I have a 1983 300D with about 200,00 miles (mostly Arizone & southern California). The ride is very smooth except for one aspect: it bangs on the pavement breaks.
It rides very smoothly through dips, bumps and swells but on small gaps in the pavement it's pretty jarring.
I have replaced the shocks with factory types and put on soft tires with no perceptibe change.
Is it just tired old bushings somewhere or could there be some simple fix?

My '86 300E does the exact same thing. Big bumps or potholes is not a problem, but going over small imperfections in the road feels like i have an iron rod where my shock absorber should be.
-Driving on brick roads is downright awfull!

I have also tried softer high-wall'ed tires. I have replaced every bushing in the suspension. I have replaced all four shocks. -Nothing has helped.

I'm now suspecting it's because mine is lowered.
I have learned that there is supposed to be some kind of rubber 'spacers' in the suspension that apparently has been removed to lower it. But i don't know for sure if that is the cause..

Is yours lowered too?

Oh.. and welcome to the forum PolarBenz.

Freestyler

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Never criticize someone until you've walked a mile in his shoes. That way, when you do, you're a mile away -and you have his shoes!


'86 300E optically converted to '95 E300 (Sold)
-Blauschwarz on silver
-Black leather
-17" AMG & 15" AMG for winter

Is the "bang" noise coming from the front suspension or rear?

Front issue is often the control rod mounts.

Rear issue is often the sway bar links.


Ken300D

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1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles

It comes from both front and rear. I think the front is worse (maybe because I'm closer to it).
I don't work on it myself (too stupid and lazy) but I'll have it in the shop tomorrow to address the rough idle and will talk to the tech about the suspension issues you two have raised.
Thanks for the tips.