87 420 SEL left rear sagging

[metaprinter]

I have a 1987 420 SEL with 87K miles on it. Since i bought the car 5yrs ago i noticed, when viewed from the rear of the vehicle, that the left rear sags. I confirmed this by measuring from the floor to the wheel arch on the fender and indeed the left rear is about 1.5inches lower than the right.

The car rides fine and there are no noises from the rear. So i'm wondering what would cause one corner of the car to sag and how do i fix it? Do the rear springs just weaken over time? is it possible it's broken and i just don't realize it? is it something else like the spring perch if so how to check it?

I'm handy with tools and have done all repairs on this vehicle myself. Any help is appreciated, thanks!

[Mxfrank]

Not too many possibilities here.

- Prior repair to the quarter panel
- bad spring
-bent subframe
- bent sway bar
-leaky self leveling system, if so equipped.

You're going to have to get under there and look

[Maxbumpo]

My bet would be a broken spring. I had a 123 wagon that sat crooked, it had two broken springs.

[metaprinter]

Originally Posted by Maxbumpo

My bet would be a broken spring. I had a 123 wagon that sat crooked, it had two broken springs.

It wasn't obvious and i had to go back and forth looking at the rear springs looking for where it might look different but i finally found the left rear spring is broken near the bottom coils. Thanks everyone!

So... is there a way to change the rear springs without the MB spring compressor?

[Mxfrank]

Originally Posted by metaprinter

It wasn't obvious and i had to go back and forth looking at the rear springs looking for where it might look different but i finally found the left rear spring is broken near the bottom coils. Thanks everyone!

So... is there a way to change the rear springs without the MB spring compressor?

I use a cheapo spring compressor that I bought off E-Bay. It's a knock off of the official Klann tool. Chinese knockoffs may not last, but I can buy five for the price of the official tool. Just do a E-Bay search for "Mercedes spring compressor"

[Jorn]

What brand to choose for W126 springs?

[Mxfrank]

Not a direct answer, but I replaced my 190DT springs with Lesjofors. They seem to be perfect replacements.

[metaprinter]

Originally Posted by Jorn

What brand to choose for W126 springs?

as others have said, and through my own research if you are looking for oem coil spring lesjofors are the best bet

[metaprinter]

Originally Posted by Mxfrank

I use a cheapo spring compressor that I bought off E-Bay. It's a knock off of the official Klann tool. Chinese knockoffs may not last, but I can buy five for the price of the official tool. Just do a E-Bay search for "Mercedes spring compressor"

thank you