Poor ride quality 1992 230TE

[The Crooner]

OK

Having solved the idle issues, its now onto the ride.

It steers fine, and there is no "rear wheel steer", but the ride quality on anything but perfect road surfaces is poor.

Tyres are brand new

New front anti-roll bar and bushes August 07 10k miles ago

Two new rear springs March 06 25k miles ago

Poor ride most noticeable on poorly maintained road surfaces with lots of ridges

The self-levelling suspension seems to maintain a stable ride height even with several bags of coal right at the back of the car.

Opinions welcome.

TIA

Tony

 

[television]

With the state of all of our roads Tony even my SL feels bad.

Why do not we get the long term unemployed to re surface them all

 

[The Crooner]

Malcolm

Because it causes endless delays which lead to road rage, and we can no longer afford the drugs bill to treat high blood pressure, so we have to get ours cars' suspension right.

Tony

 

[simon_wall69]

Is it normal or sportsline suspension?

 

[Bolide]

What wheels & tyres are fitted?

I'd look at:

* front antiroll bar bushes (don't look, just replace them)
* front balljoints
* front lower wishbone bushes
* rear subframe leading bushes
* 4-wheel alignment

Then:

* rear suspension leg top mounts
* check bolts that attach rear suspension legs to the lower wishbone
* suspension spheres
* front suspension shocker top mounts
* rear antiroll bar bushes

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[The Crooner]

What wheels & tyres are fitted?

Merc 10 hole alloys 15"

205 60 15 Maxxis M1 tyres - I think they should be 195 65 but the rolling radius is identical

I'd look at:

* front antiroll bar bushes (don't look, just replace them)
* front balljoints
* front lower wishbone bushes
* rear subframe leading bushes
* 4-wheel alignment

Then:

* rear suspension leg top mounts
* check bolts that attach rear suspension legs to the lower wishbone
* suspension spheres
* front suspension shocker top mounts
* rear antiroll bar bushes

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

Thanks Nick, helpful as usual.

 

[kth286]

I would look at rear suspension spheres FIRST as when faulty makes the rear suspension go solid, hence you will feel every ridge/pothole.

 

[Bolide]

I would look at rear suspension spheres FIRST as when faulty makes the rear suspension go solid, hence you will feel every ridge/pothole.

That's very true

Also the cars are quite sensitive to tyres. Hard tyres like Goodyears boom and rumble but softer tyres like Continentals are a lot quieter and smoother. Tyres with stiff sidewalls don't work well on them

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[The Crooner]

OK thanks

I accept the remark about tyres, but I think my issue is more fundamental than the difference between them.

Can someone please post a method of diagnosing no gas in the spheres?

Years ago I had a Citroen DS and had the spheres recharged, is that an option on the Mercedes?

Thanks

Tony

 

[The Crooner]

OK

Today we jacked up the rear end of the car, and suspect that the upper shock mount bushes are worn.

Will someone please post the link to the Russian site for the parts, and please conrirm whether the lower mountings are also bushed or solid.

Haynes points out the two lower mounting bolt nuts, but doesn't tell you what to buy apart from the nuts if you take them to bits.

Thanks

Tony

 

[television]

Any good

http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...+++717.413&CT=F&cat=15U&SID=32&SGR=135&SGN=03

 

[The Crooner]

Of course

Thanks

We checked the suspension, and came up with a problem which had been identified as possible by Nick, so will do the top mounts.

The other bushes look old and tired, bit like me, but there's no significant play elsewhere.

I did ask about testing spheres but had no reply, guess you test them by changing them then?

Cheers

Tony

 

[Bolide]

I chased a fault around the rear suspension on mine and changed the top mounts, rear subframe bushes & spheres. The cause of the clonking was loose leg mounting bolts but changing the spheres did make a big difference

W124 estates are very critical of suspension setup. When it's right they are blissful. Once you've experienced that it can be a continual frustration if it's not quite right

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[The Crooner]

Thanks Nick, and , er, thanks.

I've yet to experience blissful, but I think I know what to expect.

The answer of course is to be driven in a "blissful" car, and have the driver of it drive mine.

Think I need to get me to a meet and beg a ride.

Cheers

Tony

 

[The Crooner]

Today we did the rear shock top mount bushes - remove trim cover around wheel arches inside car, remove retaining bolts inside car, jack the car up and there is ample room to remove and replace the inner and outer mounts.

There's some old and new pictures below, but a marked improvement on the ride quality. I now have to resist the urge to replace all of the other rubber in the rear suspension.

Its off for an MOT on 20 Feb. Maybe then I can justifiably change some more bushes...

Tony

 

[rhud]

That's very true

Also the cars are quite sensitive to tyres. Hard tyres like Goodyears boom and rumble but softer tyres like Continentals are a lot quieter and smoother. Tyres with stiff sidewalls don't work well on them

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

Interesting. I've been around the web quite extensively looking for evidence re which tyres to go for re maximum comfort - which presumably equates to sidewalls with more give and (for lower noise levels) tread pattern.

Any other views/evidence/ experience in this regard would be most welcome.