More W124 Suspension Questions

[9192benz]

Questions regarding '91 300D. I'm working on the front and rear suspension.

Replaced in Front- Left & right tie rods complete, steering damper, ball joints,
Idler arm bushings, struts & strut mounts. Still have
center link & sway bar bushing to install.

Replaced in rear- Subframe bushings, diff bushings, rear flex disc, outer control
arm bushings & rear shocks.

Steering is better but not what it should be. Car still wanders on the interstate. Steering feels overassisted. Will ajusting the steering box increase the steering effort or just take out play? Would a seal kit increase feel? Even with the new Sachs shocks and struts it still has more bounce than I would like. Would new springs help? Lesjofors OK? Front control arm
bushings are cracked. Do they effect movement up front also? Crosswinds
definately increase movement of the car.

Rear still shifts to the right when passed by a semi. Which links in the rear
control movement left or right or do they all? When I pressed in the new
subframe bushing could I not have got them pressed in enough? Fronts looked like they needed to go in another 1/16 of an inch, top lip not making contact with carrier. Car has been aligned.

I'm not giving up till this thing is RIGHT!!! Thanks in advance for your imput!

[9192benz]

It was VERY windy today and I had to slow down to 60 on the interstate to keep it between the lines. I'll bet someone has some suggestions here...
share the knowledge!

[speedy300Dturbo]

Did you replace the rear torque struts? This is the upper diagonal link and as it wears, has the biggest effect on driveability.

[obwielnls]

Also alignment by someone who knows what they are doing is WAY important.. find who your local dealer takes it to for alignment. Some shops just use some standard alignment specs.. Not good. If it wants to wander it sounds like you do not have enough caster. You might even find out what the alignment specs are an make sure whomever aligns it uses those.

[9192benz]

Yes I've read quite a few post regarding the rear strut link. Off tomorrow so
I'm going to get under it and look at those. Didn't get it aligned at the dealership, will take it and let them check it out. Dealership is just so inconvient to get to. What about the bounce in the rear end. Car has 336k miles. Could those springs have gone south? Feels like if they were up to par it wouldn't have as much play. Any particular brand to consider? What about the front control arm bushings? They are one of the last items not to be replaced. Really appreciate the feedback!

[dieseldiehard]

Originally Posted by 9192benz

Yes I've read quite a few post regarding the rear strut link. Off tomorrow so
I'm going to get under it and look at those. Didn't get it aligned at the dealership, will take it and let them check it out. Dealership is just so inconvient to get to. What about the bounce in the rear end. Car has 336k miles. Could those springs have gone south? Feels like if they were up to par it wouldn't have as much play. Any particular brand to consider? What about the front control arm bushings? They are one of the last items not to be replaced. Really appreciate the feedback!

what kind of shocks were installed as replacements? KYB ? if so thats why your getting the bounce, they don't call them KeepYouBouncing for nothing!
Oh, forget that I re-read the original post and see Sachs shocks. They are fine no problem. I can't imagine why the bounce!
Springs won't cause the bounce, unless someone installed HD springs for some ungodly reason (carrying a load of Gold bricks in the trunk maybe?)
Remove a rear wheel if you can and then you'll see the links better than getting under the car.

I suggest you go the extra mile to some Indy shop that is recommended as knowing what they are doing (check the Shopforum for possible listing) and the dealer as a last resort because the dealer will take out the estimate book and you'll likely have an estimate in the $2500 range to put everything the way they figure it should be
Oh, check front wheel bearings for play!

[9192benz]

Looked at the rear control arms yesterday. Two on the left side had a little
play in them. Went ahead and ordered both for each side. Dealership will be the last place I go to have any work done. I can throw every part imagineable at it doing the work myself for what they would charge. Now if they want to give me an estimate thats fine. Have yet to find a good Indy.
Went to one listed in this forum and they had the car a week and got NOTHING DONE. Went and picked it up and did the work myself. The other I went to with a grinding in the rear told me without a doubt it was the axle.
I was skeptical. I've never had an axle go bad when the boots were fine.
I'm sure it can happen but I had my doubts. Turned out it was the outer control arm bushing in the bearing carrier. Rubber was cracked, the grease had leaked out, and the ball part of the stem inside had worn through the plastic race and was metal to metal. That's what got me started doing this suspension work. Entered the wrong mileage earlier, car has 347K. Runs great, can't wait to get this handling/steering problem resolved...I'll feel like I've got a new car! You know a post I read a while back said one of these cars over 300K is only worth something to the owner. Well I am very happy to own mine. Not too many cars out there can give you this type of longevity, still look good, and are a pleasure to drive. And parts are cheaper, if you shop around, than my son's Honda!

[dieseldiehard]

Originally Posted by 9192benz

Looked at the rear control arms yesterday. Two on the left side had a little
play in them. Went ahead and ordered both for each side. Dealership will be the last place I go to have any work done. I can throw every part imagineable at it doing the work myself for what they would charge. Now if they want to give me an estimate thats fine. Have yet to find a good Indy.
Went to one listed in this forum and they had the car a week and got NOTHING DONE. Went and picked it up and did the work myself. The other I went to with a grinding in the rear told me without a doubt it was the axle.
I was skeptical. I've never had an axle go bad when the boots were fine.
I'm sure it can happen but I had my doubts. Turned out it was the outer control arm bushing in the bearing carrier. Rubber was cracked, the grease had leaked out, and the ball part of the stem inside had worn through the plastic race and was metal to metal. That's what got me started doing this suspension work. Entered the wrong mileage earlier, car has 347K. Runs great, can't wait to get this handling/steering problem resolved...I'll feel like I've got a new car! You know a post I read a while back said one of these cars over 300K is only worth something to the owner. Well I am very happy to own mine. Not too many cars out there can give you this type of longevity, still look good, and are a pleasure to drive. And parts are cheaper, if you shop around, than my son's Honda!

sssh! the secret about parts being cheaper is a well know secret (I know that didn't make sense)
Well, one item you left out is that the 124 is a very SAFE car too!
I sure liked the new shocks and control arms when I replaced them, er had my friend replace them for me, I'm too old and busy to do that kind of work, I used to have access to a lift but no more anyhow wow! I decided to finally finish putting a sports package in the other 124, 300D turbo, I call it my project car.
I don't care that the whole car only cost me $475 (mechanics lien sale) plus $2500 in parts and a few thou for labor, golly it's a great car, its very reliable, it gets me where I need to go fast and comfortably and looks good too! People don't believe me when I tell them I've got 300K miles on my 123 wagon, 265K on the project 124 car and I can fill it with Biodiesel and cruise anywhere in style!
Oh, for tools check the Forum's loaner service, never know what you might need