Suspension rod posistion..

[MAF]

On the 300 SEL 6.3 ,(1971),I have two holes,on the lower control arm,(left/drivers side), for the adjustable rod to bolt into.I have replaced the rod, and ends,with dealer supplied,(and verified correct), new parts.The rod that was on the car was badly bent,crooked.It was located in the outside hole , and had quite a slant to it.I have relocated to the hole closer to straight up and down,which is closer to the oil pan,(or center of the car.
Is this normal, or has someone added a hole?There is only one hole on the right side.

[Tomguy]

Are you referring to the sway bar? There should be just 1 hole, and it should be plain where it goes because there should be reinforcement around it.


If you are referring to something else you've got me stumped!

[MAF]

That was very poorly worded, on my part.When I wrote it , it all made perfectly good sense - to me.
What I meant was the control rod, for the air suspension.There is a valve, in between the upper and lower control arms, that is attached to the lower control arm.It regulates the height of that corner of the car, by inflating, or deflating the air bag.
If I were as smart as you, with a computer, I could have posted a picture.I really do wish I was, it would make life a lot easier.
The control rod looks like a piece of carburator linkage, with ball ends, on both ends, and a roughly 6 inch threaded rod in the middle.I just don't have another car to compare to, to determine what is normal.
Thanks for your help, in making me make sense!

[mercmad6.3]

Hi,as long as the car sits level on that side ,all will be oK,I have never seen a control arm with two holes for the link BTW.
Setting ride height is best done on a hoist with car on 4 wheels so you can access the rods underneath to adjust them.
I usually set the car at height that looks OK but not too low that the front wheels catch the fenders on lock .
I place blocks and or jacks under the chassis rails at front and the rear just in front of the rear wheels.
Disconnect the ball ends on the links from the control arms .
I then place a 5mm dowel ( never be tempted to use any metal rods for this!) in the hole in the arm so it lines up with hole in the valve bracket.
I then adjust the link rods so they fit easily with out any tension.
Remove the dowels and the jacks ,air the suspension up and the car should sit at the desired ride height. While the car is in the air it is a good oppurtunity to check the air suspension with soapy water to make sure there are no little leaks or other broken things to cause problems.