124: What's the angle? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

haasman · #1 12-03-2002, 02:57 AM

In looking for the correct ride height for my '91 300E I found a mention of the front and rear suspension piece's angle, measured from horizontal under the car. Supposedly this is the correct way to determine ride height.

Given that, does anyone know or have access to this information? MBZ CD?

Additionally, are the US cars still of a higher ride height to meet bumper laws in 1991 and 1995? Was this done via the rubber spring collars?

Haasman

md21722 · #2 12-03-2002, 07:19 AM

Deflection guages (dealer speciific) are used to measure this angle, I don't see how it can be done without the dealer tool. The best way you can measure ride height is from the center of the star on the wheel to the underside of the fender lip. Early 124's were HIGHER than the later models, reduced by 10-12 mm. Yours is LOWER than the early 124 cars. Most of the later 124's I meaure are about 15-15.25 in front, and 0.25 higher in rear. Mine's made in 8/86 and now measures close to 15-3/4" front and rear after I rebuilt it. Try it with a full tank of fuel for a baseline. Is your problem that your car is riding too high??

haasman · #3 12-03-2002, 10:19 AM

Brian, Thanks for the reply. Yes it is too high. I will measure and report back.

Haasman

md21722 · #4 12-03-2002, 10:33 AM

Haasman,

My car rode high too. Please tell us the history of shock/strut replacement, all other suspension work that was done, and when it started riding high.

haasman · #5 12-03-2002, 10:39 AM

It has always seemed too high. I replaced the shocks with Bilstein HD's and it definately is now riding too high. Stock wheels and tires, springs.

I replaced the rear springs, sagging, but not enough rear height and they act like they are the wrong ones. Finally had to install 2 spring knuckles per rear spring, and even now not right. I finally found my receipt from Phil. Need to return them and get the correct ones.

But .... the car is too high, front and rear.

Haasman

md21722 · #6 12-03-2002, 10:46 AM

When I switched from Bilstein Comfort to Mercedes-Benz dealer struts and shocks my ride dropped about 9/16" front and rear. I believe your rear springs should be 124 324 11 04 with 2 lug pad (blue) or 3 lug pad (red). You won't be able to read the number without removing them from the control arm, but you can see the color in the middle of the spring. Its possible that your front is too high in relation to your rear. And, when your springs were replaced one side of the lower control arm must come off. The lower control arm bushings should have been tightened with the axle shaft horiztonal (4 wheel lift OR floor jack until the wheel carrier to make it this way).

haasman · #7 12-03-2002, 10:58 AM

Brian,

The car now sits the way I want it to (rear slightly higher than the front) but overall too high.

The rears are on four bump pads and the fronts are on three bump pads.

When the rear springs were changed, the lower control arm was disconnected the the "upright". I do not believe the lower control arm bushings were tightened when horizontal .... Would these have come off? If so, speficially where are they? Which ones? Inboard?

Haasman

haasman · #8 12-03-2002, 11:04 AM

The rear spring part number is 124 324 11 04. You posted 124 321 11 04 ..... hmmmm.

What does the 124 324 11 04 go into?

md21722 · #9 12-03-2002, 11:08 AM

The lower control arm is where the spring sits, one side at the support joint in the wheel carrier, the other at the subframe towards the differential. One side or the other is taken down to get the spring out (thought I've talked to one person that managed to keep both sides attached). The bolt thru the bushing or joint is removed, the arm pulled down, the spring taken out.

It in itself is unlikey to signficantly affect ride height, but the arm should be tightened with the axle horiztonal. I estimate about 1/4" lower from tightening everything with the axle horiztonal (including caster arm).

If your car is about 1/2" higher its quite possibly the HD Bilstein struts/shocks. If you really wanted it lower and keep the HD ride, you'd probably have to go with Bilstein HD Sports with corresponding shorter Eibach or sportline springs.

-brian

md21722 · #10 12-03-2002, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by haasman
The rear spring part number is 124 324 11 04. You posted 124 321 11 04 ..... hmmmm.

What does the 124 324 11 04 go into?

Sorry, I meant to say 124 324 11 04... 321 is front springs

I edited my original post to reflect this typo. you have have the right springs. Does it have red or blue in the middle of the spring? It will have other colors such as yellow or white, BUT all that matters is red or blue.

MB ships red and blue springs with the same part number. The blues are slightly stronger and use one lug thinner spring pad.

-brian

md21722 · #11 12-03-2002, 11:15 AM

I have not heard of a four lug pad in the rear (only front). Each lug on the spring pad represents 5 mm of pad - 10 mm of ride height. If you have blue springs, the Mercedes TDM specs 2 lug pads and every 124 car with blue springs that I've seen has 2 lugs. For red, it'd be 3 lug. You may want to try thinner spring pads.

haasman · #12 12-03-2002, 11:44 AM

Brian,

I probably got the front and rear # of bumps confused .... the has the max front and rear spring pads. The spring does have a blue band on it.

md21722 · #13 12-03-2002, 12:05 PM

Haasman,

So you're running with the thickest spring pads and also using HD Bilsteins - both will make the car higher. Try thinner spring pads and if you still want it lower but with the firm ride, try the Sportline setup with HD Sports and shorter springs.

haasman · #14 12-03-2002, 12:19 PM

What pad thickness would you recommend? Two bumps front and rear?

After you did your car, what did you notice in ride quality and steering? Right now the car seems a bit tippy.

Haasman

md21722 · #15 12-03-2002, 01:02 PM

I'd start by dropping front and rear one lug, especially since every 124 with rear blue springs that I've seen has 2 lug pads. That should results in a 3/8" reduction. Have you measured your ride height from the center of the wheel to the fender?

Steering improved when I changed my shocks, struts, and subframe mounts and it no longer willing to drift off a sloped interstate. For time contraints, I coud not do them separately, so I'm not sure what combination was required to make that steering improvement. My experience has been that with 0 or 260Kmi my springs have not sagged enough for me to notice.

With HD's I don't think tippy is a word that should be used to describe your car! Its possible that with the wrong ride height the shocks are not dampening like they should. Since the spring pads seem obviously too tall, I would start there. It could make a big difference in your ride.