Hi, guys. I've been "lurking" this forum for about 6 years, don't post much because I normally find the answers to 95% of all my questions with a little research, but this one is weird. I'll make it as short as possible.

I've got a 1982 300SD. Last December, the steering wheel started to shimmy back and forth. I had to have it fixed fast, so I went to the local *UCKY'S. I think they said I needed tie rods (4 of them). They used MB parts, so I didn't sweat it too much. Seemed to fix the problem.

Lately, I've noticed that the car is "dipping" a little on the passenger side while at rest. Thought maybe the tire was low. Got looking and saw that pass side shock was sticking out of the wheel well. The hardened steel washer that holds it down (located under the wheel well) was gone. I got another one, put it on, and hoped all would be swell. Not so.

The other thing I had noticed before I found the shock is that the car rides funny at low speed. Feels like it's coming from the passenger side. At around 15mph it's kind of "loping" along. You can see the MB emblem on the hood kind of moving side to side. At freeway speed, it seems ok.

A friend told me to jack car and check for wheel play. With hands on top and bottom of tire, not much play. Not much play from side to side. Checked the other tire and they seem to be the same. Got under car looking for obviously bad joints or bushings. Didn't see anything that appeared to be bad. Don't see any strange tire wear on passenger side. In fact, the only odd wear I see is on outside of driver's side tire.

Does any of this ring a bell for somebody? I would just take it to the mechanic, but it's a $100 cab ride and an "overnighter" (translate that: huge PITA now that I am single and don't have a second driver).

Is it possible that the shock being out (for who knows how long) might have beat the hell out of the bushings and joints on that side even though they look OK? If anybody could point me at some possible faults I should be checking, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading my blurb.

Springs control height, shocks control movement.

At least that's what I was taught.

But I also know that shocks do not last forever.

How many miles in the car ?
How many of those have you put on it ?
Do you have any knowledge of when the shocks were done ?

My thought is that your front shocks could use replacing.

Easy job, one of the easiest.

When you have that front wheel off you can inspect the shock for
obvious damage and leaking, you could remove it and see if it has any
resistance left in it.

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80 300D 340K Owned 30 yrs
83 300SD 440K Owned 9 yrs - Daily Driver 150mi/day
02 Z71 Suburban 117,000
15 Toyota Prius 2600 miles
00 Harley Sportster 24k
09 Yamaha R6
03 Ninja 250

You want to see zero play from top to bottom when doing that check by hand. Not much play is too much top to bottom. You do not really want side to side play either.

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RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

91 W124 300D Turbo replaced, Pressure W/G actuator installed. 210K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

why was the shock sticking out? rust?? or did you just wear out the rubber bushing?

any unusual sounds from the car- squeaks or rattles??

can you post(or take) digital photos of the shock tower?

I would recommend having it put on a lift and looked over. places like say- Les schwab(for one, if near by?) may do a "free alignment check" where they will make you a laundry list of stuff to replace. they should be able to do ts in 20 or so minutes, well you wait, appointment may be helpful.

but if you get the front end securely in the air and get a decent pry bar. try moving all the bushings and ball joints. it is helpful to have someone shake the wheel back n forth gently while you are under there- then you can see how everything works, and find slack in worn items.


then decide on what you are comfortable doing yourself. or find a real shop to take it to.

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1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.

What brand of tires are on the front wheels and how old are they?

Hi, guys.
Thanks very much for the replies. I think this "mystery" has been resolved. First, the whole shock issue was, I think, just a distraction. Somebody DID leave the washer off on the underside of the wheel well at some point, and that had to be a shop, but I don't know which one or when. Once corrected, the shock works fine and no further damage.

As far as the rest, I'll just go ahead and tell on myself, it was sort of a "comedy of errors" thing. First, I didn't realize I COULD go to some place like Les Schwab. I've gotten so used to being turned away by shops that I finally settled on two mercedes-specific shops but they're far away.

I took the car to LS immediately, as I'm depending on it for primary transport right now and my job depends on it. They put it up on the Rube Goldberg "razzle dazzle" machine and checked the alignment. Then they corrected the front alignment. They also found that one tire had tread separation and was the wrong size. I don't know what tread separation looks like so it was fortunate that they found it before the thing blew at 60mph. The wrong size was my fault. At one point, I had a tire going flat every night, and I just swapped in another on a mercedes rim to get quick function. I didn't even realize it was a different size.

All in all, I'd have to say I was pretty impressed with LS service, and one alignment plus two tires later, the girl is back on the road and smooth as silk.

Amazing how difficult you can make troubleshooting when you add in your own mistakes. Duh. Anyway, thanks again to all. I shall endeavor to be smarter in the future (but that's no guarantee that I will