C124 front springs?

[Ade B]

Just got back from a 150 mile round trip and my CE seems to be sitting lower on the off side than the nearside, about 10-15mm difference at an guestimate... front and back wheels, but front more.

Just had new rear springs over Xmas.

offending offside:

near side

wheel off:

Can't seem to see any breaks in the front spring (didn't check the rear as its only a month old), no clunks, car pulls to the left a bit (has done for 9k miles), steering seems ok,

Tyre pressures are all correct, I know the alloys are an abomination (refurb promised this spring) and the sharp eyed amongst you may notice the missing mudflap (courtesy of parking on a kerb), car went through its MOT a month ago with no advisories, Mr Walker had a prod at it over Xmas..

The car is never particularly heavily loaded but is currently getting a fair bit of use with my wife in the back on the offside and the baby in the back on the nearside ie. most of the weight on the offside - neither of us are particularly heavy (13st and 10st)

Any suggestions before I throw even more money at the car for unscheduled maintenance ?


Ade

 

[grober]

w124 are notorious for breaking front springs. They often break just where they sit on the lower suspension arm so difficult to spot. They are pretty rusty so might be worth changing them and the spring pads. Not too expensive done by a specialist with the correct spring compressor. Check the new rear springs/spring pads are seated correctly and that the rear anti rollbar mounts/bushes/links are OK.

 

[Ade B]

Been quoted about £120 for two new springs by MB, presumably I need a spring compressor - any comments on these as they seem to range from £10 for spindly looking things I wouldn't trust to £300+ for commercial ones which will get used once and then left in the shed.

Or does anyone have one I could borrow (please).

Whilst I have the car on stands, it will be a driveway job, anything else I can cheaply and easily replace (ball joints, bushes?) - there is 17 years of rust down there and space is limited for swinging on breaker bars.... I'm a bit wary of shearing things and making one problem two...

Had the Anti Roll Bar bushes replaced last year.


Ade

 

[Dieselman]

Best to pay to get hem changed. You can change them without the proper compressor but it means undoing the suspension arm and then you would probably need the geometry setting up again, so all in about the same cost..

If you disconnect the shock absorber and drop the arm you might just get a regular compressor on.
Try compressing the suspension first, installing compressor, then uncompressing the suspension. You might just have enough room to get the spring out.

 

[Ade B]

Thanks, I think I may have found a solution once I've confirmed the correct springs for the car.


Ade