drooping front end,spring or struts?300e - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

petaling · #1 06-20-2004, 02:59 PM

replaced engine mounts/tires improved in cabin vibration.But front end still seems lower than the rear.(wheel/tire arch to fender gap bigger at rear).Suspension still not tight.but choppy occasionally.

Would it be the springs or struts that would be the main culprit?Or both ie $$$$$$
The bounce test does not work in a top-heavy car like this,also my impending hernia does not permit me to bounce it with too much force/

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Bought car at 5 yrs old.car now 12 yrs old .No change of struts or springs since I bought the car.Just change of ball joints 4 yrs ago.Seems to be due for balljoints too as the steering makes a noise after car wash.Went away with wd40 to the ball joints.

brewtoo · #2 06-20-2004, 03:17 PM

I've noticed that new front shocks can affect the ride height a surprising amount. Same with the rears.

MTI · #3 06-20-2004, 03:58 PM

Generally, struts and shocks do not dictate ride height, assuming that they are the proper units and are in good condition. Springs and the spring pads are typical way of altering ride height.

brewtoo · #4 06-20-2004, 08:44 PM

Generally, I agree.

However, I replaced the front shocks on my wife's car and the front sat at least an inch higher afterwards.

I was quite surprised.

Those gas-charged shocks can be a bear to install, too, since they have to be compressed a bit.

csnow · #5 06-21-2004, 01:28 PM

I would estimate that front struts provide less than 35 pounds of uplift each. Not much relative to the heavy front end.

brewtoo · #6 06-21-2004, 04:58 PM

Hmmmm...I guess you're right.

Must have been my imagination that they raised the ride height a bit on my wife's car.

BTW, there was a long discussion here a few months ago where a gentleman had new rear shocks installed and it raised the rear of the car enough to concern him.

Richard Eldridge · #7 06-21-2004, 06:14 PM

I replaced all four shocks on my 1990 300D with HD Bilsteins.
Before I did this, the tires wore funny and the front end scraped on many parking lot dividers. Eventually I replaced it and became much more careful.

After I replaced the shocks, it no longer scraped on anything. It seems to be about two inches higher than previously.

The old shocks were not completely shot, even after 130K miles. The original shocks on my 82 Buick Regal (aka Roger Smith's revenge) could be squeezed easier than a punctured concertina.
The MB shocks you had to lean on. The new HDs were not compressible without the weight of the car on them.

So even if it is not suposed to make a difference in height, my observation is that it makes a BIG difference.

It also makes a major difference in the feel of the road.

Curiously, the Buick still cornered sloppily with the new shocks (Sears) on it.

petaling · #8 06-21-2004, 08:38 PM

Hi,Brewtoo
what struts did you use that raised the front end by about 1 inch.
Richard mentioned that he gained that effect with the HD Bilsteins.

Did you use Bilstein HD,Comfort,Boge Turbo or Boge Automatic?

brewtoo · #9 06-21-2004, 10:52 PM

I used Bilsteins, but I can't remember if they were HDs or Comforts.

csnow · #10 06-22-2004, 09:35 AM

I have installed HDs and Comforts. You can compress them and hold them compressed with your arms. Compressing them is often required during installation. I'm not saying you get no lift. It would be the same as if you grabbed a fender, and lifted with say 35-40 pounds of your might.

Richard Eldridge · #11 06-22-2004, 09:37 AM

You are stronger than I am, or perhaps more persistent.

csnow · #12 06-22-2004, 10:10 AM

Richard,

The first inch comes harder, but after that, you really can hold them compressed with your arms. I've put the top in the mount, compressed the strut, and moved the base into position. I'm guessing 35-40 lbs, because it required much of my strength to hold it in an awkward hunched position. Not a scientific measurement of force by any stretch...

brewtoo · #13 06-22-2004, 10:11 AM

I could compress the struts by putting my weight on them.

But I could not keep them compressed with my arms long enough to get them in the car.

haasman · #14 06-22-2004, 11:53 AM

I noticed a rise in both the 300e and the wagon after doing shocks (Bilstein HD's). I called Bilstein and they say the same thing that some rise (maybe 1/2 inch) can happen but the car then should settle out over a period of time.

Another tip to remember is that since the shocks contrl the control arms about mid-point, what ever influence is 2x, (half the arm swing of the arm).

The 124 series should be slightly higher in the rear since it can carry the additional loads of passengers and luggage.

BTW- I resisted changing the front strut upper shock mounts and later went back and replaced them because they were torn/worn. The difference can be rather amazing. Compressing the HD's once installed can be a real bear.

Haasman

Richard Eldridge · #15 06-22-2004, 04:42 PM

Coincidentally, I have a new pair of front Bilstein HD's here that I am planning to install in my 85 300TD. I can compress them by putting my weight on them, but I can't hold them in for long. You are probably stronger than I am.

As I recall, I used a bottle jack to get them on my other car. The fronts were easier than the back, because the rear shocks on my 90 300TD sedan kept turning, making lining up the boltholes impossible. I recall I used a tool called a picklefork with a long piece of pipe on the end to coax the rear shock into place. the right rear one took two hours, the left one only about five minutes, because I learnied by trial and error how to get it in position most easily.