I finally had the rear springs replaced with a heavier duty spring and included a thicker bushing for them.. The ride improved a great deal, but the rear still sags.. I had replaced the shocks about a yr ago. And of course the rear tires bow out... I hate hearing people say thats the nature of the beast when I see others like mine that don't do it. Does anyone know of any air shocks that can boost ride height? Or any other suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks

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1991 350SDL
1978 300D
1995 Chev Conversion Van
2001 Mazda PU
1966 Chrysler New Yorker
1994 Lincoln Town Car

Diff mount, or possible rear subframe mounts.

Sagging is not normal.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I have the exact problem with the SDL.

I believe the problem to be with the subframe bushings, the differential mount, and the rubber spring spacers.

I'll be doing the job this weekend and will report my findings.

I do not believe, at this point in time, that the rear springs are the culprit here.
I conclude this by the fact that the front springs are as perfect as the day they were originally manufactured.

At the present time the fenderwell height of the SDL is 24.75 inches with a typical load. It can drop to close to 24 inches with a full load.

I am hoping to get 26.5 inches as a minimum when the job is completed.

We'll see.

Please let me know how it goes... I guess for me, the next step will be subframe bushings and differental mount.. All of the other stuff is done..

__________________
1991 350SDL
1978 300D
1995 Chev Conversion Van
2001 Mazda PU
1966 Chrysler New Yorker
1994 Lincoln Town Car

Well, I completed the job.

Replaced subframe bushings, differential mount, and rubber spacers above rear springs.

Ride height has increased from 24.75" to 26.50" as measured at the fenderwell.

But, the most intriguing thing is the caster. Prior to installing the wheels, I checked plumb on the mounting face of the hub. It actually has positive caster!

I'm fairly sure that it will settle back to neutral caster.

I have not had it out of the garage yet to check it out after a drive. More info tomorrow.

The front wheels remain at 28.5". I am hoping the increase in the rear height will allow the front to drop slightly. However, I'm fully prepared to remove and shorten the front springs to match the rear height, if necessary. I'm tired of the nose high look on the W-126.

Please do post any additional insights. My '83SD always sags - in my opinion. I replaced dif mount and subframe mounts but find no noticeable difference in rear ride height. Next switch would be to heavy duty springs. After 22 years and 328,000 miles I can't fault the thing for settling down, but I'm sick of the nose high appearance as well. Aside from springs, mounts, possibly air shocks - has anyone else got ideas and/or a fix? Thanks all. fmb

Fred, I think you need to document the fenderwell heights. The W126 is always slightly low in the back. The question is whether it is normal, or whether the hardware needs replacement.

Heavy duty springs may increase the ride height slightly, at a cost of the ride quality. Furthermore, if the height gets much above 26.5", it is going to look funny in the back.

A better solution, IMHO, is to lower the nose.

BTW, can you make it to the GTG at Bill Murrow's place???
You haven't weighed in on the thread??

I guess I see what parts I need to order next.. I will have to do that in a couple weeks.. Heck.. Most likely I will do it tomorrow..

__________________
1991 350SDL
1978 300D
1995 Chev Conversion Van
2001 Mazda PU
1966 Chrysler New Yorker
1994 Lincoln Town Car

Well, my initial optimism has been tempered a bit. After sitting overnight and then installing the rear seats, the height has dropped to 25.5" Still better than the 24.75" but not anywhere near the original 26.5" measured after the vehicle immediately came off the jacks.

However, in looking carefully at the body, the forward fenderwell appears to be shaped differently than the rear fenderwell, and, therefore, it will always have additional clearance to the road. So, even if the vehicle was dead level, there appears to be about a 1.5" difference between the two fenderwell heights.

I measured the height of the body crease along the side. The back end of the crease is now about 3/4" above the forward end of the crease.

I like the look of the aft fenderwells now. However, the height of the body in the forward fenderwells still apppears too high by about 1 1/2 inches.

If the front end came down 1 1/2 inches, the forward fenderwells would be at a height of 27". This "appears" to be about right with the rear fenderwells at 25.5".

Does anyone else have W126 forward fenderwell heights near 28.5"?

after having the car jacked up you will have to move it enough for the preload created by having the wheels off the ground to come out... if you didnt already.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Ok, so I got the tape and took some quick measurements. With about 5 gallons of diesel in the stock tank, and 22 gallons of WVO in the trunk, I get 27.5" at the center of the front wheel opening and 25.5" at the rear. Front and rear openings are of course shaped differently so equal measurements would not = level ride.

I just don't like the nose high ride - no matter what it was when new. I replaced rear subframe and dif mounts. I can see in records where PO tried asked an independent shop to install HD rear springs but they couldn't compress them so springs weren't changed. Rear is too low, ride is too soft as is. I'm going to install HD springs next and see if it is sufficient. If not, I'll figure out how to get some air shocks in there so I can adjust height when needed.

**WVO tank is at front of trunk, not down in the spare wheel well. Still >150 lbs in the trunk when full ...but it's a heck of a lot cheaper than diesel!

Brian, don't know about the GTG - trying to keep a factory in northern NY going, daughter graduating from HS, no time for much else lately! We'll try to make it with the two cars... the kid's 300D is the nice one!
Fred

Now, those numbers look OK to me. The two inch difference between the two openings should put the vehicle almost dead level. Mine has a number of 28.5" in the front, and, if I can bring it down to 27", I'd be happy with it.

I would really prefer to lower the nose rather than raise the tail.

But, I'm real interested in what the heavy duty springs will do.

Air assisted shocks would be a possible option, but, what's the odds they are made for the W126??

brian, my 500sec with 125,000 miles sits at 26,25 rear and 27.25 front with nothing in the trunk. i dont know if the sec is the same as sdl or not, my sdl is still in the shop. are the hd springs yourefer to factory options? i think eibach offers springs that lower 1". they are progressive. be sure trunk is empty when measuring. (mine seldom is.)

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Brian why don't you try to get a few 560SEL owners to measure the rear ride hight?

If the rear suspension is in good shape on those it should give you a good W126 base number.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I have about 100 lb. of gear in the trunk, so my 25.5" number is probably compromised by 1/2 inch or so. But, the specs must also take into account the fuel situation. 150 lb. of fuel has got to make 3/4" of difference.

The "HD springs" are generally available from WorldPac via any of the usual suppliers, but, I don't know how much the spring rate is increased. This vehicle rides more than stiff enough as it is. I really don't want heavy duty springs in it just to increase the body height.

There is a fine line on the W126 where it will look funny in the back if the wheel well has too much clearance. INMO, this number is going to be somewhere around 26".

My problem is the 28.5" in the front. I can't figure out why this is so high. It actually increased a full inch after installing the new Bilsteins. I'm quite surprised that the gas pressure in the Bilsteins can cause this, but, I'm out of options.

I'm still thinking about cutting 1.5" from the front springs. But, it concerns me because this drops the engine and transmission by a similar amount and the driveshaft will presumably change alignment with the diff. The flex discs will then be required to do more work, or, possibly less work. Sure be nice to know the nominal specs for the body.