look how high this car sits even with the weight on it:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/300tdorg/2240739399/

and how did they fix the rear wheel camber problem?

on the Subies they lower the whole rear/front subframe and put extensions on top of the struts

MB had dozens of suspension specs for countries with bad roads. Subframe bushings would fix the camber problem but then you'd have a driveline alignment problem.

The guy has a blog at http://www.300td.org
he's apparently driving it all over Europe, Russia and Africa

I just skimmed through it and didn't see any mention of the suspension

this guy has a thread on this forum about the car-
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/index.php

He off hand mentions on this thread that he- "I also lifted the vehicle by installing the heavy duty coil springs and shockers. " I didn't go to far on it, maybe he describes what he did in more detail somewhere. I would also love to know how the camber is resolved. Maybe its a different type of subframe? angled for a longer spring?

Thread (with amazing pics on it)-
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/sh...hp?t=37908

I think forced is definitely right, he must have got some rough duty suspension that MB made. This guy really knows how to use that wagon, some of these pics are incredible.

(06-24-2010 03:27 PM)dropnosky Wrote:  This guy really knows how to use that wagon, some of these pics are incredible.

Not to knock what he is doing but most of those impossible shots involve a 4wd with a winch right out of camera view.

(06-24-2010 04:13 PM)winmutt Wrote:  

(06-24-2010 03:27 PM)dropnosky Wrote:  This guy really knows how to use that wagon, some of these pics are incredible.

Not to knock what he is doing but most of those impossible shots involve a 4wd with a winch right out of camera view.

I have heard that too about those shots. What, he said he was joined up with a land crusier or something for part of his trip? If I had a 4x4 pace vehicle with the ability to tow me out, Id be tempted to do some mudding as well. That must have been a blast.

Im thinking he knows how to use that wagon in the sense that he drives it everywhere and through everything.

Hi there I came across this post about the suspensions.

I have installed the shockers from MB, original parts, also the coil springs are original MB parts.

These days I am finding out how to replace my original hydraulic shockers in the rear of the T.
I'd like to know what you mean by this:

'on the Subies they lower the whole rear/front subframe and put extensions on top of the struts'

@Willbehere4u: I read you've got 16 inch wheels? I'd like to raise the car a bit more by installing bigger wheel to get even more ground clearance for our next trip to Mongolia this summer.

In fact, I don't have any problems with the camber.

The main problem is to find a solution to raise it even more, maybe then I coma across the cambering problem, I don't know yet.
I'd like to raise it more at the rear. The front is okay, can't be risen more I guess.


[/quote]
Not to knock what he is doing but most of those impossible shots involve a 4wd with a winch right out of camera view.
[/quote]

This is not true. Of all the months travelling there were 2 weeks I joined with some fellow travellers. That helps if you get stuck, which happened only two or three times maybe. I helped them to get out too two times, sometimes you just get stuck, even a cruiser.

When you get stuck it's easier to get out with the help of a winch, but many times no one is around. There are some techniques you can try.

Get out and push Especially funny in waterpools
Ask a driver who is passing by
If possible, pave a way by driving bits forward and backward, adding some centimeters each time before changing direction again.
If possible, deflate your tyres, if necessary put stuff right before or after the tyres
Use a jack to lift the car and put stuff under the wheels


You always get out, one way or the other. It just saves time if there is another car around of course.

Jurgen

There is no way to avoid the camber issue with out modifying the sub frame.

(06-26-2010 07:46 AM)winmutt Wrote:  There is no way to avoid the camber issue with out modifying the sub frame.

Agreed. Even just an extra set of bushings and a short extension "shackle" component on each side would do it, but I'd love to see pics!

And since someone mentioned it, the SLS replacement recipe is in a .pdf on my hard drive. PM me if you want it and I'll email it to you.

(06-27-2010 03:35 PM)GREASY_BEAST Wrote:  

(06-26-2010 07:46 AM)winmutt Wrote:  There is no way to avoid the camber issue with out modifying the sub frame.

Agreed. Even just an extra set of bushings and a short extension "shackle" component on each side would do it, but I'd love to see pics!

And since someone mentioned it, the SLS replacement recipe is in a .pdf on my hard drive. PM me if you want it and I'll email it to you.

Well, I didn't change anything on the subframe, it's only the stronger springs and on the front the heavy duty shockers I installed. All original MB parts.

Ya that rear ride height doesnt look to high, its probably just at the max height before it cambers in.

The only issue I had with the 16in wheels only car was the front tie rod mount on the spindle had to be spaced inward about 1/4in

(06-26-2010 06:15 AM)blurg Wrote:  This is not true. Of all the months travelling there were 2 weeks I joined with some fellow travellers. That helps if you get stuck, which happened only two or three times maybe. I helped them to get out too two times, sometimes you just get stuck, even a cruiser.

Even if there was a truck to help you out, it is still amazing the things the car (and you) can do! I'm jealous of all the adventures you're having. I hope you get to keep doing these trips for as long as you want to!

Do all the truck folks give you a hard time about taking a car?

Agreed very cool stuff you doing with that car!!!

The first time I went to Johnson Valley (desert area north-east of Orange County) I took my 300D as my Jeep wasnt ready yet. Several times on the 15 mile offroad drive in to the campsite my asshole buddies stopped the lead truck to dick around some way or another each time I was worried that I would not be able to get her going again, but each time the car came through.
Anyway, long story short, these cars can do quite well on loose surfaces when driven properly (i.e. keep the forward momentum whenever possible, etc) so I am not surprised to see any of these pics. That mud must've been fun, not something I would do without assistance nearby or a winch on hand, but fun at any rate.

They also do quite well in deep snow if you keep the momentum in the correct direction (i.e. "scandinavian flick")

Bumping an old thread, can we get a part number on these springs? I want them.

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I have 1978 240d manual trans. Do they fit on mine?

(12-26-2011 03:14 PM)lgreeley83 Wrote:  Bumping an old thread, can we get a part number on these springs? I want them.

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I have 1978 240d manual trans. Do they fit on mine?

I hear you. I tried. So did my dealer parts manager (a good guy who has helped me out on other stuff).

I read on another forum, supposedly based on another person's communication with him in his own language, that the springs he used were available from Mercedes for the African market.

Unfortunately, as a rule Mercedes does not make available in each country the parts listings for other countries, unless you have a valid VIN from that other country. In that case, a dealer parts guy can make a special inquiry to the area parts depot for a system lookup.

I was warned that in some cases they may actually demand to see the registration document (they don't like equipment making its way from one market to another.)

If someone can get a VIN from an African market w123 Touring, then we can get the info and take a shot at inquiring to see if they are still available. I have a wagon, so I have no idea whether such things existed for the sedans.

I tried looking at South African used car for sale sites, but never found a Touring, only the odd sedan and the VINs aren't always listed anyway. Even in Africa, it's evidently hard to find a decent w123

I think you can accomplish this type of lift using standard w116 300SD/450SEL front springs and w116/w126 rear springs.

Front spring PN. 116 321 32 04
From a vendor site, Coil Thickness:16mm, Overall Width:117mm, Overall Height:475mm. No information on spring travel per 1000N load.
In comparison the standard w123 300D turbo spring (123 321 41 04) has a coil thinkness of 15.8 mm, overall height of 450mm and a spring travel per 1000N load of 18.4 .

For the rear a w116/w126 spring PN. 116 324 08 04 should raise up the back end. 16.9 wire diameter, 373.5 spring length and 16.6 spring travel per 1000n load.
In comparison the standard w123 300D turbo spring (123 324 36 04) 16mm wire diameter 371mm spring length and 19.1 travel.


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