need a w124 suspension expert! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jwhughes3 · #1 04-14-2009, 12:41 AM

I thread jacked a thread on the Diesel forum not realizing it - so I'm over here in Tech forum.

I bought new front suspension parts from ********AZ to do the '86 300E. Didn't have the time to devote to the rebuild which included lower control arms, struts and mounts, tie rods, drag link and damper. I had my local body shop do the labor, asking them not to do the alignment and I would take it to the dealer.

I picked it up and drove it 30 miles to the dealer - drove nice - almost didn't feel like I even needed the alignment, but I didn't want to find out later that I needed tires for a problem so dropped it off - never noticed anything wrong.

Service guy called and said they went to start the alignment and the front ride height is too high - a couple of inches and asked what I had replaced. I explained what was done - I didn't notice it sitting too high when I picked it up or last looked it it sitting there in the drive.

Anyway he called back later and said they checked it and didn't find anything wrong - but would look into it tomorrow since it was end of the day.

I can't think of what they could find - I provided the parts to the body shop - I know they didn't replace anything else themselves - so the question I have is: what could they do in the install that would cause this?

The only thing I can think of is maybe overtightening the sway bar (if possible)? I am not familiar enough with the w124 suspension as this is a new acquisition for me.

Anybody with any ideas (or a similar occurence)?

Thanks
John in San Antonio

compress ignite · #2 04-14-2009, 01:09 AM

You didn't use the MB Dealer for the install. (You're not stupid!)
So maybe the SA is trying to Help Lighten Your Financial Burden?

I can make a case for new struts lifting an infinitesimal amount...
But nowhere near Two(2) Inches!

BUT,I'm just wasting Internet Electrons until/in hopes GSXR sees this Post.

Or one of the Professional MB Wrench Turners.

(Check the Trunk...'Somebody put 1500LBS of Sand in there?)

jwhughes3 · #3 04-14-2009, 01:16 AM

to pay for what it would have cost to get it done at the dealer!

Richard Eldridge · #4 04-14-2009, 09:47 AM

When I installed HD Bilsteins on my 1990 300D, which had 115,000 miles on it, it raised the ride height a bit. I am not sure how much.

Before, the front spoiler drug on parking lot dividers. Afterwards, there was around an inch of clearance, perhaps more.

It should not make a big difference in alignment. I have never had any car repaired by any dealer, since a Ford dealer raped me $200 for replacing a tiny part on a windshield wiper on my 1961 T-Bird in 1968.

jwhughes3 · #5 04-14-2009, 12:56 PM

Normally I don't either, but Mercedes alignments are another case......

They say it is riding too high to align properly because the geometry is off. I don't know if the new struts are just too full of gas or what.

I'm guessing I will just pick it up and drive it like it is - I'm afraid to ask them what is will cost to correct the problem

John in San Antonio

hanno · #6 04-14-2009, 01:50 PM

Could it be like the rear suspension and you must not tighten any of the control arm suspension bushings until the weight of the car is upon them? If so it would be 4 bolts to loosen/retighten. AND if its that simple I'd politely ask for another tech at the dealership to work on it.

compress ignite · #7 04-14-2009, 01:54 PM

Richard Eldridge,

What do you think of the ride quality (Comfort) with the HDs as compared to
stock?

Richard Eldridge · #8 04-14-2009, 02:00 PM

I get my car aligned at a shop that sells new and used tires in Hialeah. They align the front and rear for $39.95, or at least that was the last time they did it. They have a modern computerized machine into which one inputs the model number and it calculates all the measurements. They have been doing alignments for me for the past 60,000 miles, and the tires do not wear funny, and the steering tracks straight and true.

Another shop that aligned non-Mercedes cars does not have such a machine and does not align Mercedes because the equipment does not adjust far enough to the tolerances required, or so the guy said. Anyone who claims they can't do the job will have little trouble convincing me.

I don't really think that Mercedes are harder to fix, or require more special attention than other cars. My experience is that the main difference is that the parts are made better and tend to last longer. Often it is easier to work on a Mercedes than a Buick or a Nissan.

