Ride heigth adjustment ??

[tomm9298]

My Haynes manual does not cover this, nor can I find it on skinnerbox. How can I adjust the "normal" ride heigth on my wagon?

[WannaWagon]

I would like to know the answer to this, too. There is turnbuckle sort of rig in the rear swaybar linkage that plays a role, but I'm unclear on how to adjust the turnbuckle to change ride height. Do I lengthen or shorten the turnbuckle to raise the car? My pea-brain couldn't figure this out last time I was under there.

[garyrl]

I adjusted/lowered my rear suspension by tightening (shortening) the adjustable link, between the sway bar and control valve arm. I replaced my front springs with lowering springs and then adjusted the rear to match. I have had no problems with the rear since adjusting, rides nice. Here's a link to a pic of my car before and after lowering/adjusting:
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=1199271&posts=3&hl=

hey wannawagon, i switched to soy bean power (biodesiel) last week. yippie!!!

gary

[WannaWagon]

Originally Posted by garyrl

I adjusted/lowered my rear suspension by tightening (shortening) the adjustable link, between the sway bar and control valve arm. I replaced my front springs with lowering springs and then adjusted the rear to match. I have had no problems with the rear since adjusting, rides nice. Here's a link to a pic of my car before and after lowering/adjusting:
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=1199271&posts=3&hl=

hey wannawagon, i switched to soy bean power (biodesiel) last week. yippie!!!

gary

Dude, that is one sweet wagon! Where did you get the lowering springs for the front and are they still available to purchase somewhere? I would love to do the same on mine.

And congrats on going with biodiesel! I still don't have a steady supply in my area, so I get it when I can and also run straight veggie oil blended with #2 dino fuel.

[billrei]

Originally Posted by garyrl

I adjusted/lowered my rear suspension by tightening (shortening) the adjustable link, between the sway bar and control valve arm. I replaced my front springs with lowering springs and then adjusted the rear to match. I have had no problems with the rear since adjusting, rides nice. Here's a link to a pic of my car before and after lowering/adjusting:
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=1199271&posts=3&hl=

hey wannawagon, i switched to soy bean power (biodesiel) last week. yippie!!!

gary

You are correct about shortening the link to lower the rear. The MB manual warns about rising the rear too high and depending too much on the hydraulics for carrying the load. I set mine so the rear is just slightly higher than the front.

[tomm9298]

I am going to lengthen my rod then. I see FastLane has rear spring shims. I wonder if these are to adjust the heigth?

[garyrl]

Oops, my bad...you lengthen the rod to lower the rear and shorten it, to raise the rear.

Thanks wannawagon. I got my springs from GMP Performance, but i think i got the last set. Thier web site is http://www.gmpperformance.com/products/suspension/springs/jamex.htm .

Here's another website that has lowering springs for your car, but they're in the Netherlands. http://www.platimex.nl/Brochure/Lowering_type_list.pdf .

tom9298, the shims are the rubber spring caps that are located at the top or bottom of your spring. i know that on the front springs, they are located on the top and MB offers 4 thickness', 8mm - 23mm, to adjust height. not sure if there are different sizes to choose from for the rear.

as for biodiesel, i'm lucky to have a local distributor. i love the smell of popcorn coming from my exhaust.

gary