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Car Forum / Mercedes-Benz Cars / February 2009

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W123 Suspension

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Commuter - 17 Feb 2009 17:41 GMT
I am replacing the ball joints and upper control arms on my car. I am
looking for recommendations for which manufacturers parts to use.

Is there any other parts that I should plan on replacing? There are a lot of
other rubber parts that I don't know how to test.

What about the rear suspension?

Thanks, Scott
heav - 18 Feb 2009 16:20 GMT
I have a 1982 123 300 TDT.  I have replaced the coil springs, both
front and rear.

If your car has a load leveler system, there are various parts that
wear out and need to be replaced from time to time.  The most
expensive part in the leveler system is the leveler valve.  You can
tell it's shot when your car sags in the rear when parked.  I replaced
that valve, $454 if memory serves me right, about ten years ago and my
car has started to sag again so it looks like I need to replace the
valve again.  That part seems to be dealer only or salvage yard only.

The spherical accumulators that provide "give" to the load leveling
system fail once in a while.  If your car rides "bouncy" in the rear,
your accumulators are probably gone and need replacement.

http://www.autohausaz.com/search/product.aspx?sid=jx2ndu4534bwqcermasb5y45&makei
d=800016@Mercedes&modelid=1194319@300TDT&year=1982&cid=27@Suspension%20System&gi
d=7554@Self-Leveling%20Accumulator%20Sphere/Air%20Cell


> I am replacing the ball joints and upper control arms on my car. I am
> looking for recommendations for which manufacturers parts to use.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Thanks, Scott
Commuter - 18 Feb 2009 17:39 GMT
I should have mentioned that it has the standard suspension. No leveler
system.

How common is the leveler system? I have looked at a lot of w123 cars in the
wrecking yard and not seen any with this.

I have a 1982 123 300 TDT.  I have replaced the coil springs, both
front and rear.

If your car has a load leveler system, there are various parts that
wear out and need to be replaced from time to time.  The most
expensive part in the leveler system is the leveler valve.  You can
tell it's shot when your car sags in the rear when parked.  I replaced
that valve, $454 if memory serves me right, about ten years ago and my
car has started to sag again so it looks like I need to replace the
valve again.  That part seems to be dealer only or salvage yard only.

The spherical accumulators that provide "give" to the load leveling
system fail once in a while.  If your car rides "bouncy" in the rear,
your accumulators are probably gone and need replacement.

http://www.autohausaz.com/search/product.aspx?sid=jx2ndu4534bwqcermasb5y45&m
akeid=800016@Mercedes&modelid=1194319@300TDT&year=1982&cid=27@Suspension%20S
ystem&gid=7554@Self-Leveling%20Accumulator%20Sphere/Air%20Cell

On Feb 17, 9:41 am, "Commuter" <t12...@pacifier.com> wrote:
> I am replacing the ball joints and upper control arms on my car. I am
> looking for recommendations for which manufacturers parts to use.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Thanks, Scott
heav - 19 Feb 2009 09:49 GMT
> I should have mentioned that it has the standard suspension. No leveler
> system.
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> system fail once in a while.  If your car rides "bouncy" in the rear,
> your accumulators are probably gone and need replacement.

I have a TDT = Turbo Diesel Touring.  Touring is German for Station
Wagon.  All the TDTs have the leveling system and I think it was
available as an option on the other 123 models.

I did some research on the leveling valve yesterday.  They are over
$700 now new at the dealer which seems to be the only source.

I found a wrecking yard in the L.A. area that has several used ones in
stock for $125 each.  But in talking to the guy at that yard I learned
that the problem is probably just a tired spring in the check valve
inside the leveling valve.  So I have to take the valve off the car
and disassemble it and try and figure out where that spring is and
guess at a replacement.  It will probably end up costing less than $1
and some time to fix the sag problem.

> http://www.autohausaz.com/search/product.aspx?sid=jx2ndu4534bwqcermas...
> akeid=800016@Mercedes&modelid=1194319@300TDT&year=1982&cid=27@Suspensio

> ystem&gid=7554@Self-Leveling%20Accumulator%20Sphere/Air%20Cell
>
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> > Thanks, Scott
runbiodiesel - 19 Feb 2009 22:38 GMT
> > I should have mentioned that it has the standard suspension. No leveler
> > system.
[quoted text clipped - 55 lines]
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thanks heav. This is great info. My wagon is in need of this too.
Sometime it sags, sometimes it doesn't.

BTW, are you fully recovered from your crash? That was a doozy!
Paul Fretheim - 20 Feb 2009 17:40 GMT
> Thanks heav. This is great info. My wagon is in need of this too.
> Sometime it sags, sometimes it doesn't.
>
> BTW, are you fully recovered from your crash? That was a doozy!

Thanks for asking.  I am getting there.  I can do practically
everything now, I have range of motion pretty much back in my arms,
but I don't have full stamina or strength yet.  I still draw a
complete blank sometimes when I try and remember something obscure
that I haven't thought of for a while.  The doctors said it would take
9 months to a year to get back to normal.  I feel like I am making
better progress than that.  It's been 4-1/2 months since I got out of
surgery.
runbiodiesel - 20 Feb 2009 19:07 GMT
> > Thanks heav. This is great info. My wagon is in need of this too.
> > Sometime it sags, sometimes it doesn't.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> better progress than that.  It's been 4-1/2 months since I got out of
> surgery.

Congratulations on your progress. Good news! Best wishes to you for an
even speedier full recovery!

And one more question on the 123 suspension. You said you replaced all
four coil springs. What were the symptoms that made you decide to do
that?
Steve
Tiger - 20 Feb 2009 22:26 GMT
Good to hear you are in good health after what you been through.
Tiger - 20 Feb 2009 22:32 GMT
I recommends Febi/Bilstein parts. They are great quality at a good deal.

If you are going to do that much work... since all W123 are OLD!!!... you
definitely should change your spring and spring pads too.

If I were you, I'd just buy lower control arm unit and put it in. The
control arm bushings on your car is cracked by now.

The rear, you will have to press those bushings out and put new one in...
trailing arm I think that is what it is called.

You should also change out the sub frame bushings also... gone by now too..

New spring pads all around... new sway bar links and bushings all around
too... I mean all of them including the bushings that hold the sway bar...
if it is not too much work.

New shock absorbers. While you are there, change out all those rubber brake
lines.

Did I miss anything else? Oh yeah, definitely get the right spring
compressor... they can be rented or just buy your own for under $200 on
ebay... alkyracer I think is the seller who sells great tools sold by Baum.
 
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