replaced the shocks on my 123 240D '82. Easy job except that the front shock inner bolt seemed inacessable. Silly me. Remove the upper nuts and compress the shock below the wheel well and 'swing' outwards to access the 10mm/12 point bolt. New shocks are probably safety wired in a compressed position. Bolt to lower mount then clip the safety wire to extend the shock as it rises up through the upper mounting hole.
I would go with heavy duty as the coil springs may be soft. Bilstien!

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