Lots of photos for this thread on multiple pages…we are limited to 5 uploaded files per posting.

‘Desert Rose’ needed new rear shocks and rear springs due to the rear sagging from years of commuting on rough Bay Area roads.
The prior rear suspension setup included stock springs (116-324-08-04), Bilstein B46-1184 shocks and spring pads with 2 burls - 14mm (115-325-23-44).
To get a bit more ride height, I installed heavy duty rear springs (116-324-09-04), Bilstein B46-0511 shocks, and spring pads with 3 burls - 19mm (115-325-24-44-64).


According to the FSM (Job 32-230 Removal and installation of rear spring), a “special spring tensioner for rear spring” (115-589-00-30-00)
is needed to compress and remove the near springs.
It is NLA.

As a second option, there is available from GEDORE (formerly KLANN) a rear spring removal tool with their kit number
KL-0025-2 Spring Compressor (Short Design) with Pressure Plates in Size 1+2.
However, this tool is very pricey…at over a grand.

The third more economical option is to decompress the rear springs by lifting the chassis.
A special spring compressor tool is not needed to remove or install the rear springs...a floor jack will suffice.

Remember safety first: use wheel chocks, use safety glasses, always use jack stands when the car is lifted by a jack, and make doubly sure the vehicle is stable when it is lifted.

To do this job you need to:
1) Remove the rear shocks

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78 W116 300SD 'Desert Rose' new as of 01/26/2014
79 W116 300SD 'Stormcloud' RIP 04/11/2022

2) Remove and hang the calipers to the side
3) Detach rear sway bar from upper ball joints of connector rods
4) Remove the exhaust hangers for the rear muffler
5) Support the differential
6) Remove the 4 bolts that attach the differential mount to the chassis

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78 W116 300SD 'Desert Rose' new as of 01/26/2014
79 W116 300SD 'Stormcloud' RIP 04/11/2022

7) Lift one side of the vehicle high enough to let the rear spring decompress and clear the perch
8) Remove the old spring and spring pad

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78 W116 300SD 'Desert Rose' new as of 01/26/2014
79 W116 300SD 'Stormcloud' RIP 04/11/2022

9) Install new spring and spring pad
10) Slowly lower chassis to compress new spring
11) Repeat steps 7-10 on the other side
13) Reattach differential mount to chassis
14) Reinstall rear brake calipers
15) Reattach rear sway bar to upper ball joints of connector rods
16) Reattach muffler with rear exhaust hangers

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78 W116 300SD 'Desert Rose' new as of 01/26/2014
79 W116 300SD 'Stormcloud' RIP 04/11/2022

17) Reinstall rear shock absorbers
18) Reinstall rear bench seat

First time doing this job , so I went slow and steady over two afternoons.
Remember, safety first

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78 W116 300SD 'Desert Rose' new as of 01/26/2014
79 W116 300SD 'Stormcloud' RIP 04/11/2022

The details may be different on w W123 but it also works for the rear spring on them.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

The 126 is the same. It's easier to put the rear of the car up on jackstands, support the differential with a floor jack, drop the shocks, diff mount, and brake calipers, then let the jack down. Both rear springs will drop out.

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Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)