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#1
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w123 bad rear end TWITCH
EDIT: hit post by mistake... title should say bad rear end TWITCH....
I had my 'new' w123, 92k miles and very well maintained, on a section of really poorly paved freeway on Sunday and got a bit of a scare. I had noticed the rear end seems twitchy over bumps, more than I would like. However on Sunday I hit a stretch with longitudinal irregularities (a really bad paving job on a long left merging section), basically the pavement had a gap and was not level between sections. Well at 75 mph the rear suspension reacted so violently that I thought I was going to loose control for second. Scared the bejezzuz out of me. When the right rear wheel hit the gap the rear end 'twitched' and swayed, then snapped back into line violently, like it had been pulled back and forth by a huge rubber band. The suspension is otherwise tight and the car was just aligned to factory specs. It also just passed the (very intensive) Quebec safety inspection on its first pass, almost unheard of for a car of this age. Tires are almost new Michelins and are at spec pressure. Any advice welcome.
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![]() Mac 2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d “Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22 |
#2
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Sway bar links? Subframe mounts? Trailing arm bushings?
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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg 1995 E420 Schwarz 1995 E300 Weiss #1987 300D Sturmmachine #1991 300D Nearly Perfect #1994 E320 Cabriolet #1995 E320 Touring #1985 300D Sedan OBK #42 |
#3
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All of the above in post 2
But are you sure the trailing arms aren't broken - they do rust through... I don't want to bring bad news but it does sound like something broken if you thought you were going to loose control...
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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver 1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone 1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy! 1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior ![]() Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits! |
#4
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My rule-of-thumb for rear subframe bushings is to check the gap between the bushings and the plates that go below them. There is an even pinkie width gap when the bushings are new. The gap becomes uneven as the bushing wears, as in the plate tilts relative to the bushing.
The typical symptom of worn subframe bushings is the need for steering corrections to keep the car tracking straight. I don't remember the violence you describe other than when a [edit] idler [/edit] arm bushing failed splaying the front wheels in severe toe-out. But that definitely manifested through the front, not the rear. Sixto 87 300D Last edited by sixto; 08-01-2011 at 01:46 PM. |
#5
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Quote:
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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver 1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone 1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy! 1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior ![]() Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits! |
#6
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Ahh! Idler! Idler! Idler arm bushing in a 124. Same steering setup as 123 and 126.
Thanks, Army. Sixto 87 300D |
#7
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As I mentioned, it just passed an extensive licensing inspection on its first go. Most cars over 7 yrs old need at least two tries.
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![]() Mac 2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d “Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22 |
#8
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Trailing arm bushings -- possible. How long do these normally last? I've owned five Mercedes and I never recall doing them (but my memory isn't what it used to be).
Subframe bushings -- I doubt it. Driven a car with them bad, before/after, and this isn't the same behaviour. Swaybar links -- I can check but the government inspection was four weeks ago and worn links is a failure item. This is what I find bizarre: this inspection is a real killer. This is a 92k miles, dealer-maintained car. If anything bushings-wise is worn then it's from age rot. On a w123 are there rear adjustments for a four-wheel alignment?
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![]() Mac 2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d “Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22 |
#9
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On normal roads this car requires a minimum of steering intervention to stay in a straight line. One thing just hit me, however, that no one mentioned: loose rear wheel. Will check tonight.
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![]() Mac 2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d “Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22 |
#10
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Might have a look at the differential mount as well. Probably not likely but looking is free.
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Andrew '04 Jetta TDI Wagon ![]() '82 300TD ~ Winnie ~ Sold '77 300D ~ Sold
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#11
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Also could be shocks, especially if they happen to be KYB with 30K miles.
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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual. ![]() ..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis. |
#12
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Quote:
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Andrew '04 Jetta TDI Wagon ![]() '82 300TD ~ Winnie ~ Sold '77 300D ~ Sold
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#13
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My previous w123 sedan had bilsteins all around and was really firm. I was assuming that this kinder, gentler setup was factory stock ![]() I put Bilsteins onto the rear of my w116 SD, but it was never as soft as this car. What I felt was a side-to-side yaw, however... how would shocks produce that? I've driven cars with bad rear shocks but it's more instability from excess bounce. I didn't notice much bouncy-boucy in this situation.
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![]() Mac 2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d “Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22 |
#14
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In my experience if the rear shocks are soft, or the rear end is squatting excessively, you'll have some disturbing rear end motions. These cars have a lot of camber change with suspension compression, so the more it compresses the less squarely the tires meet the road.
What's your tire tread look like? Is there uneven wear?
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1981 Mercedes 300TD, 1994 Honda Civic Del Sol http://mefi.us/images/fuelly/smallsig-us/67195.pnghttp://mefi.us/images/fuelly/smallsig-us/103885.png |
#15
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Quote:
__________________
![]() Mac 2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d “Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22 |
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