Yes weren't you pleased with the Lifetime Warrantee. Jason P. they do make Heavy Duty or Sport Shocks. You can identify the sport by its Yellow Color. Happy Trails Beep Beep from comforts for me Houston.

Donald.
what a difference new shocks
and steering damper make

You're right Donald, I just had a new steering shock put in yesterday and it feels like a new car.

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Jason Priest
1999 E430
1995 E420 - retired
1986 420SEL - retired

Sorry for getting basic... How do I know I need shocks? I know I bounce the car, if it firms in a bounce or two I don't need shocks. But I just recently got my old car... I don't know how old the shocks are, but would love the 'new car again' feel mentioned throughout the thread.
They look easy to replace. Are they?

Bite the Bullet Bob, the old bounce is the on car test. Push down with all your mite and the car should go up past neutral and settle back to neutral. Simple! Unless you are a F-1 Racer, renew with OEM type. I use Billy's Comfort Type. Hey jason did you ever think $30.00 could make such a difference, I didn't? Happy Trails Beep Beep from Houston.

Donald
Had a four wheel alignment,
and the steering gear adjusted
this week end while in New Orleans

The old test for shocks is pretty stnadard, but how do you know when your springs might be getting weak?

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Jason Priest
1999 E430
1995 E420 - retired
1986 420SEL - retired

and did it make a difference.

The one I pulled out, might be original equipment. It has the same part # as the replacement, but is marked W. Germany, Starbilus and has the three point star at the end of the part #. It also has absolutely zero resistance in or out, definitely needed replacing.

I can find no torque specs for the steering shock in my MB manual though. Is there a specific torque for this or should I opt for a 1-2 grunt torque?

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Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

If you are in question about your "Benz standing height", that information is available in "The Technical Data Book " your Model. Try 1-800-FORMERECEDES and ask for the book. All the inportant specs for your model Benz is there. And Mike, your right on the torque for that nut/bolt holding the Steering Dampener. Have you ever spent a better $30.00? I'll bet there will be a run on dampeners now, don't you think? Now that it drives so well, how about a 4-wheel thrust angle alignment? Then it will really shine. Happy Trails Beep Beep from Houston.

Donald
standing short

[Edited by Donald L. Swinford on 01-17-2001 at 06:10 PM]

J. Hidalgo. I have a 88 260 E and I'm thinking of installing some Bilstein HD on all 4. My only concern would be if there is any increase in height and if so by how much. Is that normal when installing Bilstein HDs? Thanks.

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1989 260E >105K
1980 450 SLC 22k

Nice dig up of an old thread! Good search use.

Anyway, shocks, unless they are air shocks, cannot increase ride height. They merely take the existing ride height, dictated by the springs, and work to keep the car at that height. A simple explanation, but hopefully it helps.

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'85 300DT--215,000 miles
'82 300DT--255,000 miles

Zachv thanks for the fast reply. Can you check out this link and take a look at minman's blue benz pic. I think he installed Bilstein HD. Why do you think his Benz seems so high? or will it go down after awhile.

shock and strut replacement

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1989 260E >105K
1980 450 SLC 22k

If I may...

The HD's will not settle down as easily as the comfort shocks because of their increased damping so you could concievably see an increased ride height compared to your old shocks. If you insist on HD's I would get spring pads -1 or -2 bumps all round.

yal thanks for the info. I made a search in Fastlane for spring pads and came up empty. Is there another part name for the spring pads?

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1989 260E >105K
1980 450 SLC 22k

My 2c:

DIY'd the HD Bilsteins ... rides a bit firmer, but not a lot. Would never go back. Perhaps the differences in experiences on the HDs is related to the weight of the car. While the engineering design should take all this into account, I have a feeling size does matter.

The R&R was a piece of cake on these .... very simple to do a wheel at a time. Total time for all four using simple car jack and stands was about 3 hours.

__________________
George Stephenson
1991 350 SDL (200K and she ain't bent, yet)
former 2002 E320 4Matic Wagon - good car
former 1985 300 CD - great car
former 1981 300 TD - good car
former 1972 280 SEL - not so good car
a couple of those diesel Rabbits ...40-45 mpg

George thanks for the reply. I think I'm going to do it myself with Bilstein HD. I don't mind the firmer ride, I don't want the car to ride like a Lincoln or a caddy. Just a question what's R&R?

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1989 260E >105K
1980 450 SLC 22k

Sorry ... remove and replace.

Don't forget to measure the distance the rods extend up past the top of the mount ... just serves as secondary check as you are reinstalling.

__________________
George Stephenson
1991 350 SDL (200K and she ain't bent, yet)
former 2002 E320 4Matic Wagon - good car
former 1985 300 CD - great car
former 1981 300 TD - good car
former 1972 280 SEL - not so good car
a couple of those diesel Rabbits ...40-45 mpg