Rear suspension w123/w124

[RAD]

Hi All
I recently purchased a 123 series 230ce coupe,which has the rear shock sited down the centre of the rear spring .I'm led to believe the 124 series has the shock external to the spring . Does anyone have any source of pics of this?(I'm having trouble getting a w/shop manual).I'm curious because I am in the process of fitting air suspension ,and have had to resite the rear shock to the rear of the trailing arm .
Regards............

 

[Bolide]

The W124 rear end is completely different. It uses levelling struts, an under-bonnet suspension fluid pump, a pair of suspension spheres like a Citroen and a height-corrector to set the ride height. It has a pair of helper springs and no shock absorbers

I don't think anything off a W124 will be useful to you


Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[RAD]

Thanks for that .Perhaps it isnt the 124 Iwas told about then? Is there another model that has what I described?
Regards...................

 

[big x]

Your right Rad,here's the rear suspension of the standard W124 saloon.

http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...GM=717.450&CT=F&cat=15T&SID=32&SGR=120&SGN=03

If you want to see a W123 Haynes manual you can read one in Foyles bookshop in the Charing Cross road.

adam

 

[RAD]

Hmmmm,a bit far to go (lol!),but at least I now know one is available.Thanx for the pic.On stripping the rear shocks from my car ,I note that they have an internal spring which causes the shock to open to its full length when released ,never seen that before . Due to the shock length ,there doesnt seem to be a lot of downward travel available on the suspension ,I wonder whether the trailing arm limiter brackets actually do get a chance to reach their limits?
Regards...........

 

[Bolide]

Sorry - I thought you had a TE not a CE. Standard W124 rear suspension is as per Big X's excellent photo

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[RAD]

UPDATE..............(for those interested)
I have now modded the rear suspension on my w123 230ce coupe.The original had the rear shock in the centre of the spring .I've moved the shock to the rear of the trailing arm. This will allow me to fit air suspension bags in place of the springs . The rearend has become stiffer with the shock move ,and appears to have slightly removed the steering wander .Air bags next!
Regards......

 

[clive williams]

UPDATE..............(for those interested)
I have now modded the rear suspension on my w123 230ce coupe.The original had the rear shock in the centre of the spring .I've moved the shock to the rear of the trailing arm. This will allow me to fit air suspension bags in place of the springs . The rearend has become stiffer with the shock move ,and appears to have slightly removed the steering wander .Air bags next!
Regards......

Rad,

A couple of queries:

1) The internal spring you talk about is probably the gas separator in the damper. The effect is common to all gas dampers.

2) By putting the damper on the rear of the trailing arm you have increased the damper wheel rate thereby 'stiffening' the suspension, how much will depend on the change in the lever arm lengths. This should be countered by increasing the damper rate on the front as well - custom dampers? or custom dampers to the rear that will solve the other problems. Because you have increased the operating stroke length of the rear damper I expect that the damper will bottom out, which will destroy it! If you must run these dampers then reset/relocate the bump stops to suit.

Why are you fitting air bags - it can't be for increased load capability on a CE??? Are you intending to jack the rear end? - hence your concern over the droop length. Or are you trying to fit air suspension using say Range Rover bags? Please let us know

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[RAD]

Yes,youre right,the increased distance from the hinge point has uprated the suspension! I have adjusted the 'window' of operation of the shock,by moving the top/bottom mounts slightly ,so in normal use the shocks wont bottom out.BUT, I am fitting the air bags so that this car wont get 'normal' use!
The reason for the air is that this car will be what is known as a 'lowrider',which as the name suggests,has adjustable suspension which performs various moves eg front lift ,rear dump and vice versa ,all dump,or all lift .Yes,I can hear the sharp intakes of breath already from you lot!! lol.
Will keep you posted on updates as I get the stuff fitted,if anyone is interested.At present I am fitting all the wiring ,pipework,valves,switches etc .
Regards.............

 

[clive williams]

Yes,youre right,the increased distance from the hinge point has uprated the suspension! I have adjusted the 'window' of operation of the shock,by moving the top/bottom mounts slightly ,so in normal use the shocks wont bottom out.BUT, I am fitting the air bags so that this car wont get 'normal' use!
The reason for the air is that this car will be what is known as a 'lowrider',which as the name suggests,has adjustable suspension which performs various moves eg front lift ,rear dump and vice versa ,all dump,or all lift .Yes,I can hear the sharp intakes of breath already from you lot!! lol.
Will keep you posted on updates as I get the stuff fitted,if anyone is interested.At present I am fitting all the wiring ,pipework,valves,switches etc .
Regards.............

Rad,

With a low rider the rear damper is even more critical. Make sure that when the suspension is in its lowest position and the car is sitting on the bump stops, the damper still has some compression left. This will take care of the circus antics that some of the low riders do. Similarly, when the air bags are fully pumped up the damper should have some droop (extension) left otherwise the antics will again damage the damper. A check strap will have to be fitted to ensure that the air bag doesn't unseat.

I very much doubt whether the MB spec damper has the extension range you require and you should consider fitting custom dampers such as Fox, which can be tailored to suit. Besides, the Fox shocks will look as though the car has been properly engineered and the MOT man will not look too closely.

Lastly, the sort of range of suspension movement you will potentialy have will play havoc with the suspension settings. Make sure you set the supension to account for the height that it will be 90% of the time. For the remaining 10% do not drive it at anything other than a snails pace. Your insurers and the police will crucify you if you have an accident with an unapproved suspension setting.

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[RAD]

Point taken ! My insurance co .is aware of the suspension mods.
To be honest Im only really interested in 'standard' ride height or full drop ,I'll have to see how it performs!I dont intend to drive it with radical drop.Reading the air guages will allow me to re-gain susp. settings (height)to 'normal' after playing .I'm also aware that the cv joints wont take more than about 5" of movement. I'm not a novice at susp modding ,but I take your points on board !

 

[RAD]

Rear bags now fitted and working !!!

 

[big x]

Rear bags now fitted and working !!!

Any chance of some photo's ?

adam

 

[RAD]

Hi All
If you go to my website all will be revealed! Gradually adding pics of mods.Rodschopshop.co.uk

 

[turnipsock]

Looks like you had a lucky escape...

http://rodschopshop.co.uk/photogallery/photodetail.asp?ID=1880&catID=298&sort=&offsetg=

 

[RAD]

Hi All
For those interested.... Conversion to air suspension now complete !
See my website for updated pics.

 

[RAD]

Hi All
Havent been on here for a while! Just thought I'd give you an 'air bag' update! Just got back from a 600mile devon camping trip ,car and air system gave no probs,in fact I think the steering has become less wandering ,due to the rear shock repositioning I did to get the bags in ,which therefore stiffened up the rearend . With full camping gear ,little boot space due to tanks etc ,and repositioned petrol tank ,and the rest of the gear on the back seat,we got 28mpg . I think thats good considering the amount of time the economy guage was in the red zone climbing some of the hills down there!
My website....www.rodschopshop.co.uk has all the install pics.Will keep you updated on stage two of the development as I do it !
Regards................