Had a look at those pics and I wouldn't think it was sagging. There is greater clearance over the front wheels (naturally) which does give the impression these cars sit lower at the rear.

The best way to tell is measure from the bottom of the sill (at the front of the front door and rear of the rear door) to the ground and see if there is a difference.

MB specs tolerate a difference of 15mm between front to back, side to side (don't ask me what that is in inches ).

Cheers

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1988 W126 420 SE

beware of fundamentalists!

I had a similar problem with my 300SE. Exhaust pipe would scrape the ground with people in the back seat. I changed the rubber subframe mounts, all three, and the difference was amazing. The back end raised up quite a bit when sitting still and now when you shift into reverse/drive the rear does not rise up or squat at all. I believe the differential mount made the most diference. It also significantly improved handling at highway speeds by tightening up the rear axle.

I'm resurrecting this thread. My 380SE sags slightly to the driver's side. I haven't measured yet, but it appears to be maybe 1/2 to 1 inch or so, just enough that you can tell something's not quite right. My wife was following me and said she couldn't tell for sure, but it seemed the car was "leaning" to the driver's side. Could this be because I was sitting in it driving?

What is the remedy? I too am thinking of those forbidden hilbilly spring spacers as I have used them in the past with excellent results. Subframe mounts have already been done, and shocks are all good. Tires are evenly worn and I just corrected all the pressures to 30 front, 34 rear. I just want my car level.

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08 W251 R350
97 W210 E320
91 W124 300E
86 W126 560SEL
85 W126 380SE Silver
85 W126 380SE Cranberry
79 W123 250
78 W123 280E
75 W114 280

The '86 SDL has started the same behavior of late. No, it's probably not you sitting in it.

The remedy is likely a change in the rubber spring pad above the spring. They offer three different thicknesses. The left side can go thicker or the right side can go thinner.

I sure wish I knew why they do this, however. The FSM alludes to the differences in the manufacture of the springs. Different thickness pads are acceptable as the cure.

Is this a DIY job?

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08 W251 R350
97 W210 E320
91 W124 300E
86 W126 560SEL
85 W126 380SE Silver
85 W126 380SE Cranberry
79 W123 250
78 W123 280E
75 W114 280

Of course........aren't they all?

You need to rent the spring compressor from the tool rental program and you're all set..........

Been noticing this for a while. It looks like about a 1/2" height difference using a tape to measure corresponding points on the right and left side with the driver side being 1/2" lower.

Does this sound like deteriorating spring pads? The car has relatively low mileage and I don't think the springs/shocks have ever been changed.

Join the club.

New springs, pads, subframe bushings, diff mount and the '86 SDL has now developed "the list". And, yep, the driver's side is lower.

I can't figure it out.......unless one of the rear shocks is collapsed.

Both of mine do it. I give up if you want to get rid of the list install SLS.

Wonder if one could run the pump off of a 603? They did it in the wagons so its doable.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Since when does the SDL list??

That's news to me........

Replacing the Rear Shocks & Springs
on the W126 1985 300SD
by whunter
3/18/06

http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/W126RearShocksSprings

comments:

1. stay away from air shocks or air bags in the springs. they will make it ride like a truck.

2. if it has good shocks and springs i personally dont get uptight about how it looks as long as it doesnt look silly and rides and handles as it should.

3. if chasing a low end i would use the varying factory spacers and not any aftermarket wedgies.

4. new shocks will often help a lot if the car is saggy, in my experience. when they collapse, it is not evenly done.

5. and i owning 29 benzes from model year 61 to 91, i have yet to change a spring. on my 74 240 we put a spacer in one of the rear springs. that car had been run for 20 years with a factory auxiliary tank in back. it was low and uneven.

tom w

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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.

Has been for years, its slight but its their.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Have a look at these:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=142397

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Regards

Warren

Currently 1965 220Sb, 2002 FORD Crown Vic Police Interceptor

Had 1965 220SEb, 1967 230S, 280SE 4.5, 300SE (W126), 420SEL

ENTER > = (HP RPN)

Not part of the in-crowd since 1952.

I changed the rear springs and 19mm pads in my 1989 420SEL a few months ago. Made a world of difference. Follow Whunters DIY link. It helped me out alot. The only part he didn't include, and it might be that mine is a gasser, is the fact that when you drop the subframe the muffler hangers prohibit the subframe from dropping easily. Once you get the hanger part on the subframe past the hanger part on the muffler, the spring will pretty much drop right out.