Cure for 380SL squat on acceleration?

Do heavy duty Bilstiens help?

New Bilstiens didn't fix mine. New rear coil springs did the trick for squat and sag. Dont' forget to replace the the coil spring rubber spacers at the same time.
regards - Boyd

[Dee8go]

Originally Posted by Boyd

New Bilstiens didn't fix mine. New rear coil springs did the trick for squat and sag. Dont' forget to replace the the coil spring rubber spacers at the same time.
regards - Boyd

Are you referring to the tendency for these cars rear wheels to angle in at the top after a while? I've noticed this on a lot of cars and wondered about it. I've had people tell me this is normal.

It looks to me like it would have a adverse effect upon a lot of things, particularly tire wear.

[RickM]

560 springs and bilstiens. If you do a search you'll see before and after pics.

Try hitting the brakes at 70 miles an hour when some idiot pulls in front of you, I almost lost control. Severe nosedive. Did you use heavier duty rear springs or just new ones? My 450SL does the same thing and I hate it. I was thinking of doing the heavy duty Bilsteins, but I quess that's not the answer. But I'm still tempted to try them. How can my springs wear out in 74,000 miles? From the car sitting on them for 22 years? I'm used to a firmer ride and handling and need to do something. Does anyone make heavy duty springs that don't lower the car?

I suppose that others have crossed this bridge before. Surely there is a stronger spring out there. I have looked for Eibachs through online searches but you sort of have to know the dimensions of the spring to begin with. I don't. Maybe someone will come forth with some numbers for us.

[hill]

Has any one looked at using springs out of simular vintage large sedan. There are lots of them scattered over the U pull it type yards. You night want to also look at your subframe bushings. New bushings make it feel like a new car and they are inexpensive at our benefactors store $ 150? front and rear.

I did replace all body mount bushings 2 years ago. I still have the problem upon accelration though. I did read that subsequent production fixed the problem but I did not find out how. Are the springs different in an '86 SL perhaps?

I think I may have found the cure. Look under eibach springs on this web site; http://www.ultraperformance.com
The set of springs is $314.

[ericdee]

Southern_Son,

Did you ever put the Eibach springs on, if so how are they?

ericdee, I have not. I am still in a quandry over the suspension. Like everything else, you run into opinions of this will fix it and others saying that will cause this, that and the other.

I had understood that the later model SL's (560) had solved the problem, ergo..why not put those springs on? Answer, according to one source, 560's have a pneumatic suspension. Oh well, why not lower it with a firmer spring? You then screw up other parameters. Oh well, what about simply a firmer spring the same size? Have yet to find out if one exists.

Okay I think I've found the cure for the dreaded 107 squat and nosedive. In my latest issue of the SL Market Letter, John Olson has an ad for custom, progressive rate springs for all older SL's. He will make them to your specifications. 4 to 6 weeks turn around time. Springs are original ride height, will not lower the car, maybe you can order them lowered, I did'nt ask as I don't want to mess up the stock suspension geometry. I'm planning on making mine 10-15% stiffer than stock, which should firm up the ride a bit while still giving me the boulevard cruiser. Like I said you can order them with any firmness you want. $795.00. Call or e-mail the SL Market Letter, Mpls.,Mn.
sbr '79 450SL

sbr, I appreciate the information. However, eibach sells most of the springs for $37-$40 apiece. They are one of if not the largest spring maker around. $795 for a spring is nothing but pure opportunism. I refuse to deal with such folks.

The last time I checked, Eibach did not make any springs for my '79 107, and I don't want to lower the car. That's why I checked out other sources. I would love to find cheaper springs but so far I've only found the one's from John Olsen. And I do agree $795.00 for 4 springs aint cheap, but like I said that's all I've found. Correct me if I'm wrong. sbr, '79 450SL, 74,000mi

sbr, I'll bet that eibach makes those springs for the guy but does not retail those themselves. I am under the impression that eibach supplies most springs to the different vendors. Someone else should have the spring. It is just a matter of locating them. (or should be, anyway)