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  #1  
Old 01-21-2014, 02:52 PM
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Rear suspension air bags... so here's the deal

I have looked around and really can't find anything except for haters saying not to do it.

I have need to haul some weight in my car, i really wish i could find a wagon and some day hope to, but for now i need to use the 300D. The other option is to repower something with a diesel but that is down the road too.

Has anyone seen a good set up or installed an airride on their w123?

Next time i haul some stuff i plan on pulling the back seat, sooo easy, and cut some plywood to fit to move the load forward. But i also plan on making a tank that will go in the trunk for WVO and WMO collection.

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  #2  
Old 01-21-2014, 02:58 PM
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To handle the loads, I put air-shocks on every American car I owned working out of, except the Corvette. You locate the valve stem somewhere convenient to you by drilling a hole in the trunk body. Easy to manually adjust the air level. I bought several sets from Sears Automotive Centers. If you want them to install them they can. I'm sure AutoZone/O'Reilly's/PepBoys, etc. would have an application part # for your car. Probably be Monroe shocks.

Last edited by Skid Row Joe; 01-21-2014 at 05:26 PM.
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  #3  
Old 01-21-2014, 04:52 PM
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only experience with air shocks is one pair i took off a car because the tubing failed and when they did work it was real bouncy.

i need to carry 5 gallon buckets with lids full of dirt once or a couple times a week.... probably just need to spend the money i don't have and buy a diesel truck or spend the gas money and use one of the trucks...... so much fun being broke
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  #4  
Old 01-21-2014, 05:20 PM
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You would be well served by any of a number of small diesel trucks commonly available in The Rest of the World. Unfortunately, such vehicles are not sold in America.

You are left with the issue of having truck things to do, and also happen to own two trucks. I'm thinking using trucks to do truck things is the obvious solution. How far do you have to haul this stuff?
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83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
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  #5  
Old 01-21-2014, 05:21 PM
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I never experienced a line failure-to-stay-inflated, from the numerous sets I bought/installed over the years on my big hogging American cars. The failures were some visible fluid leaking down the sides of the exposure air-shock, under the black rubber bags - but this was after some serious miles and usage . Seriously, the air-shocks are very nice to live with, especially when you get the pressures right for the load/no-loaded situations of your car. I don't think the price can be beat, and if you use that car to load up the family with luggage for a vacation, the air-shocks will keep your ride level.

There's another option that you may want to investigate - spring-loaded shocks that can be used front and back, with no maintenance of them. I had them put on both a Cadillac and a Lincoln, for less dive and stability when in severe service and roadhandling situations - similar to what cops had on their cruisers back then. The spring of the spring-loaded shocks are visible, and compact for the front. For the rear, the spring of the spring-loaded shocks are larger. Think; Gator McCluskey.

Last edited by Skid Row Joe; 01-21-2014 at 10:27 PM.
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  #6  
Old 01-21-2014, 06:22 PM
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If the shocks aren't in the middle of the rear coil springs, you can install an air lift system. I put one on my former Toyota 4 Runner and it did a great job of boosting the load capacity a little.
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  #7  
Old 01-21-2014, 11:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skippy View Post
I'm thinking using trucks to do truck things is the obvious solution. How far do you have to haul this stuff?
Yep. I was thinking that a small trailer might be the ticket too. Right now i drive the car to school several times a week and i hauled some dirt in 5 gallon buckets to process at home. The college is half way to the mining areas so it's like i am in the area... anyway i really wish i could find a small diesel truck but like you say, good old EPA/DOT/yourgovhere we are pretty much left to building our own.

My whole dodge now is i am driving the Mercedes for free, fuel wise, and i want to try to go none-op on the other vehicles or sell them as i will more than likely be in school for another 2 years.
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  #8  
Old 01-22-2014, 08:34 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by yvairguy View Post
anyway i really wish i could find a small diesel truck but like you say, good old EPA/DOT/yourgovhere we are pretty much left to building our own.
Your just not looking;

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Isuzu-Other-Isuzu-DLX-diesel-4x4-pickup-1982-isuzu-pup-dlx-diesel-4-x-4-pickup-75-k-mil-/281246636672?forcerrptr=true&hash=item417b9b1a80&item=281246636672&pt=US_Cars_Trucks#ht_280wt_900

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Toyota-Other-Base-81-toyota-diesel-truck-a-c-only-112-000-miles-in-excellent-mechanical-condition-/191042589188?forcerrptr=true&hash=item2c7b069204&item=191042589188&pt=US_Cars_Trucks#ht_177wt_900

