W123 riding high in front - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Madmax55 · #1 05-10-2016, 01:47 PM

Gents,

Replaced the the front shocks on my 78 300d because the old Belgian ones were shot. regardless its now riding even higher. these are bilsteins i got from pelican parts here.

here is are some pictures. any suggestions? The Mercedes guy with all the cars here in Rome GA asked if i had ambulance springs in the front. Even with my girl sitting on the fender it sits so high.

Basically, Is this normal? How can i get the back end higher up to match it?
AND it squeaks a little now in the front.

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leathermang · #2 05-10-2016, 03:47 PM

You are just posting these to show off your hot and apparently lightweight girlfriend...

Are there any color spots or numbers on those springs ?

Were there instructions about hand pumping the shocks before installing ?

Do the new shocks have helper springs on them ?

Does the rear need shocks also.... this could be partly a ' see saw' effect.... but it does look high in the front....

Ru-Glide for spraying the squeaking rubber spots... but if squeaking is from something mechanical that needs to be addressed... but hard to find that until you make sure all rubber is not squeaking...

If you like the higher front end and want to bring the back up properly...which is not with shocks... find the 123 chassis manual and look at the options in it...lots and lots of options were available from MB... usually listed as springs for ' undeveloped countries' rough roads...

imryanmoriarty · #3 05-10-2016, 04:14 PM

is it a standard or an automatic?

I would also like to know more about the springs.

How did it sit before you did the struts?

Madmax55 · #4 05-10-2016, 04:33 PM

To answer both your questions,

1) I will go inspect the springs tonight to see if there are any markings on them or if they have colors on them

2)Before the new shocks it sat almost as high, i thought it sat high because the shocks were shot. Also its an automatic

3)Helper spring? no, they were just your normal Bilstein shocks, I dont recall any specific instructions about hand pumping. Car for sure rides better now.

4)I recently replaced literally all the front end parts, upper control arms, lower ball joint(upper too of course) guide rod mounts and the bushing in the lower control arm that the guide rod bolts to. It also has new steering stuff as of a few years ago.

leathermang · #5 05-10-2016, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madmax55

4)I recently replaced literally all the front end parts, upper control arms, lower ball joint(upper too of course) guide rod mounts and the bushing in the lower control arm that the guide rod bolts to. It also has new steering stuff as of a few years ago.

Ok.. that is great that you understand the advantage of replacing everything at the same time... rate of successful project goes way up.

Now, having worked in a front end shop myself... my question has to do with the new rubber bushings you ( did you yourself install them ?) now have...
Were they installed in the working position ?

IF they were installed with the ' A Arms' in other than the ' working position' then they may be the cause of your slightly higher...and unexpected high front end position...

Madmax55 · #6 05-10-2016, 04:58 PM

hmm since i ditched my 2014 Jetta TDI and now only drive W123 cars, I didnt have time to do it myself so i had my local benz guy who used to be a certified tech back in the 60s-80s.

He had it done in about 2 hours. ill go compare to my 82 300DT that is pretty much all original(sits normal height) and report shortly.

DeliveryValve · #7 05-10-2016, 05:00 PM

I am going to say your rear end suspension is worn out. Specifically springs, shocks and sub frame bushings. Take care of that, I will bet your car will level out.

.

Madmax55 · #8 05-10-2016, 06:09 PM

ok well another thing to fix! hahah

2 questions

1) springs really wear out?

2) how much of the rear end rubber components can i replace myself without messing with springs?(already have new axles in car)

the springs scare me

Max

leathermang · #9 05-10-2016, 06:59 PM

You should be scared of springs.... very dangerous to deal with...

and YES they do wear out... they are subject to the same ' metal fatigue' any metal is....they finally get lower and lower with the same load... until it affects your ability to get the car aligned correctly....

I used to work at a ' spring and brake' shop in Austin... re arched all the springs for the City Of Austin trucks.....and regular people's cars... a good shop can make them like new and often faster than ordering them...

barry12345 · #10 05-10-2016, 08:08 PM

I knew that coil springs sag with age. I did not know they could be re stretched to original length. I did also know that leaf springs could be re arched.

Actually Mercedes changed the coil springs out as a maintenenace requirement at a certain milage years ago. At least until the fintails became obsolete.

Junkman · #11 05-10-2016, 08:47 PM

What about the pads on top of the springs? There are various thicknesses at least on the 126. I forgot the measurement on the 126 but I think 1/2" difference between thinnest and thickest. They do compress over time and a new thin pad may approximate an old thick one.

steamboatsykes · #12 05-10-2016, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeliveryValve

I am going to say your rear end suspension is worn out. Specifically springs, shocks and sub frame bushings. Take care of that, I will bet your car will level out. .

X2

leathermang · #13 05-10-2016, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry12345

I knew that coil springs sag with age. I did not know they could be re stretched to original length. I did also know that leaf springs could be re arched.

Actually Mercedes changed the coil springs out as a maintenenace requirement at a certain milage years ago. At least until the fintails became obsolete.

We used a gas oven to get them the proper temperature... a jig to determine the length they needed to be....and dropped them vertically into an oil quench... then they are taken out and brought back up to a certain temperature to temper them... coils are the same metal the leaf springs are... no problem renewing them...
Yes, Mercedes and lots of other manufactures suggested replacing the springs ( or re arching ) at certain number of miles....the number of miles by itself was not the only factor... as them sitting still but in compression adds up also.... Keeping the springs like new storing a car involved putting the car up on frame stands..... and it was a lot fewer miles than most people would guess.... like the fluid change out on the MB auto trans... much fewer miles than old American cars typically suggested....
Then when most cars went to struts on the front... which typically come with new springs on them as a unit ... the art of renewing them was lost from most people's experience bank.....

DeliveryValve · #14 05-10-2016, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leathermang

....... the art of renewing them was lost from most people's experience bank.....

Here, here! You got that right. We as a society, is a disposal society.

.

charmalu · #15 05-11-2016, 02:41 AM

Springs do get tired and sag and also break.

Suspension springs do fail

The rear springs are nothing to really worry about.
Front springs, then yeah, they will kill you, maybe even hurt you.

The rear springs you do not need a Spring Compressor.
Once the Shocks are removed first, and a few other things.
When you lower the Differential, the Springs will just fall out.
Done it many times.

Here is a post from a thread I responded to.

Rear subframe removal and bushing replacement

and another from the same thread

Rear subframe removal and bushing replacement

Charlie