[W126 Coupe] Do I have suspension problems? (shuddering/instabilityover rougher roads)

[Dawid Loubser]

Hi Kivendren,

With the absolutely insane amount of radar speed traps on the  
journey, I wish I could
"open 'er up", but I could only do so one one select stretch between  
Oudtshoorn
and Mossel Bay, and it's not  avery straight road, but I could cruise  
for a bit
at 180km/h.

When my car goes for service sometime the next month I'll defintely  
have Attie check
out the whole suspension, I just wanted some upfront opinions, so  
thanks.

I use Unleaded, and always 95 Octane when I can. My fuel consumption  
(especially since
I had to do a steady 120 - 130 km/h all the time with the damn  
traffic cops) was
around 12l/100km - exactly what the book says it should be,  
ironically; best I ever
got. In the city, it's more like 16l/100km.

If I'm not mistaken, the same holds true for the earlier SECs as  
well, but the
post-1986 models definitely prefer unleaded fuel.

regards,
Dawid

On 09 Jan 2007, at 2:40 nm., Kivendren wrote:


> Hi there Dawid, the drive from Jozy to Cape really opens a car up  

> since it's

> the only place we can really stretch these V8 Beauties.

>

> I experienced a Similar Problem on my 380 SEC about 2 years ago.  

> Ask Attie

> to check out the Drag Links since this was the problem on mine.

>

> Just Out Of Curiosity: How was your Fuel Consumption and are you  

> using the

> LRP or Unleaded Fuel??

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com [mailto:mbcoupes- 

> bounces at mbcoupes.com]

> On Behalf Of Dawid Loubser

> Sent: 09 January 2007 08:15 AM

> To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists

> Subject: [W126 Coupe] Do I have suspension problems?

> (shuddering/instabilityover rougher roads)

>

> Hello,

>

> I recently took the 560SEC on a 3500km round trip (Johannesburg to

> the Cape, and back) and I

> experienced some weird behaviour. Over smooth, high-quality highway

> the riding quality and

> stability is fantastic as ever, but over non-ideal sections (worn

> road, and little bumps

> e.g. when going over a bridge at 120km/h) the car felt incredibly

> "loose" and uncontrolled.

>

> Furthermore, if I hit a small bump, I feel shuddering through the

> steering wheel that goes on

> for quite some time after the bump is over... The bump doesn't feel

> damped at all. The

> one time there were several small indentations on the road, and the

> steering wheel shuddered

> so violently I stopped to check if my wheel was falling off.

>

> Yet, now that I'm back in Johannesburg, over smooth roads the car

> drives fantastically.

> I'm only back now, and intend to start the investigative process -

> but any guidelines

> would be fantastic.

>

> My car (1990 model) is just about to go for its 120,000km (major)

> service, so anything I can

> point out to my mechanic would be great.

>

> My wheels, tyres and shock absorbers are fine, so it's highly

> unlikely that they're the

> problem. Tyre wear on the front also seems normal. I've had my car

> for 30,000km now, and

> I think this problem slowly got progressively worsen (from my memory

> of driving the

> car on different roads) - I've never done a long trip like that

> before though.

>

> thanks ever so much,

> Dawid

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>

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