I seem to think that my rear end on the 1982 300sd is too low. Can you give an opinion?

I have 254,000 miles and assume that the rear shocks, subframe bushings and the rear differential mount have never been changed. It looks low to me. Here are some pics.

I have read every post I can find on the HD Bilstein versus the comfort ride for the rear. I am leaning toward the original comfort ride - but give me your advice. I like the cushy ride, but when I corner hard at high speed, it feels mushy - not firm to me. My wife's 2002 honda accord is super tight in cornering hard. But for a big car, the 300sd takes tight corners at high speed pretty well!

When I shift from Park or Neutral to Drive, she does "hunker down." I am guessing at least an inch or two. Don't have anyone to assist me in measuring hunker down effect with same yard stick.

Attached Thumbnails

     

__________________
1982 300SD Light Blue
2002 Honda Accord SE
1974 Toro Wheel Horse Tractor
2000 Toyota Tundra Pickup

I would say that you are riding too low, I believe the car should look pretty much level from the side.

The shop manual does not provide rear height information, instead it provides specs for measuring the relative position of different suspension components using a special gauge.

Assuming new springs the height is adjusted with the use of rubber spacers. I have read that as much as 3/4" of ride height can be lost through bad subframe mounts, and this is a project I plan to tackle on my car soon.

Kevin

__________________
'85 300SD

"When I shift from Park or Neutral to Drive, she does "hunker down." I am guessing at least an inch or two. Don't have anyone to assist me in measuring hunker down effect with same yard stick."

- Same thing was happening with our 190E. For example if shifting from P to D, it would "honker down" Basically in our car the susp. was shot.

NOw in our 95 E300D, this does not happen.

from what i hear all the rubber you metioned really should be replaced.
my sdl was really sagging. so far i have only replaced the rear differential mount. seemed to do the trick. my tires were wearing the inside edge off before. so far tire wear is not a problem. i still have the subframe bushings sitting in the box. i also went with a cheap pair of gas shocks. little bouncy on one bridge but fine none the less.

the easiest fix would be to do just the rear dif mount/shocks. both easy jobs.
i plan on doing the subframe mounts this summer.

__________________
sold
1987 300 SDL 318K
126.125 (OM603.961) (722.321 trans) (head#14)
Born on date 11/07/1986
2.5" Flowmaster Exhaust
flex-a-lite dual electric cooling fan conversion

now have a 1985 toyota diesel pickup

does look too low. Mine isn't like that

__________________
'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.