Hi,

I own a 1990 300SE and live in an area where I have to cross a couple of sets of railroad tracks every day. My car goes over the first set (which is a typical asphalt crossing) without a problem, but the second set (which is a new crossing with concrete shoulders) really jolts the whole car. The steering wheel does not kick over the crossing, but the front suspension feels like it doesn't have any compliance at all and the whole car shakes pretty badly over the track. The rear suspension seems to cross the tracks OK.

Anyway, I thought that was just the way the car rides until I recently bought a 1989 560SEC. It goes over both sets of tracks without much more than a ripple.

Both cars are well maintained, have recent Bilstein shocks and good tires, and both drive fine in every other situation, although the 300 generally rides more firmly -- and I usually prefer it. The 560 just had tie rod ends and ball joints replaced, and I'm pretty sure I did the same repairs to the 300 within the last couple of years.

What's the problem with the 300?

Thanks in advance,

John

Sounds like you might be riding with HD Shock Absorbers. Is your tire pressure correct. A couple extra squirts of air in those front tires will show up on a bump like that.

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1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!

Check the front shocks to be sure the long rubber bumpers are on the shafts, and in good condition. They should be 105mm long, and not all ground up on the ends.
Check the lower control arm bushings, the upper ones seem to last forever.
Check the guide rod bushings, these usually make a rattle/bump over small bumps or if really bad, when tapping the brakes. They really make the front feel sloppy.
(my money's on these as the culprit, ever changed them?).
Check to be sure the motor mounts have not sagged, and are allowing the exhaust pipe to hit the cross-bar near the steering idler arm; this makes a bad thump, but usually noticed first when accelerating and turning left.
Of course check the idler arm bushings for movement.
Check the steering damper.
I run the non-sport Bilsteins on my 300SE, and have changed just about every front suspension component over the last 17 years. Front is tight and solid, and takes tracks like they aren't there. As I said, only thing I ever found that really created a noticeable ride issue was the thumping guide rod bushing; couldn't feel any looseness when messing around with them on the car, but when I got them out, they definitely were loose; big diff.

DG

I am having a similiar issue with my 90 300SEL. I get a lot of rattling when I drive over gravel. Sounds just like a Mcpherson strut with a bad top bearing.
Can you tell me....what are guide rod bushings?

Thanks

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1995 E300 Diesel
1994 E320
1999 C230K
1994 S500 W140
1990 300 SEL