Dear all,
Am trying to figure out how the chasis suspension of a W124 works. Always believed that the chassis rested on the coil springs (& pads) and that the shocks just countered the spring action.
In some of the threads on this board I read however that the shocks also carry the chassis (a bit).

Need to understand the mechanism cause I want to raise the ride height of the rear end a little, like on the T-models.

Can anyone clarify things?

Cheers!

__________________
2011 Prius

I believe what folks are refering to is that gas charged shocks/struts actually are "loaded". That is to say if you compress the shock, then release it, it drives itself back out to the fully extended position. If memory serves correctly, I think I read that the "upward" force of a rear shock for my car (201) is about 75 pounds per shock. So if your old shocks have leaked and are no longer "loaded", then your car will sit as though it has a 150 pounds of weight in the trunk. Replacing the shocks with new ones should restore the ride height to spec.

Jeff Pierce

__________________
Jeff Pierce

Current Vehicles:
'92 Mercedes 190E/2.3 (247K miles/my daily driver)
'93 Volvo 940 Turbo Wagon (263K miles/a family truckster with spunk)
'99 Kawasaki Concours
Gravely 8120
Previous Vehicles:
'85 Jeep CJ-7 w/ Fisher plow (226K miles)'93 Volvo 940 Turbo Wagon
'53 Willys-Overland Pickup
'85 Honda 750F Interceptor
'93 Nissan Quest
'89 Toyota Camry Wagon
'89 Dodge Raider
'81 Honda CB 750F Super Sport
'88 Toyota Celica
'95 Toyota Tacoma
'74 Honda CB 550F