R129 rear suspension

discoking

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These past few days I've noticed that when going round tight corners,roundabouts etc that the back end kinda drops slighty. All other driving is fine and the backend is usually very stable and solid but on corners if going faster than usual the back end just gives way a bit.

I've had to all the guys who look after my cars have a good look and they can't find anything untoward and the only thing they can think of is maybe the shocks are giving up a little under a bit of strain.

Anyone have any ideas or experianced this with their SL?

Mine is '91 300SL-24.
 

television

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Yes this has been up before, and the 129 will do this, mine did it in the rain, the back can just hop a foot say on the rounder bout, or kick out
 
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discoking

discoking

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Yes this has been up before, and the 129 will do this, mine did it in the rain, the back can just hop a foot say on the rounder bout, or kick out

It's never stepped out yet Malcolm but it back end drops slightly and I loose all confidence.High speed cornering is fine it's just tight turns.
 

kth286

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Look carefully at the tyres (all) across whole width and see if tread is wearing uneven.

Let us know if anything unusual.
 

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The car cannot sink, unless it had ADS
 
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discoking

discoking

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Hi Justin. That is disquieting, but does not sound as if anything is about to fall off!

What mileage have you done?

Hi Alex, it's just turned 79,000 miles.

It's just feels different,you know one of those little things that you just notice which others wouldn't.It certainly isn't dangerous or anything.

I think I'm gonna change the rear shocks and springs anyway as I'm going to do some track days soon and I've got a trip to the Nurburgring planned for early next year too.
 
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discoking

discoking

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The car cannot sink, unless it had ADS

It doesn't sink Malcolm,well it kinda does inder heavy cornering moreso than before...it's slight and hard to tell the difference if you've never drove my car before(which is why no one can find fault).

Just gonna replace stuff cos I want it spot on for later in the year.
 

Alex M Grieve

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It doesn't sink Malcolm,well it kinda does inder heavy cornering moreso than before...it's slight and hard to tell the difference if you've never drove my car before(which is why no one can find fault).

Just gonna replace stuff cos I want it spot on for later in the year.

I suspect by doing that you will eliminate the problem. It would be interesting to know if you find anything. As you say, you do not expect to find anything radical, but the condition of the bushes would be of interest.
 

kth286

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Does that model have the self level system for the rear suspension ??????
 

wireman

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Inspect your subframe mountings, they are loaded into place with the cars weight on the wheels and loaded into place by the subframe weight dangling on car.

This makes it hard to find, try lying beneath the car with it being rocked forwards and bakwards in park, or in drive with the parking brake hard on and place it from D to R etc whilst lying under to see if anything moves.

The 124 behaves just as you describe with worn subframe mounts.
 
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discoking

discoking

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Thanks I'll try get a look tomorrow if time permits.

I've got it booked in to my guys for new rear tyres and rear shocks/springs next week and maybe the fronts too but was thinking since I'm going to the meet at Warrington I may ask some of the more experianced members to help me have a look before I get anything done.

There are so few 129 SL's up here that finding an indie with intimate knowledge of them is very hard especially for problems like mine.
 


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