w123 suspension

[stuarth]

How easy is it to change the rear springs on a w123 estate? I have an odd clunk from the rear and suspect a broken spring. The suspension is self-levelling btw. How long will it take and how easy. I have most kit including a type of spring compressor (not the Mercedes tool that goes into the centre of the spring though.

thanks

 

[RAD]

Hi stuarth
Read about the probs I had doing this before you go ahead!............. www.rodschopshop.co.uk.....
Regards..............

 

[TimN]

You will not require the spring compressors at all. This is what you do.

Chock the front wheels to secure the vehicle
Jack the rear of the car up with a trolley jack under the diff and leave it there
You need to secure the vehicle without hindering the rear subframe and I am struggling to remember how I did it. I think that I must have used the ramps plus soft wood to spread the load under the very rear of the floor pans where they are quite strong. Then remove the tyres.
Then from under the car with the wheels dangling release the pressure from the levelling system by discharging the pressurised fluid into the vessel via the nipple on the valve.
From inside the vehicle fold the rear seats and remove the rubber covers that conseal the tops of the suspension struts.
Working on one side of the vihicle only
Using two 17mm spanners and very small movements release the hydraulic hose /pipe from the top of the strut. Be prepared to have to replace this hose if it shears.
Temporarily support the trailing arm with something like a scissor jack.
Remove the fixings at the top of the strut. You will have to take out carpets and panels to expose it.
From under the vehicle remove the two bolts that hold the strut to the trailing arm and withdraw the strut taking care not to plunge the parts together as a jet of hydraulic fluid will come out.
Lower the scissor jack until the trailing arm lands on the limiter on the subframe.
One the same side of the vehicle remove the subframe fixings at the back of the floorpan. Lower the trolley jack which is still under the rear diff a bit at a time and check that nothing is becoming stressed. This will effectively drop one end of the subframe. The spring will become free and can be wiggled out.
Fitting is as they say in all the books is a reversal of the removal process.
Do the same on the other side.
When complete you may have to pack below the wheels to enable you to get the car off the trolley jack as the rear suspension will completely collapse when the weight of the vehicle is applied until it is topped up with fresh fluid and pumped into the system.

Try to get original springs. If you have GSF or EuroCarParts you will see the difference in quality when you remove the old ones. I recon without any problems no more than an hour and a half per side.

First check that the hydraulic pipes will release before preceeding. If they start to twist then by new before preceeding. Budget £45 each.

I seem to remember employing the jack that came with the car just to raise that side of the vehicle a little more.

Best of luck

 

[RAD]

TimN
Good info there. (sure beats my idea of jack up ,lay into coils with grinder! CA...BOING..BOING ...BOING ..ChASE COIL ROUND WORKSHOP as it ricochets all over .lol) ROD