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  #1  
Old 07-01-2012, 11:44 AM
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W123 track car, I need stiffer springs, info needed, HELP!!!

Hi all,

My 1982 280E track car is in desperate need of some new springs.
I think I'm going to have to have some custom made ones.
It currently has some Spax springs fitted, which are stiffer than standard, but still no way near stiff enough.

Has anyone here ever had springs made for a W123 track car, if so, what spring rate/diamensions were your springs?

If not, does anyone know of somebody who races 1 that might be able to help me with this?

Here's how my car looks at the minute under cornering:



Thanks Frank.


Last edited by fha772; 07-01-2012 at 06:34 PM.
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  #2  
Old 07-01-2012, 11:49 AM
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You could put 300d springs in front. I have stock diesel springs that are cut and it is stiff as hell. When I put the om602 and new transmission in my car it did not compress the stock springs at all. It barely did with me sitting on the front. The om617 has to be one of the heaviest boat anchors.
anyway they are easy to find and play with.
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  #3  
Old 07-01-2012, 06:01 PM
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What he said, the diesel springs on 617 cars are stiff as hell.

Do you have thicker rear bar in that car?
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Old 07-01-2012, 06:21 PM
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Thanks guys, I'll have a look at the diesel front springs.

Are there any stiffer rear springs?

I have got a rear anti roll bar from a limo version, but I haven't had time to fit it yet.
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Old 07-01-2012, 06:33 PM
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Whipplem104, how much have you chopped off your springs?
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Old 07-01-2012, 10:26 PM
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I do not remember but it was a lot. Maybe 2-3 coils or more. It will depend on your engine weight though. I would probably just start with them stock and see where it sits. Just remember to do both equally each time. The sway bar is pretty stiff in the front and if you try and do one side to where you want it and then the other it will be way lower than you want.
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Old 07-03-2012, 10:21 AM
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I've just had a thought, would the springs from a W126 500/560SEL fit a W123?
I'm thinking more for the rear rather than the front, it sounds to me that the diesel spring will sort out the front.
It was just a thought, seeing as I know that the W126 suspension is virtually identical to the W123, but the car is a lot heavier.

What do you think?
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Old 07-03-2012, 02:32 PM
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i was going to say try to put w126 spring in it maybe shocks too
what diff are you running?
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  #9  
Old 07-03-2012, 02:40 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fha772 View Post
Thanks guys, I'll have a look at the diesel front springs.

Are there any stiffer rear springs?

I have got a rear anti roll bar from a limo version, but I haven't had time to fit it yet.
There are stiffer rear springs sold here in Holland - for taxis!

Marktplaats.nl > Verzwaarde achterveren taxiveren mercedes w123 2 jr garantie - Auto-onderdelen - Mercedes-Benz-onderdelen

If you follow the link to the guy who sells them I'm pretty sure he'd send them to the UK for you.
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  #10  
Old 08-26-2012, 07:37 PM
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w123

I know a little bit about suspension mods in w123
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W123 track car, I need stiffer springs, info needed, HELP!!!-gpkit2007_sabado_0708.jpg  
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  #11  
Old 08-26-2012, 07:48 PM
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Mercedes w123 shock absorber BILSTEIN Strut FRONT (x2) | eBay

Check this blisteins, they have the yellow bushings, that really help to prevent what youre showing in the first picture, my second reccomendation is to replace the oil in your shock absorbers to a heavier or thicker, there are stores where you can have this made specially the ones for big trucks and trailers. And third cut yor existing springs 2 circles and add the same type of rubbers in the spirals, i hope i can explain myself, me and my friends we did it in some w123's and really improves the performance in the track, this is not reccomended for daily driving.
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  #12  
Old 08-27-2012, 03:42 AM
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Thanks for the advice, I'll look into that.

Your car looks awesome!!!!
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  #13  
Old 11-12-2012, 10:10 AM
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I have a w123 280e. Look at my thread abt body roll. The 123 looks funky the way it leans like hell but sticks like glue but at some point it reaches a limit. My strut tower bars that I made are discreetly packed away behind the back seats. Seriously. Try it
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  #14  
Old 11-12-2012, 11:24 AM
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I know the w123 wagons can use w140 springs
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  #15  
Old 11-12-2012, 03:27 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JUNAID786 View Post
I have a w123 280e. Look at my thread abt body roll. The 123 looks funky the way it leans like hell but sticks like glue but at some point it reaches a limit. My strut tower bars that I made are discreetly packed away behind the back seats. Seriously. Try it
Thanks for that, but how does that improve things?
There are no struts to brace on a W123, all those bars are doing is connecting the spring mounts together, these see virtually zero lateral flex.
The swing arm design keeps almost all of the lateral forces in the subframe and not the body.

A better solution for the front suspension is what is commonly know as an export brace, that braces the top arm pivot bolts back to the bulkhead at 45 degrees, this triangulates this area and reduces the flex dramatically.

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