Do I need new shocks - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

bad122452 · #1 06-09-2004, 09:53 PM

I have a 1989 560sl. I have been experiencing a rough ride. I had some Dunlop tires and had about 15000 miles on them. I went to get them balanced and the guy did not put the correct information in the machine. The car bounced a lot after I left the shop and I could not take it right back so I drove it about 100 miles till I could go back the next day. They checked it out and they guy had not used the correct rim size in the machine. They rebalanced them using the correct numbers. I had been experiencing a rough ride and getting worse since then. I went back and the tires were out of round. I wonder if driving it that 100 miles out of balance was the problem or was it the Dunlopr tires. I got a new set of tires today and it rides better but I still seem to have a little bounce. The car has 139000 miles on it. I bounce on the bumpers and it seems to stop as if the shocks are not bad but with that many miles could it be my rough ride. I am thinking about some new Blisteen shocks since they are on sale at one of the catilog order houses. The car seems to do well in curves and on ramps so the rough ride seems to be what I need to take care of. I have replaced the front subframe bushings and the ball joints are not that old. The steering seems tight and I have replaced one tire rod on the drivers side front. The new tires are Kelly. Any one got a guess on what I got here.

Duffman · #2 06-09-2004, 11:48 PM

I had a very rough ride with my sl600 and found it was not the shocks but the gas canisters. the sl 600 has 4. good luck!

DavidSoine · #3 06-10-2004, 12:00 AM

When you say "bounce" do you mean bounces after hitting bumps or does the vehicle shake while going down a smooth road (like it did when it had the tire and balance problems?)

Tires can go out of round. Cheap tires tend to fail earlier. A new tire could be bad - do you see any wheel weights bigger than 3 oz? Inspect the wheels carefully to see if one is bent.

best,

Dave
87 560sl

Strife · #4 06-10-2004, 02:33 AM

My OEM shocks on my 86, 84K 560SL were "ok" as in not leaking in front, but both back shocks were leaking at the top, and this was not obvious until I removed them. I replaced them all with Bilstein comforts. There are varying opinions on whether these or the HD versions are better (and for who). I also replaced the steering shock, which was a very easy job and an inexpensive part. I think most of them sold are Boge.

I found the rear shocks very easy to do (with the manual available), the fronts were tricky. In addition to having very little room to work with and requiring a special tool, I had to precompress the shocks (not easy, and even harder with the HD's apparently). I used some solid wire to keep them compressed until in place, and then I cut the wire. Definitely worthwhile, though!

DavidSoine · #5 06-10-2004, 09:18 AM

What were your observations on ride when you replaced the shocks? Did anything change? What specifically felt different?

best,

Dave

bad122452 · #6 06-12-2004, 12:16 PM

What special tool is required for the front. shocks. It it a special kind of socket?

Strife · #7 06-12-2004, 02:13 PM

1. I think my ride improved slightly, and the handling might have been slightly improved with "comfort" shocks+the steering shock. I didn't drive the car much before I changed them and I changed them all simultaneously. For a sports car, the ride is pretty good in my opinion.

2. The tool I used was a Lisle, which I got from NAPA; it's a few hex pieces of metal with several sizes of rounded ends in them that fit the shock. None of them fit perfectly, but one fit well enough to hold the top of the threaded part enough to get the locking nuts off. It is VERY helpful to get one of those new ratcheting wrenches. This is NOT the much more sophisticated tool shown in the Mercedes shop manual. You wouldn't need this tool to do the rear shocks; a vise grip worked OK.

Steve Gutman · #8 06-15-2004, 04:00 PM

I used standard tools but cut a groove in a piece of sheet metal to hold the top while turning the nut. Preloading the shocks was done with my arm. Lots of fun.

I put on Bilstein HD and the ride was super improved but a couple of my shocks were totally blown and had no pressure at all.