Bilsteins!

[Tom McMenamin]

My 1988 560SL has 107,000 miles and I am beginning to think I might need Shocks!

Now, the 560 SL is not supposed to ride and handle like a Lincoln; I undestand that, and the stiff ride is something I need to deal with (sorry to end a sentence with a preposition). However, I have recently replaced the wheels and the tires and Hunter balanced and aligned.

Will I notice any difference in the ride or the handling with the Bilsteins?

What is prompting my question, is that last year when I was running the Michelin MXV tires, and I went for my first Hunter Alignment and balance, it seems that I had a better ride. Well not a better ride, but a Reallllllly better ride.

I think I can lay some of my current blame on my own stupidity, because I bought Bridgestones this time, as I was short on cash! Big, Big mistake! I noticed the difference the moment I departed the tire installation. Will kick myself for at least 30,000 miles for this boneheaded mistake.

A comment I need to make, is that a recent Brake job, where the Calipers were replaced on the front and new pads all the way around reduced my tire noise somewhat, with the exception of the passenger side rear which is still loud! I doubt this has anything to do with the ride?

Do you folks feel as I do, that I have a tire issue and not a shock issue? I mean sometimes a small pot hole is like the Grand Canyon! I can only guess that because the tires are not hitting the road properly that I might have a shock problem ???? Who knows?

Any and all help or comments always appreciated

Hi Tom,
I had a similar situation thinking I needed new shocks after putting new tires on my '86 560Sl. All that was needed was to lower the tire pressure a pound or two from what was reccommended and that seemed to do the trick.
Larry:p

[Tom McMenamin]

I'll give it a try!

Thanks Larry!

[mendez300SD]

on a 450sl-w107 I install bilstein's. then the car rides like a benz.

What tire pressures did the factory recommend for the 560SL?

I recently bought a Model Year 1972 Passenger Cars USA Version (MB manual, apparently published at new model introduction time for their salesmen - and they all were men back then), and it has a surprising number of recommended tire pressures (all measured when cold):
- F --- R ----- Conditions -
30psi 35psi Summer tires, "medium speeds - up to 110mph"
27psi 32psi ". . . for more comfortable ride . . . "
33psi 38psi Summer tires, "maximum speeds"
30psi 35psi Winter tires - "up to 95mph"

They also noted that after city travel, pressures of warm tires would read 3psi higher than cold, and that after highway travel, pressures of warm tires would read 7psi higher than cold. If you started with the "maximum speeds" pressures, highway driving would push them up to 40psi in the front and 45psi in the rear!

'72 350SL's in the US came with 205/70x14 (tube type) radials, BTW, either Dunlop or Pirelli. I know the 560SL came with 205/65x15 (tubeless), so the sidewalls would be stiffer at a given pressure, but did they reduce the air pressure recommendations to adjust for that?

After I get my '72 (below) painted, I'll be installing 16" wheels with 225/50 fronts and 245/45 rears. Since they're so stiff by nature, I expect I'll be using the "for more comfortable ride" pressures. I may also reduce the 5psi front-to-rear differential to reduce understeer, but carefully (just in case I find an off-ramp that can be taken at "medium speeds" - i.e., under 110mph)!

[maheath]

For the 560SL:

Summer: 29 psi in front, 35 psi in the rear
Winter: 32 psi in front, 36 psi in the rear

[jkazzoun]

Tom,

I had the same problem and a lower tire pressure helped significantly. Also, bad shocks generally don't give a harsher rde, they give less 'bounce' control (at least that's my understanding). Bad ride is more about the tires (and springs in extreme/older cases).

- Joe

[240 Ed]

Please check with Michelin or Mercedes or the folks at Tire Rack concerning tire pressure.

The pressures listed on your car were for the tires that came with your car.

More modern tires might be designed to run with higher pressures.

My $.02...