Pagoda SL Group

W113 Pagoda SL Group => General Discussion => Topic started by: Bob G ✝︎ on June 23, 2004, 10:04:27

Title: suspension & shock absorber question
Post by: Bob G ✝︎ on June 23, 2004, 10:04:27
While driving my car out to a 45 mile location car show I noticed that I had to make constant corrections to the steering to keep it tracking stright. It does not pull or drift per say and I heard what I asume is a rubbing noise under the chassie.

Question is I am told that my shocks are bad and will cause some of this drift problem could bushing in the rear controll arms be the sound I heard that came from the chassie.

Any advice in general would be appreciated. Also Should I stay with Mercedes-Benz bilstein Shocks or go to Bilstein direct and buy their shocks?
Bob Geco
1968 280SL
Title: Re: suspension & shock absorber question
Post by: Joe on June 23, 2004, 13:45:28
Bob, I just this morning ordered new rear Bilsteins from www.mercedesparts.com. Their price on the website is $75, but over the phone (1-800-259-1125), their price is $65 each. Someone in a recent thread on shocks mentioned this dealer. Joe Alexander says you need gas shocks, and that's the reason to get the Bilsteins. At least, that's the reason I did.
Joe
Title: Re: suspension & shock absorber question
Post by: n/a on June 24, 2004, 00:34:07
Bob

Funny you should mention this problem. I took a 500 km trip yesterday in the 230 SL and found that it had a similar feel on the highway, especially at speed. The car tracks quite well but I notice I'm correcting more than normal to keep it in a straight line. The suspension is quite tight althought there is a squeaking noise when you bounce the front end up and down by hand. It doesn't seem to be coming from the shocks and I don't hear it while driving. So, maybe I need to check the same things.

Mark

1965 230 SL light blue, auto, RHD
Title: Re: suspension & shock absorber question
Post by: Mike Hughes on June 24, 2004, 13:08:03
If the rubber bushings in the steering coupling are in their beginning stages of disintegration, one could be experiencing a little "darting," especially at higher speeds, without the real "sloppy" feeling one gets when they are completely perished.  Just a thought!

- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
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