W124 Rear suspension question
 

1988 Mercedes 260E

Question for the group - I made a left turn the other day and heard a tremendous "bang" from the left rear suspension area. My first thought was a blowout or something thrown up from the road, but after stopping and looking, there was no debris and the tires were still inflated.

Driving away, I noticed that the car seems to have more side to side movement and I suspected a broken sway bar. I don't have a shop manual and can't find any diagrams of the rear suspension to even find out if there IS a rear sway bar.

I took it my local garage, where the diagnosis was a "stuck shock" - no movement in the shock at all, and some worn/dried bushings. I can't see how this would have made the "bang" or how it would make the car less stable side-to-side.

He always does good work, but given my lack of info about the sway bar, I am wondering if he is missing the diagnosis on this one.

Can anyone offer insights or suggestions?

Thanks,

Mark in San Antonio

steve gherlein
 

Mark,
I called Steve Gherlein from Cambridge Auto today on his radio show on KTSA 550 AM in San Antonio to ask about the alignment problem I've posted about here - he recommended a gentleman named Richard at Alamo Paint and Body on Bandera Rd just inside Loop 410 as being a suspension guru. You may ask him for a second opinion.

John in San Antonio

PS - your broken sway bar sounded plausible to me - I've never heard of a "stuck shock".

Thanks!
 

Thanks, John, I'll give him a call.

300E alignment
 

I just dropped off my 300 at Alamo with Richard to see if he can get it into specs - I left him a set of H&R aftermarket springs I pulled out of a 300 in the junkyard in case the stock ones remain too high. We will see.


John in San Antonio