R170 SLK 230K, sitting low on one side

[ivan1983]

Hi All,

I have a bit of a strange one. I noticed that the SLK driver side front was sitting a bit lower than the passenger side. I have no idea how long this has been like that, it may have even been like that from the start of our ownership.

Anyway I assumed it would be a broken spring, I jacked it up and removed the wheel and thoroughly checked the spring and couldnt see anything untoward.
I removed the other front wheel to compare and that spring was also fine and looked to be a similar age to the driver side. Both springs have the red Mercedes colour coding, the shocks look the same, and the spring pads both have 3 dots which suggests that each side is the same

What confused me a little is that with both of the wheels suspended and the suspension unloaded there was a 1cm difference in the distance between the spring perch and the control arm on each side as per the red line in the pic (Not my setup but a generic internet picture for illustration). Even if the springs were different I would expect the unloaded distance to be the same.

Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[ivan1983]

Bump. Any thoughts?

 

[ivan1983]

Think I will just replace both springs up front

 

[Smart320]

That's what I would do , not saying I'm right mind you

 

[ivan1983]

That's what I would do , not saying I'm right mind you

We shall find out!

 

[noogieman]

Either one of the springs sagged or it's rusted and snapped one coil?
W124 had this problem with broken springs so did the rustbucket w210.
Rust causes stress on metal for springs to eventually snap.
All springs do eventually sag, nothing lasts forever.

 

[ivan1983]

Either one of the springs sagged or it's rusted and snapped one coil?
W124 had this problem with broken springs so did the rustbucket w210.
Rust causes stress on metal for springs to eventually snap.
All springs do eventually sag, nothing lasts forever.

This r170 is surprisingly rust free. I had a good look and couldn't see a broken coil so I'm hoping it's a sagging spring as you suggest, or a break up in the perch

 

[noogieman]

When was the MOT done?
Did test guys at MOT comment for spring sitting lower on one side?
They test the suspension and that should reveal clunk noise.

 

[ivan1983]

MOT was done in July. Nothing mentioned in the MOT regarding the suspension. I only noticed it as I had to brake hard at high speed and the car pulled to the left(lower side) so I thought I would investigate.
No clunking noises either.
I'm leaning towards a sagging spring.
Also the car is parked on a kerb most of the time about 1 inch high . The passenger side is the one on the kerb and the driver side is the one with the suspected sagging spring.
I will order some springs and try and get it done before it gets cold!

 

[noogieman]

Springs are probably getting tired?

 

[BTB 500]

I was told by a suspension specialist that it's quite normal for older cars to sit slightly lower on the driver's side, due to the small extra weight affecting the springs that side over the years.

 

[Codger49]

In the 1970s and 80s, it was known as 1DI, 1 driver-itis.

 

[bobo]

I've had mine since new 2002. Its went thru 2 broken springs at the front. I'm refurbishing the rear (subframe off) and both back ones were gone also. It's only done 50,000.
Scottish weather I suppose