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#1
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1989 420SEL ride height?
Just spent $1100. today on new tires, shocks, and alignment on my 420SEL. It still seems to be riding low. I had stock 205/65/15 tires put on. I passed another 420 on my way home and it seemed to be 2-3 inches taller. Does anybody out there know what height it should be say from the ground to the wheel wells or bumpers? Don't know if I should replace springs as well. Thanks.
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#2
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Do you have any photographs of the car that we can view to see the height? Most I have seen ride a little lower in the back anyway. How does it ride now?
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2004 Toyota Sequoia Limited 4wd 1991 Lincoln Town Car Executive 1991 Cadillac Sedan DeVille 1988 Mercedes 300SEL 1972 Chevrolet Caprice Kingswood Estate 9-passenger wagon 1973 Pontiac Grand Ville (Prior MB's: 1974 240D, 1985 380SE, 1984 190D, 1993 400SEL) |
#3
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Rides fairly decent. Actually rides level, just low. Will post a pic here shortly.
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#4
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#5
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It looks like your rear is too low.
It is not unsual for 126 cars to need replacement of rear springs. The front looks too high. The proper attitude is for the rear (car with full tank of fuel and no passengers or luggage) to be slightly higher than the front, as veiwed from the side. My old 82 300SD was what I called an "ass sitter" and absolutely needed the rear springs replaced. Afterwards the car felt transformed. There was recently a thread all about this. Use the search feature. Try using my user name and ass sitter. Haasman
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'03 E320 Wagon-Sold '95 E320 Wagon-Went to Ex '93 190E 2.6-Wrecked '91 300E-Went to Ex '65 911 Coupe (#302580) |
#6
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what kind of shocks
did you install?
tom w
__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC] ..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis. |
#7
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Bilstein.
I always only install Bilsteins. Bilstein HDs are my preference. Haasman
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'03 E320 Wagon-Sold '95 E320 Wagon-Went to Ex '93 190E 2.6-Wrecked '91 300E-Went to Ex '65 911 Coupe (#302580) |
#8
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it really
doesnt look all that low to me.
could be the angle of the pic but the tires look kindof small in diameter to me. which would make it sit low, too if they are. tom w
__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC] ..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis. |
#9
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It appears fine to me as well.
The tires do seem to appear to be to small. Are they the correct size? Perhaps that is why it looks differently? Really though, it looks fine to me. Nice car BTW !! |
#10
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It looks fine. Looking from the picture, your car sit on an incline so that's why it looks a little weird. But from looking at the gap between the tire and the arch. they apprear to be fine.
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1991 420SEL Project Car (Completed and rides beautifully) http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tech-help/112321-free-1991-420sel.html 2000 BMW 740IL 2000 Integra Type R - Track Car - SOLD 2005 S2000 - Track Car 06 C230 Sport 89 560SL |
#11
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Judgeing by the gaps between the fenders and tires it looks fine. A few things can cause the suspension of a W126 to sag:
Tired springs. Tired bushings. Tired shocks. Since you already replaced the shocks how picky are you? You could replace the rear sway bar bushings, diff mount, and swap in a set of OE springs. This may help.
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1999 SL500 1969 280SE 2023 Ram 1500 2007 Tiara 3200 |
#12
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I wanted the rear of my sdl to sag less when loaded w/ extra fuel so I got
1)hd springs....no gain in height, just less loss of height w/ load. 2)hd bilstein shocks...about 1/4" gain measured at bumper. 3) 19 mm (thickest) spacer...gained 1 3/4" then much later I replaced subframe bushings and gained another 1 3/4 inch....I had to remove the 3 nub spacer w/ the 1 nub. does yours have sls?
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82 300D....went to MB heaven 90 350 SDL....excercising con rods |
#13
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I went through all those issues with the '86 SDL. Spent quite a bit of time documenting all the heights of the fenderwells.
Check out this thread: rear suspension ride height I'm going to take a guess and say that the fenderwell height in your photo is about 24.75". This is not normal. You will find that the vehicle has far too much negative camber at this ride height. The proper height so that the camber is in range is about 25.75" to 26.50". Mine had the exact same ride height and I certainly didn't like the look of it. And, as an aside, putting OE springs in it or changing the swaybar bushings won't do anything to improve the height. You can PM me for any additional questions that you may have. |
#14
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Brian, Brian, Brian. Sorry my man but it seems that you need to get your eyes recalibrated. Just jokin' it's actually 25.25". Not bad for looking at a photo of a car, in the dark, on a slant, taken by a slight to moderate drunk at 12:40 AM. Next step will be springs. Now it's stuttering on takeoff likes it's missing. NEXT ISSUE.
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#15
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Quote:
Can't help you on the stuttering.........don't know jack about the gassers. |
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