Why are you buying new spring pads? You may be very well served reusing the old ones. Are you sure the springs you’re buying have the right color paint combinations? That paint color defines the stiffness/coil diameter, and of course a not to spec/stiffer spring may rise higher, thereby requiring a thinner pad. But if the springs are right, it’s dubious to me that the pads are shot.

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Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (116k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
2008 ML320 CDI (199k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (267k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K), 1985 300D (233K), 1993 300D 2.5T (338k), 1993 300SD (291k)