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#1
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Subframe mounts 124 car
Hi all,
I've got an '87 300D w/ 256Kmi. Driving to Montana and back and the winds across South Dakota, Nebraska, and parts of Montana REALLY blew the car around. In Nebraska, steering was "approximate" holding the wheel hard. The front control arm bushings, ball joints are <10,000 miles old, rear links are <1 yr old (except subframe bushings and inner contorl arm bushings). Shocks are Bilstein, about 75Kmi on them, one rear shock leaks a bit. Steering linkage replaced about 65Kmi ago, steering damper about 30-40Kmi. Even back home in TN the car does not seem to handle precisely. Sometimes its better than others. Really flat smooth roads are best. When on the lift, the subframe mounts are cracked but they do not appear completely collapsed. They are probably original. The rear tires are wearing perfect. Front tires wear well too. What is the likely culprit? Thanks, Brian |
#2
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My guess is you have (unfortunately) hit the nail on the head with the subframe mounts.
My car does the same thing, and I am not looking forward to doing the job myself. The mounts have moulded in pockets (gaps in the rubber) to make them absord more vibration, unfortuately this makes them more prone to degrade. Hope someone else has another (better) idea, as I am waiting with you. Craig Amos 1987 300D Turbo, 280k mi |
#3
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How are your tires? I used to have a VW jetta diesel that at times could be really frightening on the highway. I could never figure out the problem until I bought new tires and the problem disappeared!
Greg '84 300D |
#4
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There're Michelin MXV4 with 6300 miles on them.
I took it to an independent that suggested weak shocks... he says everything else that normally causes this problem is new/tight (as just about everything is). He said the shocks pass the bounce test, but turning wheel left/right at freeway speeds and car doesn't respond correctly. Brian |
#5
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I also suspect the shocks - especially if they are leaking. Shocks are like water pumps, they let you know when it's time to replace them by dribbling vital fluids. And they'll usually pass the "bounce" test too. I wonder if a 124 chassis would bounce much at all with no rear shocks installed? The rest of the suspension is pretty tight...
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#6
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I'm going to replace the shocks. I may start in the rear and work forward, or just replace them all at once. Hopefully I can remember to let everyone know the outcome.
Brian |
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