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Land-Rover-Defender-4-Door-1983-land-rover-109-/111262598814?forcerrptr=true&hash=item19e7c4869e&item=111262598814&pt=US_Cars_Trucks#ht_720wt_900
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  #9  
Old 01-22-2014, 11:28 AM
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ive been doing a lot of research trying to see how to bag my w126.

you can possibly run a bag in the stock spring location and relocate your shock mount.

ive seen a "bag over coil" set up that could work. the bag slips over the existing shock and could be placed in the existing spring location.

reference: https://bagriders.com/modlab/products/AERO-SPORT.html
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  #10  
Old 01-22-2014, 01:30 PM
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You are broke but have 8 vehicles....two of which appear to be the kind of vehicle designed for what you are wanting to do. That does not make sense.

..............
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  #11  
Old 01-22-2014, 05:49 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pawoSD View Post
You are broke but have 8 vehicles....two of which appear to be the kind of vehicle designed for what you are wanting to do. That does not make sense.

..............



..............never bring facts into solving something here......


Kinda reminds me of reading about some ol boy that's unemployed, has 4 cars, 2 of them new, in a new baller, 2 story / 2 car garage home, not looking for work - yet complaining about being out of work.....which makes no sense either.......
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  #12  
Old 01-22-2014, 07:38 PM
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You can buy air springs "bags" that have holes in the middle for the stock shock. Then the hard part is fabbing the mounting setup.

I've been planning out putting my wagon on 4 way air springs, and retaining the rear sls struts.
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  #13  
Old 01-22-2014, 11:04 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe View Post



..............never bring facts into solving something here......


Kinda reminds me of reading about some ol boy that's unemployed, has 4 cars, 2 of them new, in a new baller, 2 story / 2 car garage home, not looking for work - yet complaining about being out of work.....which makes no sense either.......
a couple here already know my situation as i have posted it before, for 20 years i was a HVAC-R contractor 12/09 i had a massive heart attack and had 5 stents put in my heart, within 2 weeks my first employee just left leaving my truck in my driveway, i went back to work to cover his calls, then i lost another employee, drs wanted me to take 3 months off to recover from the MI i never did. i was under a lot of stress and started having a lot of pain, i spent 3 months in bed, then after a couple months about another 4 months in bed and my business went to hell, 18 doctors later i was ultimately diagnosed with fibromyalgia, i already had another auto immune since 2000 when i was diagnosed with ulsertive colitis. Chronic pain is a ***** and you never know when it's going to hit and how long it's going to persist, a few hours, days, weeks, months, no kidding months, some people years.

I went college and got in a nursing program because i can't do what i use to. Do to issues/side effects with my medication i am out of the nursing program and will try to go back this fall, i sold several other vehicles and equipment to make it to where i am now. my gun collection is gone, cars(in 08 i had 6 vehicle payments and luckily i had enough in cash to pay them off when i got sick) my cars, trucks, boats, and toys are all gone, my gold(i use to gold mine) and silver(use to collect coins) are all gone. I am down to just the bare bones as to what i need should i try to start back up(which i am pretty convinced i would probably last less than 2 seasons in the hot summers, and by that i mean probably die. My credit is toast as i had advertising that i couldn't pay for because my income stopped so i have to keep some stuff as i can't easily gain it back. I had budgeted to get myself through to this summer when i would have graduated with my LVN then one year in the field then back to school for Physicians Assistant but now having to add another year until i can get back into rotation on the program i have had to get creative.

I bought the mercedes as i use to do a lot of work for restaurants and i have a couple people supplying me with fryer oil, insurance is less than half of my other cars, i can't afford the insurance and extra fuel to run around in another truck that i am not in everyday. I should have the E350 diesel ready, classes and body willing, within a few weeks, being sick that usually turns out to be a few months, before all this crap it would have been a day or two.

I have several things still for sale and if i can budget another year of house payment, utilities, kid stuff, blah blah blah, things may change.....

LIFE IS SO MUCH FUN!!!! enjoy your health
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  #14  
Old 01-23-2014, 05:54 AM
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Understood. I've known people whose situation was much less trying than yours who basically laid down and died. Good luck, and stay strong.
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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.
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  #15  
Old 01-23-2014, 07:13 AM
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The stock benz suspension will handle a lot of load without any modification if its all in good shape. As a temp measure removing the back seat and installing plywood should work fine. Subbing air shocks will actually degrade its performance imho. Just make sure your springs and shocks are in good shape and enjoy. Sometimes you can even find good used bisteins from people parting out their cars for excellent prices.

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..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.
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