Saggy Back End

[lepton]

Hi.
My 1990 300SE has a tow bar fitted but rides too low at the back for me to dare towing. I have heard that the ride can be raised by using suspension assists - someone mentioned "autobalons". What are they and do they work?
Thanks Alan

 

[ralphk]

Answer To Saggy Back End

Hi! I suggest the answer to your problem may be Grayston internal spring assistance. They fit inside the original rear coil spring and and give additional support when towing or carrying heavy loads whilst not appreciably changing the characteristics of the normally loaded ride. If you go on Google and type in Grayston the site will show you what they have and the application listings. I have fitted the coil springs to my C270 CDI Classic SE and the towing height is now maintained and has cured the issue I had altogether.

 

[lepton]

Graystone Spring Assisters

Thanks Ralph - sounds like a good solution to my problem. Was it easy to fit?
Is it a DIY job?
Thanks Alan

 

[television]

Yes they are very easy to fit and an easy DIY

 

[ralphk]

Hi!
As Malcolm says they are easy to fit providing you accept that on a mercs everything is belt and braces. The Grayston instructions are a bit simplistic and you may find that there is a little more to do to "drop the rear suspension arm" than normal. It took me 3 hours to do them but it was the first time that I had worked on my baby and I wanted to make sure that everything else was OK with the rear suspension. It wasn't as I had a broken coil!
Enjoy!
Ralph

 

[wireman]

Beware of the spring load, It is very high and you need a realy decent spring compressor to work safely on this suspension. If it comes adrift due to the wrong method being used it could hurt anybody in the close proximity of the car.

 

[ralphk]

Alan,
If you support the rear of the car on axle stands and use a trolley jack to lift the suspension arm)just to take the weight of the arm and the spring tension it will allow you to undo the shock absorber bottom olt and also the outer wishbone to brake plate bolts. When they are removed lower the wishbone with the trolley jacl and the suspension spring will become at neutral tension and then allow you to extract the coil spring without needing anycommpressors. Fit the assistors then as instructed and it will not be dangerous.

Ralph

 

[gfern]

I had a similar problem some years ago on my 300SE, I think you should look at why the back end is so low, in my case some new shocks and springs resolved the problem. I also fitted some auxiliary springs as I used the car for towing my race car around and found them to be most beneficial for both towing and general handling. These springs were simply fitted between the rear arm and the body, sorry can't remember name but I had them on the car for about 7 years with no probems. Try a caravan supplier.

 

[lepton]

Thanks guys, I have spoken to the people at Graystone and ordered the hardened spring assists they recommended. The car has new rear coil springs but still sits low because of a 100 litre LPG tank in the boot. The assists ordered are 30% harder than normal to compensate for the tank. I am informed that delivery may be 4-5 weeks because the manufacturers are on holiday. I will post an update when they are fitted. Thanks again Ralph, your description of how to do it will prove useful.

Alan

 

[lepton]

Finally got round to having the spring assists fitted for me. The garage didn't fit them inside the coils as expected but between the rear arm and the body. However, they work perfectly, the rear wheel arches are now 3" above the wheels ie. the same as the front, the exhaust no longer 'grounds' and the steering feels much lighter. It doesn't seem to have affected the ride either. Thanks for the advice.
Alan

 

[Bolide]

the steering feels much lighter. It doesn't seem to have affected the ride either

Interesting. It just shows how altering the geometry of a car, by lowering it, screws up everything

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk