drivers side rear have about 6 degress negative camber causing very twitchy handling. manual says there is adjustment in spring seat for 3 clicks..I do not see it..manual does not show how it is done. also says adding of rubber insulators can be used to adjust 0-30'.. since they do not tell you would this be a positive or negative change? any help would be appreciated.

If the right side & left side aren't equal then something must be bent. To have 6 deg of negative camber on that car, the rear end would be sagging so bad that you couldn't drive it. Unless something is bent. Is the right side the same? IF not then something must be bent.

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Considering the age and value of the car, I would suggest putting in new springs and a new spring at the swing arm. The 113 was not a true independent rear suspension. The differential and left axle are bolted to the frame, and the right axle swings up and down. the right axle changes length depending on position by means of a sliding joint. The sliding joint is the Achilles heal in that suspension. There is a spring attached to the back of the diff that holds the back end up. I'd replace that first with new pads. If you go for new rear springs, you will need to order them first. When you get them, note the color and number of paint stripes and order the rubber pads with the correct # of burls to match the springs. Your ride height should be perfect. Although I don't see a need, you can adjust the lower spring perch. You drop the control arm, remove the spring, unbolt the lower perch, and rotate it. I just described the procedure, but it is not that simple. IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING YOU CAN BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED IF YOU LOSE CONTROL OF THAT SPRING. Please heed this advice.

Good luck,
Peter

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It is common pactice to use the thickest rubber with the compensating spring on 113s. The lower spring plates you refer to only change camber very slight and are usually set for full height anyway.
The right side camber is always more neg than the left due to the axle off-set specs of 36 MM , to the right of centerline from axle pivot point.
I have a simple tool you can make to set the off-set to spec.
If you would like the plan, send an email........

this problem manifested itself when I put two new tires on rear (225-70-14) two sizes larger than front..also the drivers side which is the side that has the 6 degree negative camber is also .400 higher than the pass side which is 0 camber (the side with the axle that is independent...I think I will first try to drive a aluminum block into the pass. side rear spring to raise that side so that it equals other and see what the results are.thanx for your help

Arthur,

Correct me if I am wrong, but I don't recall any choices in the rubber pads for the compensating spring. Thank you by the way for reminding me of the actual name for that spring. I have forgotten. I know that in the more expensive sedan models that spring was replaced by what we used to call a highly neurotic compensator. Other items like the transmission also could noy be upgraded because of size constraints of the 113 chassis. I will have to look this up in my TDM ( technical data manual) for that year. Also that car came with 185 no profile tires. The 205/70 series may have a different loaded radius which might cause a problem.

Peter

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Peter.
Yes , the spring was replaced by a Hydropneumatic Strut.
And some 113.044 chassis had them.
The rubber pads came in two sizes, but all the parts houses I have dealt with only carry the thicker one ... Some guys actually double them up to gain a little pos. camber.
As far as the tire sizing on these , the Original 185R are a Euro
size, and although the profile is not stated in the size marking, it is 80 aspect ratio [ 80% sidewall/width ratio].
This is important to consider when converting/calculating to wider tires.
I have some 113s and have tried all different sizes, with the best luck right back with the stock 185R [ 80 profile].
They used to be available in the Mich X series , but no longer.. They are now available in the Mich Rain Force and I have found them to do nicely....

Mr Arthur Dolton I would like to get as close to original as possible for my 1969 280 SL. The car has a close ratio four speed and has a very short toothed rearend gear. Great for stoplight to stoplight. But quite a lot of rev's on the highway...any thing over 60 MPH and it get's to be wound a little tight. Do you have an exact model/tire size that would work well? I have seen Mich rainforce on some local 113's but I did not have time to view the size. Again I am not looking for stone cold original...more so for a stock looking tire that would if anything make the rev's calm down on the highway. I know that it is not dramatic but I want to go in the right direction. Thanks
Ernie

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Ernie,

Congrats on the 69. In my opinion that was the best year for the 280SL. It had head rests that the 68 didn't and didn't have the overheating and cylinder head problems of the 70 and 71 series. I know I'm not Arthur who seems very knowledgeable about the 113 series, but I would say stick with original. That car tachs 3600 rpms at 65 mph, and if you didn't put a cheap exhaust on it, it sounds beautiful on the open road. Changing to other tires may cause both clearance and power problems. I have a 67 230SL and a 71 280SL. We love to go camping with our 230SL. We have taken that car into some rugged areas and ito the mountains, and it has performed well. I find it to equal the 280SL.

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Ern
The RainForce tire size is Simply 185R . Being Euro sized , that is an 80 profile, so it is Original size. I have seen some use the
195R in the same tire . This will give you a slightly higher tire while increasing the width only 10 mm............

There was an optional ZF 5 speed tranny available [ very rare] that had an Overdrive 5th gear that some liked for high speed cruise/rpm benefit.
And some 113 guys opt to grab a differential from a 108, 4.5 [280SEL] , giving the car a 3:27 rear [ this equates to approximately the same R's/speed as the OD has in top gear.]
I have done both, but again, prefer Original.....