Shock absorber questions

[donbryce]

OK, I did a search and couldn't find my answer(s). The issue is that my '85 380SE (w126) rides like a buckboard, absolutely terrible over any kind of bumps, pavement cracks, potholes, you name it. If it isn't a glass-smooth highway, the suspension magnifies every little imperfection, sound and feeling-wise. The car actually seems to leave the road if it encounters a series of small bumps, bouncing and thumping/banging over them as if there were no springs at all!

So I'm trying to zero in on what to do, and am thinking the shocks are the culprit. Can shocks be too stiff, so they prevent the springs from absorbing the road vibrations? I only know of the 'bounce test', which in my case is: front left and right, push down hard on the corners and you can barely get it to go down. It comes right back up and stops. left rear bounces up and down several times, right rear goes down and back up, but much easier than the fronts.

I'm thinking that I have 2 bad fronts that are way too stiff (is this possible?), a left rear that has no stiffness left, and a right rear that is borderline OK. None show any leakage, and I think they are cheapos, or at least not Bilstiens or whatever they should be.

Should I just go ahead and spend the $400.00+ for Bilstiens? I replaced shocks on my older 76 450SE some years back and found no improvement in the ride, so felt it was a waste of money. I don't want to repeat this.

Is there any way to test if these shocks are indeed the cause, short of removing them from the car first? Any test to see if it's hard rubber bushings or something else (other than ball joints, which are known to be OK in my case)?

...and can anyone tell me what the original brand was for this car (1985 380SE), as parts suppliers list Bilstein and Sachs-Boge? Recommendations for the best (smoothest/softest) ride?