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  #1  
Old 03-18-2003, 10:19 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Houston, Texas USA
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Vehicle Leans

I have a 1984 300SD with 131,000 original miles. Vehicle looks like new, but leans slightly towards the driver's side. How can I correct this? I am not a mechanic and will have to pay parts and labor, Houston, Texas.

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  #2  
Old 03-18-2003, 10:39 PM
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Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 645
You might have a broken shock or a broken or sagging spring on the driver's side. It probably has somethng to do with the suspension.

If the shocks have not been replaced in 131,000 miles and after 18 years, it is time to replace them. The springs and the spring pads can also be replaced. There are some bumper gizmos that go on top of the shocks, as well. Perhaps it is one of these that has decayed and fallen off, as they are made of some sort of plastic.

I replaced the shocks on my 300D, and it is not a really difficult or specialized job, I suppose any capable mechanic could do it. The springs will probably need to a compressor to remove and replace them.

Good luck!
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1990 300D 2.5 Turbo sedan 171K (Rudolf)
1985 300D Turbo TD Wagon 219K (Remuda)

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Old 03-19-2003, 12:37 AM
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you can rent a spring compressor from Performance Products, its $85 for 3 weeks.


As for those spring pads, they're made of rubber and are in a pretty safe spot so deteriation isn't a problem for them.

Your sag seems to be from a single person driving the car all the time without any balancing loads, that side of the car's springs are tired. You could try changing out all the shocks (don't do just one side, just causes problems). You can do that without the spring compressor even.
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1982 300D - Silver/Blue "Ralph" -For Sale:
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  #4  
Old 03-19-2003, 05:34 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 280
Talking car leaning

Just had my 1994 C180 Euro front end levelled out by replacing the rubber spring caps(top and bottom) on the driver's side so that both front sides are now level. The driver's side was 21mm lower than the pass side and it was looking a bit topsy turvy. This is the cheaper way to solve the problem. You can also change both front springs and their top and bottom rubber caps. Your techie would probably also talk you into changing all 4 springs and shock absorbers and bushes and brake rotors and pads. They never fail to find something else to do on your car!!!!
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  #5  
Old 03-19-2003, 01:31 PM
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Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Miami, FL
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Sagging car

It sort of sounds like the previous owner was a heavy dude with a heavy sample case he always put behind him. But I don't think that without actually seeing under the car, any of us is likely to get a 100% correct diagnosis about what the problem is. And of course, we can't solve the problem if we don't know what the problem is.

You need to put the car on a lift and take a look at the shocks and springs. The spring pads are " safe" and won't fall out, but they will get squished after 20 years or so. The yellow plastic things that slide on at the top of each front shock of my 1990 124 body 300D were about half eroded in 2000 and if the 123 has a similar problem, then you I'd say that your car will stop sagging if you replace them, along with perhaps springs, spring pads, and shocks, you are likely to solve the problem.

You could measure a new spring and then get a pair of springs that measure the same height in a junkyard for a lot less. Just make sure they are identical to one another. I would think it a good idea to replace springs in pairs.

But I would say that your next step is definitely to put it up on a lift and see what it looks like underneath.
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Semibodacious Transmogrifications a Specialty

1990 300D 2.5 Turbo sedan 171K (Rudolf)
1985 300D Turbo TD Wagon 219K (Remuda)

"Time flies like and arrow, yet fruit flies like a banana"
---Marx (Groucho)
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  #6  
Old 03-19-2003, 05:20 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Omaha, NE
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I have read on this and another list that MB springs almost never wear out, at least without seeing many, many more miles than you have on your car. Sounds to me like replacing shocks would be a good first step. Use Bilsteins.

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