Now, Now. Keep the party clean

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

When I was driving a 300cd the single greatest improvement to handling occurred when I replaced the sway bar bushings on the firewall.

Just to get it out of the way everything in the suspension on a 38 year old car probably needs to be replaced. It will undoubtedly handle better if you do the bushings, end links, ball joints, wheel bearings, and springs. That said it is also a 38 year old luxuary car. Its also one of the last Mercedes with semi trailing arm rear and a suspension designed around bias ply tires. When new it was supposed to be soft and its not going to compare to a 911 or E39 without modification.

If it were a w124, W201, or 107 I'd know what to use from the merc parts bin to make it a bit sportier. Like anything though I'm sure you can get some larger wheels (16") for less sidewall, cut stiffer springs with big sways from a heavier car with similar suspension, and go with bilstein HDs which is essentially what I've done to my 124. One possible source of parts that comes to mind is the W126 (someone who knows better should chime in). I'm sure there is info out there.

To answer your question in your title you do have your work cutout for you. I'm normally not a fan of it when people say "you bought a Mercedes not a Corvette" but my dad had NA 300D 123 when I was a kid and they do move around a lot.

Actually, the W123 never came with bias-plys, and the semi-trailing arm suspension debuted on the W116, which again did not come with bias-plys.

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"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

I did not know that. I thought they still used bias ply at the time the w123 was designed. Either way it has a relatively old style suspension design with big sidewalls. Semi trailing arm was done away with after the 123, 107, and 126 when everything moved to multi link which is around when Mercedes entered a new era IMO and design philosophy changed.

It's been a long while since I checked my thread and I thank all that have contributed.

The project has kind of stalled but think I will just replace pretty much everything underneath. I don't think the parts prices are that bad. I'll do the labor. The car is just an around town kind of thing. I'm not looking for a show winner, just a cool ride.

The paint cleaned up pretty well for a cheap repaint. The headlight doors kind of detract from a clean look and damn are the expensive and hard to find.

The driver's seat will be high on the list to re-work the stuffing and get some support under me. I think just fixing the seat will make the car feel not quite so loose.

Does anyone have a thought on removing the front and rear glass? They are both original and the seals are pretty beat up from the sun.

Anyway, thanks all for the thoughts on the handling issues.

Paul: Sent you a PM

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."