320SL .....sagging rear end !

[greg palmer]

All,
Just got my 320SL(97) back from garage with whole new rear suspension, springs, shocks, arms (8) and subframe mounts , but it still sits lower on drivers side !
What have I missed ?

 

[Habil]

Spring pads? Does the SL have them and do they come in various thicknesses?

 

[Doodle]

Not a lot - 129s frequently don't sit level. You can tune it out with spring pads.

 

[Petrol Pete]

How come the guys who put it back together did not notice ? If they have the correct springs and spacer pads it should be level.

 

[Doodle]

Unless they're very familiar with 129s, it probably won't even cross their minds. Assuming the spring pads weren't renewed as well, nothing will have changed unless the original springs had sagged unevenly.

 

[BTB 500]

Unless they're very familiar with 129s, it probably won't even cross their minds. Assuming the spring pads weren't renewed as well, nothing will have changed unless the original springs had sagged unevenly.

Apparently it's normal for the springs to sag more on the driver's side, over time. I wasn't clear from the OP whether all the springs were new or just the rears.

 

[BTB 500]

PS to the OP ... its an SL320

 

[noogieman]

Driver adds extra load on drivers side, it's normal for springs to sag on that side.
Are you heavy?
Then springs will sag more over time.

 

[greg palmer]

Apparently it's normal for the springs to sag more on the driver's side, over time. I wasn't clear from the OP whether all the springs were new or just the rears.

Hi, only the rears new, fronts being done at next stage of rebuild.

 

[greg palmer]

Apparently it's normal for the springs to sag more on the driver's side, over time. I wasn't clear from the OP whether all the springs were new or just the rears.

Only the rears new, fronts to follow.

 

[Petrol Pete]

Being familiar with any car is not a requirement for sending it out of your workshop level after you have just re built the rear end. Did they leave the factory on the pi$$ ?

 

[greg palmer]

Driver adds extra load on drivers side, it's normal for springs to sag on that side.
Are you heavy?
Then springs will sag more over time.

Lol, no, not if you think 14 stone heavy !
Get the point but with new springs and shocks etc I thought it would at least be level now!, apparently not tho.

 

[grober]

Its pretty important when rebuilding suspension with multiple rubber bushes that certain bolts should only be tightened with the car's weight resting on its suspension. If not bush "stiction " may result when the car finally does rest on its wheels altering the ride height slightly. One way to possibly check for that would be to partially jack up the car centrally at the rear and look for different suspension droop on each side?

 

[Doodle]

Did they leave the factory on the pi$$ ?

Yes, for a variety of reasons. One example is that the springs are wound the same way on both sides, meaning that you get a different spring seating on the lower arm. There's a "screw" thread in the spring pads when new to help seat them - if old pads are reused this will be deformed.

MB themselves allow a 15mm variance in ride height.

 

[Doodle]

OP, were the garage informed about the uneven ride height or just instructed to renew the suspension? Can you measure the vertical distance from centre hub to wheelarch for comparison?

 

[greg palmer]

OP, were the garage informed about the uneven ride height or just instructed to renew the suspension? Can you measure the vertical distance from centre hub to wheelarch for comparison?

Hi, garage is a friends, not MB specialist, but in business for 30+ years with great reputation.
Knew about sag however I will go back and ask about pads and other points raised.
Thanks

 

[noogieman]

Lol, no, not if you think 14 stone heavy !
Get the point but with new springs and shocks etc I thought it would at least be level now!, apparently not tho.

Btw, do you also have the battery in the trunk on drivers side?
That's an added extra weight.
The 100 amp batt is a heavy item!

 

[greg palmer]

Btw, do you also have the battery in the trunk on drivers side?
That's an added extra weight.
The 100 amp batt is a heavy item!

Yes, agree, hadn’t thought of that

 

[BTB 500]

Yup the vast majority of cars would have been built as LHD, where the battery offsets the weight of the driver.

The ride heights on my R129 were measured a few years back before the ADS accumulators were replaced, and the driver's side was 12mm lower front & rear. I was told this was completely normal and nothing to worry about ... they could easily have recommended replacing the springs at the same time!

 

[Habil]

Would it be possible to move to battery to the other side?

Might help when driving