I took some quick videos of a w123 with some worn suspension parts. This car will have these components and some others replaced in the near future. Enjoy!


Video of a Bad lower ball joint
http://youtu.be/93ib1nxE0Ao

Video of a Bad upper control arm ball joint
http://youtu.be/F8PzMY9EOVY

Video of a Bad tie rod
http://youtu.be/VLMdn7KRZqU




.

__________________
1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

Wow!Pretty bad off there

__________________
Current fleet
2006 E320 CDI
1992 300D - 5speed manual swapped

former members
1984 300D "Blues Mobile"

1978 300CD "El Toro"

yes..I never witnessed such a deterioration/decay....usually it is not so obvious

thanks for vids mate

.

__________________
w126 500SEC gen II euro, powered by OM617 turbo stolen from 84 300SD 2.88 diff,EGR blinded
next wish/project: w114 coupe OM603 powered

Very good camera work to get such clear examples of the excess movement....
I hope when they replace those items they throw in new springs....

__________________
1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=10414

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=156207&highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

I have seen worse but that is a good example of a shot front end. Look at those tires!

__________________
1991 F250 super-cab 7.3 IDI. (rebuilt by me) Banks Sidewinder turbo, hydroboost brakes, new IP and injectors.
2003 S430 - 107K
1983 300SD - Tanoshii - mostly restored ~400K+.
1983 300SD - Good interior. Engine finally tamed ~250K.
Monark Nozzle Install Video - http://tinyurl.com/ptd2tge

So true, you usually have to feel the joint play with your hands as visually a bad joint can be undetectable.

__________________
1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

Thanks! I don't plan on changing out the springs because there is no sagging on the car. But I'll clean them up and make sure there is no corrosion on them to cause a coil to snap.


Yeah it is pretty bad, can't imagine any worst than that!


.

__________________
1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

I think this 1990 300SE that I bought for parts is the worst I have driven. The whole car shook at and over 35MPH. The steering wheel would jerk back and forth. You can hear all of the creaks and pops as I drive around. 3:30 is where I get it up to 35MPH+ I could barely keep it on the road.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_KSiPXrSNs

__________________
1991 F250 super-cab 7.3 IDI. (rebuilt by me) Banks Sidewinder turbo, hydroboost brakes, new IP and injectors.
2003 S430 - 107K
1983 300SD - Tanoshii - mostly restored ~400K+.
1983 300SD - Good interior. Engine finally tamed ~250K.
Monark Nozzle Install Video - http://tinyurl.com/ptd2tge

5:30 is another good example.

__________________
1991 F250 super-cab 7.3 IDI. (rebuilt by me) Banks Sidewinder turbo, hydroboost brakes, new IP and injectors.
2003 S430 - 107K
1983 300SD - Tanoshii - mostly restored ~400K+.
1983 300SD - Good interior. Engine finally tamed ~250K.
Monark Nozzle Install Video - http://tinyurl.com/ptd2tge

Great videos!

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Almost reminds me of my 190D before I redid 95% of the suspension. There was a good few inches of play in all directions on the rear wheels and the front end would bottom out on moderate bumps. I really wish I could have finished that car, it was getting to ride so nice.

I'll have to get some pictures of the rear links my mechanic pulled, the bushings were almost completely rounded out, it was pretty scary seeing that and knowing that was part of the reason why that car was so extremely unstable coming back from Florida on the interstate in high winds and pouring rain. It had 312,000 miles on all original suspension and brake components including the master cylinder and flex lines (which surprisingly were completely fine when I pulled them). The struts held no pressure but surprisingly the rear shocks still held some, not much.

__________________
Current: 1975 450SEL, 83 300D, 88 Yugo GVX, 90 300D OM603 swap, 91 F150 4.6 4v swap, 93 190E Sportline LE 3.0L M104 swap, 93 190E Sportline LE Megasquirt, 03 Sprinter, 06 E500 4Matic wagon.

That is pretty nasty. Surprisingly, this car does not shake or has a hint of the shakes. It rides smooth.

__________________
1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

Thanks for all thoughts on the videos.

__________________
1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

In your first post you said " A 123" not " My 123" ....
but since you admit it is yours.... I will say this .. if not for you.. but for anyone with an old car taking that many things off and replacing them in the suspension..

Springs are cheap.

They make all sorts of difference you can both feel and see on the vehicle.
It is pretty much ONLY the cost of the springs to replace when down that far anyway.... but might be prohibitive to do them later when they did need replacing...

There are several threads lately where people describe being pleasantly surprised at the effect of new springs...

You may be surprised .. since you are used to seeing our old cars at a certain height... at how much they are actually below specs with regard to rolling height..

THAT information is available in THE CHASSIS Manuals... there are two of them for our cars.. not sure which...has the specs.... but there are places you measure from a flat surface the car is on.... to several chassis points.. to actually determine proper height...

It does not take much difference from proper... to affect your ability to set the alignment and toe in correctly....

It would be a shame for you to have all that other stuff new.... and for the low cost of putting in the new springs... not be ' on spec' in terms of your alignment....

__________________
1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=10414

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=156207&highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

Greg, I appreciate your opinion on the matter, but I've replaced parts out of few w123 and w126 front and rear suspensions to have a good feeling as what is needed and not needed. I am also familiar with that section FSM, but will review it again. However, I still do not foresee me replacing the springs pending removal and corrosion inspection.


.

__________________
1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System