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  #1  
Old 09-12-2002, 10:27 PM
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Unhappy Posted on Tech forum, but no reply

Help, Please. I wanted to replace the rear shocks on 1985 190D (201 chassis). Before calling thebenzbin, I looked at the shocks and noticed :
1) they seem to be installed upside down i.e with the rod/plunger attached to the control arm rather than to the upper mount.
2) the rod seems to be protected by a "dust sleeve" losely sliding up and down the shock.
3) There is a rubber bump stop at the top (or, rather, the bottom) of the rod. the bump stop rests in a "nest" located in the bottom control arm, so it's the design, anfd not a conversion.

The parts supplier had no idea what to do about it (the shock does not come with the stopper or the sleeve), my mech scratched his head, but said MB occasionally does something like that (read "weird"), haynes manual shows "normal" (ie rod-on-top) shocks, and the dealer mech, as expected, refused to talk to me unless they'll "do the job". I REALLY dislike the MB dealers...

Anyway-any ideas?? is this a design, or did somebody made a mistake installing shocks?
Just my luck to get a weird car..

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1985 190D 2.2l Sold-to Brother-in-law
1996 Mustang 3.8l -"thinks it's a sports car"
1988 Grand Wagoneer - Sold (good home)
1995 Grand Cherokee Ltd -"What was I thinking??!!"
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  #2  
Old 09-12-2002, 10:49 PM
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The rod facing down makes no sense to me at all. Either this is being looked at wrong (maybe the dust cover is confusing you) or this shock is incorrect. Think about it:
The rod goes through the body with a rubber washer and large steel washers and the nut goes on top. On the bottom, there is a large eye that the bolt goes through, and also passes through the control arm itself. HOW could it be fastened on either end upside down?

Gilly
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  #3  
Old 09-12-2002, 10:54 PM
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Gilly, are you suggesting I don't know which end is up????
Anyway, I'm toying with an idea of getting a picture of this, because NOBODY will believe me!! Also, I may try to take it apart and see what's going on. I have NEVER (nd this is my car # 16), seen anything like this before. would explain that weird steering probs I had...
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1985 190D 2.2l Sold-to Brother-in-law
1996 Mustang 3.8l -"thinks it's a sports car"
1988 Grand Wagoneer - Sold (good home)
1995 Grand Cherokee Ltd -"What was I thinking??!!"
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Old 09-12-2002, 10:57 PM
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Weren't you also having suspension noises that you couldn't get rid of? If I remember correctly that is....
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  #5  
Old 09-12-2002, 11:02 PM
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Yes I did. And still do. in fact I thought of shock replacement because of that &*%^%@$ sqeek! Hey, Nate, sorry I did not have time (read"forgot" ) to check that rivert. I'll do it at lunch tomorrow.
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1985 190D 2.2l Sold-to Brother-in-law
1996 Mustang 3.8l -"thinks it's a sports car"
1988 Grand Wagoneer - Sold (good home)
1995 Grand Cherokee Ltd -"What was I thinking??!!"
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  #6  
Old 09-13-2002, 07:58 PM
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F&S shocks have the reservior on top, but I don't know if they were used on the 190. Anything is possible, including strange custom shocks installed by shops without telling the customer they weren't OEM.

If the are worn out, replace them with the normal Bilstein shocks, no problem.

Peter
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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!
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  #7  
Old 09-14-2002, 01:35 AM
Nate1954
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Hi,
Sorry, wish I could be sure about this. I have done mechanical work for several years but have never seen a shock installed upside down.....mine are normal. lol....my wagoneer goes through walls...and knocks down trees....
Nathan
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  #8  
Old 09-14-2002, 12:04 PM
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Some gas shocks (don't recall the makes) are designed to have the tube on top and the rod on the bottom. I just did front brakes on a 1979 280CE and the front shocks were like this, the top and bottom mounts were different and there was NO way to mount these shocks otherwise. There may be 'normal' shocks availible for your 190D but I don't believe the ones now on the car, are installed wrong.

Happy Motoring, Mark
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  #9  
Old 09-14-2002, 11:36 PM
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Great, Mark, so now you are telling me I have to find "custom" shocks??? Crap!!!

Hey, Nate 1954 - did you replace that cat in your Wag?? great improvement in performance! By the way, I AM putting on a brush guard...
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1985 190D 2.2l Sold-to Brother-in-law
1996 Mustang 3.8l -"thinks it's a sports car"
1988 Grand Wagoneer - Sold (good home)
1995 Grand Cherokee Ltd -"What was I thinking??!!"
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  #10  
Old 09-14-2002, 11:51 PM
Nate1954
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Hi,
Brush guard? Isn't that what the bumper and fenders are for?...lol...

Hey, looked at an old vintage chilton manual....shock installation picture shows 190d with the tube on top and the shaft on the bottom....the shaft has an accordian rubber dust cover on it....hmmmm....is it possible that this is normal....some of the other guys are right!

Nathan
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  #11  
Old 09-15-2002, 02:59 AM
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Not Crap! I said it's NORMAL for some shocks to look 'upside down', that is, to have the tube on top and the rod on the bottom. No 'custom' shock needed. So quit worrying and just order whatever replacement shock you prefer for your car. As long as it's the correct replacement for a 1985 190D it should fit, regardless of which way the rod and tube is made.

Happy Motoring, Mark
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  #12  
Old 09-15-2002, 07:33 PM
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well, took a look at the rear suspension. Mark is right- these are Sachs shocks originally installed om the 190. They mount the same way as replacement, just look different. By the way, the sqeak coming out of the spring is spring rubbing either the rubber mount, or metal (if it rubbed through). I Put some axel grease on it. Well, if the original front shocks were also Sachs, that would explain why after putting in Bilsteins the car rides higher. Also, I had abou 25 PSI in my rear Yoks (already soft-walled tires). That would explain handling problems (as combined with the bad rear shocks.). we'll see!!!
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1985 190D 2.2l Sold-to Brother-in-law
1996 Mustang 3.8l -"thinks it's a sports car"
1988 Grand Wagoneer - Sold (good home)
1995 Grand Cherokee Ltd -"What was I thinking??!!"
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  #13  
Old 09-15-2002, 08:22 PM
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Shaft on the bottom with bellows, reservior on top describes and F&S shocks exactly -- Sachs may be the "modern" equivalent. I think they are "adjust-a-gas" shocks, meaning you can set stiffness within a certain range yourself by rotating either a collar or the operating rod -- Gabriel make a similar shock, so does Monroe.

Low tire pressure in the rear will make the back end REALLY sloppy -- the tires on the Volvo are getting worn out and leak -- when I start getting oversteer on turns, I know they need air.

Peter
__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!
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  #14  
Old 09-15-2002, 08:37 PM
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Sachs is the S in 'F&S' = Fichtel & Sachs.

Happy Motoring, Mark
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  #15  
Old 09-16-2002, 10:09 PM
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Well, putting the T-rated tire up front and x-rotating all 4 fixed the following:

1) "floaty" steering
2) Vibration at 80 mph (dont put Dunlop SP Sport A2's on a 190!!)
3) steering wheel turned 1" clockwise.

I'm such a dope!!

Well, I ordered the bilsteins.

Thanx everyone who took time to read and post on this thread. Lesson learned - don't take anything for granted!

__________________
1985 190D 2.2l Sold-to Brother-in-law
1996 Mustang 3.8l -"thinks it's a sports car"
1988 Grand Wagoneer - Sold (good home)
1995 Grand Cherokee Ltd -"What was I thinking??!!"
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