1972 280sel 4.5, how did this chasis looking? Good or Bad

[auriga]

hi folks, new to the thread
Recently acquired a 280sel 4.5 from somebody, and the car is driving great. However, ive heard those front axle on the sel are pretty fragile due to the weight of the engine, and Today I get my car on my lift, the two rear wheel slightly bend inward "\ /" shape, and maintain the same after I lowered back on the ground( Didn't drive yet, not sure why).
Here are some photos. Please help me discussed, if this is a good buy or not. Thanks!
link to pictures.

The black undercoat spray is done by myself, to protect from the road salt and rain snow stuff, as the car is from a warmer state.
It used to only have rust for the exhaust, and the link between bumper and frame. Anywhere else looks 100% rust free.

https://www.benzworld.org/threads/w108-1972-280-sel-4-5-rear-wheel-bent-inward-after-been-lift-up-need-to-concern-also-chasis-condition.3066623/#post-18134794

[auriga]

heres a link to another forum with the picture. This Forum wont allow the picture in a big size https://www.benzworld.org/threads/w108-1972-280-sel-4-5-rear-wheel-bent-inward-after-been-lift-up-need-to-concern-also-chasis-condition.3066623/#post-18134794

[Tony H]

The same basic front end was used on 100k's of cars from early 60's to 70's including the 6.3 and is very robust. Are you discussing the front or rear? The swing axle will cause the rear wheels to assume positive camber when unloaded.

[auriga]

for the "\. /" im want to ask, are for the rear

[Sugar Bear]

The rear axles do that when lifted, the slant reduces when lowered and goes back to normal once driven. Overall, without personally inspecting it, the chassis looks excellent.

Good luck and post more pictures if you buy the car.

[Tomguy]

Did you have a PPI done? The overspray on the suspension and the fresh black paint on the underside may have been done to mask rust, and based on the ridiculous amount of it, it may have been shoddily repaired. The 108/109 are notorious for rust. Just be aware of this and if you didn't have someone familiar with 108/109 vehicles do the PPI, I would recommend doing one.

[tyl604]

Your rear wheels are fine; just drive it and they will straighten up.

What bothers me is all the black overspray. Almost without doubt they were trying to hide problem areas.

[auriga]

Originally Posted by Tomguy

Did you have a PPI done? The overspray on the suspension and the fresh black paint on the underside may have been done to mask rust, and based on the ridiculous amount of it, it may have been shoddily repaired. The 108/109 are notorious for rust. Just be aware of this and if you didn't have someone familiar with 108/109 vehicles do the PPI, I would recommend doing one.

That is done after I acquired the car. Before that, there are no rust anywhere, except those link bewteen chasis and bumper.

[auriga]

Originally Posted by tyl604

Your rear wheels are fine; just drive it and they will straighten up.

What bothers me is all the black overspray. Almost without doubt they were trying to hide problem areas.

hi, that was what done by myself, as the car is from a warmer state up to va, road salt and staff, so i decieded to cover it with undercoat. Before I spray the underside of the car, only surface rust i can found is the link between bumper and frame. Anywhere else looks perfect with nothing.

[cth350]

nice car. Those front suspension pictures reminded me to say that this car has lots of places that need a squirt of grease on a regular basis. Be sure that those A-arms holding onto the front wheels get that kind of attention.

-CTH

[TZ_280SEL]

To be precise, I believe there are 14 grease fittings on the front suspension (2 per control arm, 1 per king pin, 1 per upper eccentric, 1 per lower pivot) and two on the rear.

[JMela]

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/attachments/vintage-mercedes-forum/10586d1060491184-w108-squeaking-suspension-greas-point.jpg