w124 suspension trouble...?

[mattg251]

Hi everyone,
when i purchased my first merc about 4 month ago little did i realise how much work it really needed to get it back to a good standard. so far i have replaced exhaust, reconditioned all for brake calipers, had the interior striped out and cleaned, repaired the electrics, sorted out some mechanical bits. the list just goes on and on. items left to fix or replace
suroof
window regsfront and back windscreans due to frosting
power antena
welding inner wing
varioius internal trims
external paintwork
front suspension
etc.
etc.

when do you say enough is enough....?

regarding the front suspension, i have recently replaced the o/s/f bottom arm due to the previous owner kerbing it badly with destroyed the alloy.
now changed the wheel sits as it should in the arch but the car is alot lower on that side? i had a real good look around whilst i was changing it, and could not see any signs of damage to the damper or surounding area no sign of leakage. i presume it could be the damper but would like someone elses view on it befor more money gets thrown at it

thanks in advance

 

[bolide]

Assuming the new wishbone is the correct part and you refitted the spring pad & spring correctly it's more likely a broken or incorrect spring. The dampers make no difference to the ride height

Nick Froome

 

[MBK]

did u remember to put the spring pad back ontop of the spring?

 

[mattg251]

have looked at the other side to make sure everything was correct and present when rebuilding, i had a look at the spring and counted the coils to make sure they were the same, it's alot of hasle but i could remove both front springs and measure them?
if the damper was leaking would'nt all the force be on the spring compessing it further instead of been shared with the damper?

 

[grober]

Wonder if you have got a Sportline wishbone which has a different angle on the casting that holds the ball joint. Got a part no for the new arm on the invoice we can check out??
The springs do break with great regularity on this model-usually at the ends so difficult to see??

 

[bolide]

The damper doesn't affect the ride height

Yes, some gas dampers might have just enough pressure to minutely affect the static position but if the ride height is wrong it's not the damper

Nick Froome

 

[kth286]

As per MBK post - did you put the rubber pad on top of the spring.

You can tell by turning the front wheel out and looking up with a torch, you will see the bottom edge of the rubber pad.

 

[mattg251]

hi there everyone i have taken the front spring out tonight and taken some photos which i will upload, as for a part number i could'nt afford a merc part as i was quotd £219 from chesterfield branch but a local autofactors did me one at £52 (good price if it is the right part like Grober stated) i have checked and rechecked everything again tonight and still no wiser??????????

sorry if the pictures are a little poor they were taken on my phone

 

[bolide]

What car is this? Chassis number?

If the wishbone was £219 from a dealer then it's probably a car with Sports Chassis. And the local autofactors have probably given you the wrong part

Sports Chassis wishbones are different to standard ones

Nick Froome

 

[MBK]

Yes you've probably got a sportline car but have been given standard wishbone, i remember from a quote i recieved from Euro car parts that the sportline wishbone was a good £50 dearer than the standard wishbone.

K

 

[Aoraki]

Well matey, looks like you may have a problem, blue nose spanner and gen set on standby!

 

[kth286]

That spring lying on the floor - is the exposed end nice and square cut ?

It looks to me as if a coil or two has sheared off the end.

The spring end should level out a bit, but your's does not seem to do so.

 

[grober]

Think kth286might be on to something-- here's a couple of pics of the ends of a new spring. First one shows the flattened end that fits into the spring pad -the second the end that goes into the semi-circular recess in the suspension arm. I didn't fit this spring because Eurocarparts sent me a non matching pair! I am still waiting for a appropriate response from them to my complaint a couple of months down the line!

 

[ray_hennig]

Get the right springs!

Considering the small price difference, I recommend getting springs either from MB or a company that understands the points system. Even a radio adds 1 point and that could change the front springs.

I have heard that Eurocarparts only list 2 different springs for 124s whereas MB, Eibach, H&R and Bilstein all use the points system to arrive at exactly the right spring rate from a list of around 6 alternatives.

Sportline, of course, means shorter springs so that's another variable.

RayH

 

[kth286]

Even a radio adds 1 point and that could change the front springs.


RayH

Probably not.

The points system will determine the spring AND rubber pad COMBINATION.

As there are 4 different sized rubber top pads for the front suspension, a lot of different specs can be achieved using a COMBINATION of spring and pad.

I do agree that the use of Merc original springs will take the guesswork out of the equation, and is the way I would go - unless going for a quality aftermaket tuning product such as Eibach or H&R.

 

[ray_hennig]

But it did?

That 1 point took my spring requirement up to the next, honest!

R

 

[kth286]

That 1 point took my spring requirement up to the next, honest!

R

So you ended up being at the start position of the spectrum for the next (harder) spring range.

The choice I suppose was to stay at the end of the spectrum for the previous (softer) spring range.

How does the ride feel ?

Does it feel hardish ?

 

[mattg251]

hi there the cassic number of the car is WDB 1240502*******

it a 1990 300ce

what differences are there between a sportline and a normal one?

 

[kth286]

from the VIN your car IS a sport chassis.

Essentially:

* harder rubber joints in suspension links front and rear (including rear ones on rear subframe)

* harder and slightly lower suspension

* more direct steering (higher geared)

* wider wheels with the appropriate lower profile tyres.

 

[mattg251]

so basically i need another bottom arm!!!!!

well imight as well got a new pair of front springs just to make sure everything will be ok, thanks for all you help

will search around for some prices, i will try merc and my local autofactors again.
i will try europarts but cost is an issue so if anyone knows of other places to try it would be helpfull

thanks for all the help