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Garage => Mechanicals => Topic started by: mrkozzy on 05 August 2019, 05:17 AM

Title: Rear spring sag
Post by: mrkozzy on 05 August 2019, 05:17 AM
As we all know the drivers rear spring tends to sag more than the passengers over time. This creates a lopsided looking rear end.
In the case of a RHD it means if you view the car from the rear, it "tilts" ever so slightly to the right. Nothing wrong with the setup, but its starting to annoy me visually.

Looks like a FAT person is always sitting in the drivers side!!~ >:(

My question is.........are the left and right rear springs identical?  and if so are they interchangeable? (w116 280se)

On the assumption they are the same, then my thought process is to get another (in this case) passenger side spring and change over the slightly sagging drivers one.
Theoretically it should "even up" the rear look of the car more to the horizontal.

Is my thinking correct or is it pie in the sky?

nb; The rear shock absorbers were replaced with new ones 3 years ago.
Title: Re: Rear spring sag
Post by: Squiggle Dog on 05 August 2019, 11:30 AM
The rear springs are interchangeable left and right and are likely the same throughout the W116 lineup with exception to the 6.9. The rears can sag, but the fronts seem to last forever. Keep in mind that for whatever reason, a lot of these cars have a built-in body lean which can never be corrected. Even after new springs and bushings, they can still sag to one side. The rubber spring pads can also sag by about 5mm or so over the years.

My W116 had a lean on the driver's side, so I replaced all four springs and every suspension component, including the spring pads. Afterward, it still leaned on the driver's side, and I have read several other cases where this could never be corrected, and might in fact be part of the design.
Title: Re: Rear spring sag
Post by: ptashek on 05 August 2019, 03:41 PM
The sag/lean can also be due to  a broken anti-squat link in the rear (happened to me). Applies to V8s only.

But yeah, the right lean is quite normal. My 450se leans to the right a little too.
Title: Re: Rear spring sag
Post by: mrkozzy on 11 August 2019, 07:57 PM
Thanks for the info.
It all makes sense..
I'll have a good look at all the rear components first.
Title: Re: Rear spring sag
Post by: robertd on 13 August 2019, 06:15 PM
Hey mrkozzy,
Does your car have self leveling rear suspension or standard shocks?
I have seen where previous owners have removed the "leaking" self leveling shocks and "spheres" and replaced them with standard shocks.  These will always sag as the coil springs on the "self leveling suspension" set up are not as stiff as the springs on non-SLS cars. 
Just a thought!
Title: Re: Rear spring sag
Post by: mrkozzy on 14 August 2019, 06:39 AM
Hey Rob.

Mine has standard shocks.

Both front and rear have been replaced within the past 5 years.

The sag never disappeared