SUSPENSION - REAR
Rear Suspension MERCEDES-BENZ
DESCRIPTION

NOTE: For 190E/16 components not covered in this article, see AUTOMATIC LEVEL CONTROL article in this section.

Mercedes-Benz rear suspension is independent type with coil springs and 5 individual links. Shock absorbers and coil springs are mounted on rubber bushings to reduce vibration and noise. Rear axle carrier is mounted to body at 4 points and supports rear axle assembly.
ADJUSTMENT
WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS & ADJUSTMENTS

See WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS & ADJUSTMENTS in WHEEL ALIGNMENT section.
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

NOTE: Use self-locking bolts and nuts with plastic coating (micro-encapsulated) only once. Refinish threads with tap prior to screwing in self-locking bolts.
SHOCK ABSORBER

CAUTION: When removing gas shock absorbers while vehicle is raised and axle tension relieved, do not rotate piston rod while loosening main strut nut. This could result in the sudden (dangerous) extension of the piston rod.
Removal

1. Remove trunk lining. Remove nut and rubber ring of upper shock mount. Raise vehicle on rear axle.
2. Remove holding clamps on spring link and remove cover. Remove lower shock absorber mounting bolt. Pull shock absorber downward and remove from vehicle.

Installation

To install, reverse removal procedure.
COIL SPRING

NOTE: Use extreme caution when removing gas pressurized shock absorbers.
Removal & Installation

1. Raise vehicle and remove rear wheel. Remove holding clamps of spring link cover and remove cover. Insert Spring Tensioner (201 589 00 31 00) with spring Tensioning Plates (201 589 00 63 00). Compress spring until spring link is free of load.
2. Remove shock absorber as previously outlined. Remove rear spring with rubber mount. To install, reverse removal procedure.

Fig. 1: View of 190 Series & 300E Rear Suspension Components
Courtesy of MERCEDES-BENZ OF NORTH AMERICA.
REAR SUSPENSION & AXLE
Removal

1. Raise vehicle and support with safety stands. Remove wheel assemblies. Disconnect exhaust system at flange connection. Remove intermediate lever of parking brake and disconnect cable controls.
2. Disconnect both brake lines and seal. Loosen clamp nut of drive shaft and intermediate bearing on frame floor and remove. Disconnect rear of drive shaft and slide forward, out of centering position. Wire drive shaft to brake cable holder.
3. Remove spring link covering. Remove shock absorbers and coil springs. Loosen torsion bar connection toward rear axle and remove.
4. On vehicles with ABS, drain rear axle. Remove RPM sensor from rear axle housing. Cover magnetic edge of RPM sensor.
5. On vehicles with auxiliary heater, remove electric fuel pump and suspension plate of exhaust. Remove cable connector from rear axle crossmember. Raise rear axle assembly to lift stop. Force water drain hose out of rear axle carrier.
6. On vehicles with CIS-E fuel injection system, pinch fuel suction hose between fuel tank and fuel pump with a clamp. Loosen clamp on fuel hose to accumulator and pump. Remove fuel hose.
7. On all models, remove front and rear rubber mounts on frame floor and remove with stop plate. Lower rear axle assembly from vehicle.

Installation

To install, reverse removal procedure. Bleed brake system and adjust parking brake. Ensure differential is filled to proper level.
CAMBER STRUT
Removal

1. Raise vehicle and support with safety stands. Rubber mounts of camber strut cannot be replaced individually. If rubber mounts are damaged, replace camber strut.
2. Remove strut-to-axle carrier bolt. Remove strut-to-wheel carrier bolt. Force clamping sleeve of strut out of wheel carrier.
3. Remove camber strut at axle carrier while pulling slightly outward on wheel carrier. Remove strut in a downward direction.

Installation

To install, reverse removal procedure. Axle shaft must be horizontal prior to tightening camber strut nut.
PULLING STRUT
Removal

1. Raise vehicle and support with safety stands. Rubber mounts of pulling strut cannot be replaced individually. If rubber mounts are damaged, replace pulling strut.
2. Mark position of eccentric bolt in relation to axle carrier. Using Wrench (201 589 00 03 00), remove strut-to-axle carrier nut. Prior to pulling out eccentric bolt, push wheel carrier in forward direction to slacken.
3. Remove strut-to-wheel carrier bolt. Force clamping sleeve of pulling strut out of wheel carrier. Remove pulling strut.

