Please Help w/ Spring Problem on 300SD

As recommended here, I had new original MB springs (and Bilstein shocks) installed in my 1984 300SD (126 Chassis) and it now is very high (I would say about 1.5 inches) in front and the front end feels like it is 'leaping' over bumps. The shop did not change the original spring pads, and they are #4 in front (23mm) and #2 in back (13mm). However, I did the math and even if I put a #1 in front and a #4 in back, I still would only pick up about an inch difference in front to back height from what I have now. The front passenger side spring is not rotated all the way into the depression in the lower spring mounting plates, but the shop says this is not a problem. If anyone has experianced this or has any helpful ideas I'm all ears. Will these springs settle a lot over the next few weeks? Would replacing the rear differential mounting raise the rear? (The shop says no).

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ROBERT IN ALASKA
1984 300SD in Astral Silver
96k miles

[Benzmac]

I would go to the lesser pads if the height is and issue. The diff mount should not change the ride height.

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Benzmac:
Donnie Drummonds
1992 500E (very soon I hope
1981 280GE SWB
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
SERVICE MANAGER FOR 14 BAY FACILITY
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 8 YRS
PARTNER IN MERCEDESSHOP.COM

Benzmac, thanks. Do you have experience with these springs settling a lot, and therefore I should wait for some time before trying to get the car level? Also, are there any specs on ride height for this car? Yesterday, I saw a picture (looked like an original MB brochure picture) that suggested that maybe these cars sat a bit high in the front as delivered from the factory.

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ROBERT IN ALASKA
1984 300SD in Astral Silver
96k miles

[P.E.Haiges]

Can you tell me more about spring pads? My '80 300SD is about 1" lower on the right side. Can I use spring pads to correct this?
P E H

[stevebfl]

As Robert will find out, replacing spring rubbers is as much labor as replacing springs.

I would double check the number of the spring that was used on the front. The 300SD is the only 126 body that uses that particular spring. Its # is 126 351 18 04. All other pre 1986 models use 126 321 17 04. The rear springs are all the same.

In Roberts case I would definitely put the lowest spring shim in place of what is installed (if the springs are right). The smallest shim # 126 321 07 84 is 8mm the largest is 23mm.

BTW springs will not settle and should be properly placed in the molded plate with the end exactly where its supposed to be. If not you will have ride height problems and noises. Also the spring will not sit with the proper curvature to miss the body and will deform differently on compression making the car ride wrong.

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Steve Brotherton
Owner 24 bay BSC
Bosch Master, ASE master L1
26 years MB technician

Regarding your question on spring pads. My 1984 300sd was sitting low all around and I got the impression that spring sag is a common problem in this vintage. Although I considered raising it by using taller spring pads, I felt (and folks on this forum concurred) that that would not be correcting the real problem. As it turned out, the pads already installed in front were the highest available anyway. As Steve says, if you go to the trouble of replacing pads, you might as well replace the springs too. Either way it will cost you about 6 hrs of shop time. My learning is that you need to ensure that the shop doing it is aware that on Mercedes it is not a simple swap-out operation. The ride height must be dialed in using the pads (which come in 4 heights from 8mm to 23mm).

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ROBERT IN ALASKA
1984 300SD in Astral Silver
96k miles

[James L]

good info, i need to do the shock/spring thing with my 83 300sd, do you really need that $450.00 Mercedes plate tpye spring compressor or can you use one of those $50.00 inside/outside hook type spring compressor to remove the springs? sincce i will be replacing a rusted trailing arm with one from the junk yard. i plan to do the bushings and sway bar link also.