Struts and bj changed,still floating like boat 300e
 

Changed(general mechanic) with Bilstein Comfort struts and bjs and steering shock too.300e still floats when changing lane fast or cornering like a boat.
Mechanic said tie rods and sway bars are okay.He did not want to change control arm bushings as they are okay,he said and changing them may end up causing me 2 new arms if the the bolts are badly rusted.
Asked another mechanic(benz mechanic)and he said the springs are not the culprit unless broken usually and changing them most l ikely will not improve the situation.he said it's the struts.

So is it a characteristic of the Bilstein Comfort struts that make the car drives like a Buick(steering vague and car bouncesfloats)or it's really the springs.The bounce test does not work in such a heavy car.
thanks in advance for any advice.

You need to perform the 4 P's on every suspension member under that car, both front AND rear. Pay special attention to the idler arm bushings and the dogbones in the rear.

Good luck,

Very likely bad torque and thrust links on the rear, both sides. They have vulcanized in place rubber bushings that contribute to the spring rate, so when they fail, the springs are "soft".

Bad rear shocks will also make the car wallow.

Get the front end aligned at a shop that understands Benz -- if you do not pre-load the front tires while setting the toe, they will have too much toe-out and the car will wander all over the place.

Ditto for tie rods, idler arm bushings, and drag link -- any play there and you get funky steering and excessive tire wear. No vibration to speak of.

Peter

hi larry
forgive my ignorance,what are the 4 ps
percussion,palpation,pressure?

re: 300e still floating like a boat
 

I installed Mercedes Sportline front and rear swaybars and Bilstein sport shocks on my car, and it made a big difference. I still have the original (soft) springs, so most of the difference is in the corners, and the car isn't too jittery over small bumps. At 225K mi., I'm thinking of replacing all of the suspension bushings over the winter, because the handling just isn't as predictable as it used to be. I was irritated when the blower motor (AND) aux fan brushes went south over the last month, but then I figured most cars would be scrap metal by now, and this one is just getting its second wind! And it just feels like part of me.... as one car mag columnist described a car several years ago - like putting on well-worn jeans, his favorite old cableknit sweater and topsiders.

Replace the front and rear sway bar bushings, cheap, easy and has a great effect on handling. Replace the rear sway bar links as well. Most likely your front top shock mounts are gone as well. From the top they will look fine but underneath they are most likely torn.

I agree with psfred's comments regarding a good alignment.

Haasman

Getting an alignment on my 300E tomorrow. Good shop from what I remember. Psfred, what is pre-loading?

Spreader bar applying 250 lbs of force to the inside front of the front tires while doing the alignment.

Peter

Thanks psfred, will grill them tomorrow. :rolleyes:

Peter

Wow 250lbs of force. I thought they were only about 50lbs.

Haasman

I'm sure I read 250, but given my age and hatred of reading glasses, I may be wrong!

Even 50 lbs will make a difference.

I suspect the large caster angle puts quite a bit of force on the wheels while driving.

Peter

Peter

I read with great interest:

"Very likely bad torque and thrust links on the rear, both sides. They have vulcanized in place rubber bushings that contribute to the spring rate, so when they fail, the springs are "soft".

I have been chasing a soft rear on the 91 300e. I even replaced the rear springs from Fastlane but still soft. I then installed spring knuckles to raise the rear which helped, but it still isn't right.

I had the rear links checked some time ago but it seems your comments above now are hitting the nail on the head.

Question: Does the rear sink as in a lower ride height when the links are worn out?

Haasman

Yup, sure does. Sits high with a strange rear wheel location if you tighten the strut retaining bolts while the wheel is hangine, too! That's why you must only tighten the bolts with the wheel at normal (level) position.

Bad links make for extreme sensitivity to cross winds and will also give you torque steer and strange thumps under the rear seat on accelerating turns.

Peter