Installation

To install, reverse removal procedure. Axle shaft must be horizontal prior to tightening pulling strut nut.
TRACKING ROD
Removal

1. Raise vehicle and support with safety stands. Remove rod-to-wheel carrier nut. Using Puller (201 589 01 33 00) and Thrust Piece (201 589 05 63 00), force track rod from wheel carrier.
2. Mark position of eccentric bolt in relation to axle carrier. Remove rod-to-axle carrier nut. Remove cam disk, eccentric bolt and track rod.

Installation

To install, reverse removal procedure. Clean grease from ball pin and conical seat in wheel carrier. Hold ball pin with an Allen wrench while tightening. Axle shaft must be horizontal prior to tightening tracking rod-to-axle carrier nut.
PUSHING STRUT
Removal

1. Raise vehicle and support with safety stands. Remove pushing strut cover. Rubber mounts of pushing strut cannot be replaced individually. If rubber mounts are damaged, replace pushing strut. Remove strut-to-axle carrier bolt. Remove strut-to-wheel carrier bolt with washer and contour disk.
2. Turn strut on rear axle carrier downward. Force clamping sleeve out of wheel carrier. Remove pushing strut.

Installation

To install, reverse removal procedure. Axle shaft must be horizontal prior to tightening pushing strut nuts.
SPRING LINK
Removal

1. Raise vehicle and support with safety stands. Remove spring link cover. Remove lower shock absorber bolt. Remove torsion bar from spring link. Remove coil spring as previously outlined.
2. Remove spring link-to-axle carrier bolt. Remove spring link-to-wheel carrier bolt. Remove spring link.

Installation

To install, reverse removal procedure. Axle shaft must be horizontal prior to tightening spring link nuts.
WHEEL CARRIER
Removal

1. Loosen collar nut fastening rear axle shaft prior to lifting vehicle and removing wheel. Using Remover (201 589 00 61 00), remove rear axle shaft out of rear axle shaft flange.
2. Remove brake caliper and hang out of way using a hook. Remove brake disc. Remove intermediate lever of parking brake and disengage cable control. Pull out lock on hand brake cable.
3. Remove camber strut-to-wheel carrier bolt. Force clamping sleeve of strut out of wheel carrier. Remove pulling strut-to-wheel carrier bolt. Force clamping sleeve of pulling strut out of wheel carrier.
4. Mark position of eccentric bolt of pulling strut in relation to axle carrier. Using Wrench (201 589 00 03 00), remove strut-to-axle carrier nut. Remove complete pulling strut.
5. Remove track rod-to-wheel carrier nut. Using Puller (201 589 01 33 00) and Thrust Piece (201 589 05 63 00), force track rod from wheel carrier.
6. Mark position of eccentric bolt of track rod in relation to axle carrier. Remove rod-to-axle carrier nut. Remove cam disk, eccentric bolt and complete track rod.
7. Remove nut of pushing strut on wheel carrier and remove with washer, contour disk and bolt. Force clamping sleeve out of wheel carrier.
8. Remove nut on spring link and remove from wheel carrier. Pull complete wheel carrier from rear axle shaft.

Installation

1. To install, reverse removal procedure. If position of eccentric bolts were not marked for pulling strut and track rod, position eccentric bolts in center position.
2. Prior to tightening any nuts axle shaft must be in horizontal position. Clean grease from ball pin and conical seat of track rod. Check toe-in and track angle of rear wheels.

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
Application Ft. Lbs. (N.m)
Axle Carrier-to-Frame Bolt 52 (70)
Shaft-to-Differential Bolt 52 (70)
Camber Strut-to-Axle Carrier Nut 52 (70)
Camber Strut-to-Wheel Carrier Nut 30 (40)
Drive Shaft Bearing-to-Frame Bolt 18 (25)
Drive Shaft Clamp Nut 22-30 (30-40)
Drive Shaft-to-Differential Nut 30-37 (40-50)
Front Differential-to-Axle Carrier Bolt 33 (45)
Lower Shock Absorber Nut 48 (65)
Pulling Strut-to-Axle Carrier Nut 52 (70)
Pulling Strut-to-Wheel Carrier Nut 30 (40)
Pushing Strut-to-Axle Carrier Nut 52 (70)
Pushing Strut-to-Wheel Carrier Nut 33 (45)
Rear Differential-to-Axle Carrier Bolt 37 (50)
Spring Link-to-Axle Carrier Nut 52 (70)
Spring Link-to-Wheel Carrier Nut 89 (120)
Torsion Bar-to-Spring Link Nut 15 (20)
Track Rod-to-Axle Carrier Nut 52 (70)
Track Rod-to-Wheel Carrier Nut 26 (35)