If I were you, I would just seek out someone with a computerized alignment device and give it a try. Then if the steering tracks true, just pay careful attention to how your tires are wearing and mileage for a year or so.

There is often much truth to the statement: "To a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail". I do not doubt that the tech at the MB dealership believes that the height it important, but that does not make it so. Remember that the main use of the 124 was to serve as taxicabs to replace the 123, which was legendary for its durability.

jwhughes3 · #9 04-14-2009, 04:30 PM

I just went and picked it up from the dealer - they didn't charge me for the labor they did in removing the springs and re-tightening the control arms with weight on them (which I went and talked to the body shop tech who did the work and he did the same).

It looks like its 2" high. I don't know how I didn't notice it when I picked it up , but I was not looking at it from the side - I came at it from behind and got in to drive. I went and picked up the old strut from the shop - I measured it and it is the same length in body and shaft as the new one when I jacked it up to measure.

The tires are definitely angled wrong to wear on the outside edge of the tires - I know they will wear badly.

I wonder if the wrong control arm will bolt in - could that be it? I can't imagine the springs were fine with the old struts but wrong with the new ones....

I just looked at a pic I took before - it WAS too high then too, just not quite as noticable and the new struts maybe made it even higher. Maybe the springs WERE replaced by PO and I just don't have a receipt for it....

jwhughes3 · #10 04-14-2009, 05:15 PM

Here are before and after pics - as u can see they look very similar - I didn't notice it before. (#100 is before #110 is after)

John

duxthe1 · #11 04-14-2009, 08:49 PM

I'd be suspicious of the struts. There are a couple of different struts that look the same but have a different overall legnth and compressed legnth. You may have gotten the wrong part in the right box or other such mishap. I always compare old and new side by side before installing and have saved a few do-overs along the way.

Aside from the struts, improper spring installation might have caused one side to sit high but unlikely both would be misinstalled. Which leads to the next question, does it sit high on both sides? If so I'd check those struts

babymog · #12 04-14-2009, 11:20 PM

The wrong struts won't do it, they only carry a little weight from the gas charge, should just raise it to the proper height again from the old worn-out ones.

It is possible that there is something different about the LCAs, there are three that I know of: early 124, late 124, and late 124 with sport suspension. There might be others.

If the bushing bolts were tightened with the suspension unloaded, that could lift it some, but more likely the springs not being nested properly would lift it.

One other thing lifts the front end of the 124: driving forward with a severe toe-in. Backing up with severe toe-in will lower the front end.

jwhughes3 · #13 04-15-2009, 02:20 AM

I measured the length of the body and shaft of both old and new struts and they are the same (or within 1/4" with my tape measure anyway) and I can't see them causing this - since it appears that it was almost as high before, I can only suspect that maybe the wrong springs were swapped in at some point - I didn't find the receipts for the previous struts, and they were silver KYB's so definitely not stock - and there was a receipt a few years back for a new (used) bumper so maybe there was damage or an accident unrecorded that required a spring swap???

I hate to buy new springs and then there still be a problem - maybe if I buy them from the junkyard it won't feel so bad a bite - the w124's I have seen out there are an 87 300E and a 91 300CE that looks low miles before being crashed - anyone know what I should avoid?

John

jwhughes3 · #14 04-15-2009, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babymog

If the bushing bolts were tightened with the suspension unloaded, that could lift it some, but more likely the springs not being nested properly would lift it.

The shop said they tightened under load and the dealer also loosened everything and did the same without effect. They checked the springs to see if seated properly as well and are at a loss to explain why it sits that high.

Maybe I should drive it backwards to see if it will lower.
John

jwhughes3 · #15 04-16-2009, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babymog

It is possible that there is something different about the LCAs, there are three that I know of: early 124, late 124, and late 124 with sport suspension. There might be others.

I didn't pick up the old LCA's to compare, but just looking at these they look the same - do you think there are different part numbers? I will check with ********AZ and see if they carry any other LCAs - but I seem to remember there being only 1 complete arm available, not 2 or 3.

Still hoping for the "aha moment"...

John in San Antonio