Hey Bruno...thanks for the update. I just got my 1990 300TE back from the frame staightener....I have replaced all that good steering and several suspension components. I still have some work to do...but its getting there.
You said there needs to be a gap between the spring and the end of the spring socket on the lower control arm. This does not make sense to me...and I would think that the spring will work its way right back to the "stop". Did you read somewhere that there needs to be a gap?
I am just glad you found it...because this kind of update is truly what makes this forum great.
I now have another piece of info in my knowledge bank should this problem happen to me