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  #1  
Old 10-14-2013, 01:14 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Plymouth, MA USA
Posts: 7
400E sagging front end

My 400E has 150k miles, and from what I know all of the major front end parts are original. I've noticed that the passenger side is about 1.25" lower than the driver's side in the front. The car tracks straight and tires seem to wear fine over the 2 years I've owned it. What could be causing the sag on one side. I was thinking of putting in new struts anyway, and figure that if it's already apart, I'd address the sag. My indie mechanic seems to thing the coils springs are at fault. If so, where is a good source to buy them? If I replace the fronts, do I have to replace the rears as well? I'm sure the rear springs have compressed a bit in 22 years... I don't want to have the front end too high relative to the old rear springs.

Also, I'm finding that the only source for OEM height springs are from MB. $$$! Are there any aftermarket options that don't lower the car? I was also wondering if I could just put in a thicker spring bed or shim on the passenger side and not replace the springs at all. Just do the struts and a few bushings that need it and be done... Any thoughts?


Thanks!

Glen

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  #2  
Old 10-14-2013, 01:20 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2001
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Remember that struts support little, if any, weight. The springs do this. I would not expect new struts to change your ride height.

I say little, because these are gas charged struts IIRC, and technically speaking they should support a few pounds. But being able to compress them by hand tells me it's not much more than that.

Rgds,
Chris W.
'95 E300D, 405K
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  #3  
Old 10-14-2013, 02:36 PM
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Location: Plymouth, MA USA
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No, I certainly understand that the springs support the car. The only reason I mentioned the struts was that if I was going to pull the front end apart to put in new struts, that would be the time to do the springs and deal with the sagging issue. But I don't know about sourcing the springs, having to install them at all 4 corners, etc....

Glen
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  #4  
Old 10-14-2013, 03:22 PM
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Location: Eastern TN
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You might have a broken spring. I've seen springs that broke a coil or two from the lower end so the suspension doesn't collapse completely. The front ball joints are integral with the lower control arms so plan on new control arms if the ball joints are tired. Read up on recent experience with Febi brand products. They show positive feedback in the Pelican Parts store but more and more Febi labeled parts are made in China and from my standpoint there are more complaints of poor quality of late. But it's $200 for a Febi control arm (singular) vs $530 list. On the plus side new control arms come with bushings so you don't have to mess with hacking out the old bushings and purchasing and pressing in new ones.

Sixto
87 300D
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  #5  
Old 10-15-2013, 11:51 AM
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Location: TX
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a worn ball joint (with up and down play) also causes the car to sit lower - its in the same plane of the height of the car and the spring pushes the arm down, Its the same sort of difference the spring pads make - just a little more than the pads as the ball joint is at the edge of the arm.

My car had replaceable joints (yours does not) and replacing them cured the problematic low, choppy and drunk ride my car had.
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  #6  
Old 10-15-2013, 12:06 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Plymouth, MA USA
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That's good to know. I'm getting a bit of a grunt on that side when going over depressions in the road. I was going to replace the sway bar bushings since that's the cheapest thing that could cause the grunt. But the sag and the grunt might point to the ball joint, which means lower control arm. I assume I should replace them both sides... Any thoughts about Febi parts? The OEM parts are sooooo expensive.

Glen
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  #7  
Old 10-16-2013, 07:59 AM
Posting since Jan 2000
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 7,166
Sounds like a sacked or broken spring. A quick look underneath will reveal if it is broken. If it's not broken, make your way underneath and compare the loaded height of each spring. If it is worn joints, I wouldn't think you would have this much height difference from one side to the other, but give everything a look over. If the springs seem okay, raise the car safely and do the "4 P's" on all suspension joints. Push, Pull, Pry and Prod.

Hope this helps

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