Bouncing rear ends on those cars are due to dead accumulators in the self leveling rear suspension. The lack of nitrogen in the cells prevents the fluid in the struts from moving, so the suspension is locked. Only the tires have any flex, and it will ride HARD.

To check, shove down hard on the bumper with your foot. The car must move up and down on the suspension. If the only thing that happens is that the tires bugle out some, the accumulators are shot and must be replaced -- about $100 each, I think, plus a couple hours labor. Not cheap, but if you don't replace them, the seals in the struts will blow, and those are more like $650 each!

Check the level in the hydraulic reservoir under the hood, too -- if it is low, you might get rear sag and a rough ride, too. Use ONLY approved hydraulid fluid, ATF or power steering fluid will cause trouble.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!