rear suspension - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

josev · #1 11-18-2002, 09:28 PM

hello to all
i bought a 92 190e 2.6 a few months ago.
has new front struts,and rear shocks.but the rear is lower than the front the rear wheel stick out =spread out at the bottom
exsample= / \ is this the rear springs gone weak.???
thanks jose

md21722 · #2 11-19-2002, 10:34 AM

MB springs rarely sag. I believe most ride height problems are caused by suspension components other than springs. But, smetimes the bottom coil will break after years of hard winters (rust). I would suspect possibly the wrong struts/shocks were installed, or front end suspension work (e.g. lower control arms) was done incorrectly, or springs were 'tweaked' at some point. How low is the front/rear? Dealers use angle gauges to detect ride height problems. Try measuring from the center of the star on the wheel to the underside of the fender lip.

Piotr · #3 11-19-2002, 05:55 PM

have the same problem with my 190d. I replaced front struts with Bilsteins from Performace Products and the car began to ride 2 inches higher. replaced the rear ones with Bilsteins from the benzbin and the ride height did not change. Now, I noticed that my rear tires cut the outside edges, indicating potentially the wrong ride height. i wonder if the wrong struts would do this. To the best of my knowledge the car rides on springs and the height cannot be controlled by shocks. I did nothing else to the suspension (springs were on the car and not even depressed during the strut change).

md21722 · #4 11-19-2002, 07:50 PM

Struts/Shocks CAN effect ride height. They have on my car. I removed Bilstein Comforts and installed MB dealer and ride height dropped about 7/16" front, 7/16-1" rear.

Piotr · #5 11-19-2002, 11:31 PM

Hmmm.. How is that possible? for shocks to do that they must be compressed to the max. Now I know that Bilsteins have internal springs, but still I don't see how is this mechanically possible ? i don't doubt what you are saying, plus I see my own car, but I just don't get it...

Piotr · #6 11-19-2002, 11:32 PM

josev, I believe that angle for wheels is normal on a 201 chassis

tvpierce · #7 11-20-2002, 12:07 PM

Gas shocks & struts are "loaded". You really have to push on them pretty hard to compress them when you install them. It's not HUNDREDS of pounds, but I think I read somewhere that it's about 70-75 pounds. That means that if you replace old struts or shock that have lost their "charge", the new ones will raise the car as if you've removed a 150 pound weight. That's probably NOT enough to raise the car a couple of inches, but maybe as much as an inch. (maybe)
I hope my explanation makes sense.

Jeff Pierce

Piotr · #8 11-20-2002, 01:55 PM

tv-it does except why is it doing it (i.e. lifting) in the front and not in the rear? they both came "loaded" (I know, I spent an extra hour trying to squeeze'em in).

md21722 · #9 11-20-2002, 02:25 PM

The shocks/struts I replaced were only 72Kmi old, so I don't think they were worn out. Possibly different valving/height adjustment....

Piotr · #10 11-20-2002, 11:33 PM

md-if they were bilsteins they may have lost its nitrogen charge which would couse the loss of "lift" (i.e. that extra force unloading the springs). But I saw another 201 today also with raised front end (but not as much as mine). so this problem appears to be rather common

haasman · #11 11-20-2002, 11:55 PM

I experience chassis rise when I replaced the front and rear shocks on our '91 300E.

I called bistein tech support. Yes there is a gas-charged pre-load. Yes it is around 75lb influence. The tech person was friendly and helpful but didn't feel that the car would rise because of new shocks (I installed Bilstein HDs, BTW).

Am I wrong or are these "chassis rising problems" clustered around the use of Bilstein HDs?

The tech said that when bolts are tightened on certain applications, that the car should be standing, not on a lift. But he also said these were rare occurances and never with Mercedes ....

So that left me not knowing what to do next. I am contemplating replacing the spring collars with thinner ones .... but I still don't think the car should rise with new shocks.

I think we are missing something ...

Hope this helps ....

Haasman

md21722 · #12 11-20-2002, 11:57 PM

Piotr, New struts/shocks LOWERED the ride height - using MB dealer instead of Bilstein Comforts - so I don't understand your argument (or I'm more tired than I thought). Consider that your ride height is affected by worn rubber parts in the suspension. I have seen 126 cars with very different suspension parts with the SAME problem - New shocks (no struts) all around on that car, and the front was WAY higher after the install. Subframe bushings, rear suspension links, front lower control bushings, etc may all be contributing to some problems. Ride height affects everything, so your alignment is probably off. Also, changing the front struts (even if it doesn't affect ride height) can throw off the alignment. I wouldn't get one done until you find out why the ride height problem exists, though.