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1982 Mercedes Benz 300td Is there a compensator?

Tiny
JAMESLEI
  • MEMBER
  • 1982 MERCEDES BENZ 300TD
Drive Train Axles Bearings problem
1982 Mercedes Benz 300td Two Wheel Drive Automatic 250, 00 miles

Can't fill in cylinder because there is no option above to say, "5 cyllinders!"

Car is sitting a bit low at the rear end and the wheels appear to me as if they are splayed outward a bit where the rubber meets the road. Could the lowness be caused by a compemsator problem?
I had that problem years ago with another Mercedes and replaced the hydraulic compensator with a massive coil spring. That fixed my problem.
In fact, does the 1982 TD have a compensator joining the helical axles?

I know that for years one of the coil suspension springs has been broken - it may be an inch shorter than it should be - but could the lowness be caused by very tired coil springs, or the compentsator, or have the shock absorbers given up?

Rear end seems a bit dead when I hit a pothole.

I'm just wondering what the problem is likely to be?
Could I safely ignore it?

Many thanks. James.
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Friday, February 19th, 2010 AT 11:03 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
DR LOOT
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,311 POSTS
Operating your vehicle with broken coil springs is not very smart, in fact it is very dangerous especially going down the highway and you have to make a correction. You will have to replace the coil springs and most likely the shocks.
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Friday, March 5th, 2010 AT 12:23 PM
Tiny
JAMESLEI
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Many thanks for the reply - re the coil springs on my 1982 Mercedes etc.

But does the car - a 1982 300TD - has a rear axle compensator?
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Friday, March 5th, 2010 AT 1:18 PM
Tiny
DR LOOT
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Are you talking about the rear sway bar? "Rear axle compensator" it depends if that was an option for that year, I don't believe you can replace the rear springs on that Mercedes because it requires a special tool.
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Friday, March 5th, 2010 AT 9:27 PM
Tiny
JAMESLEI
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I'm not sure what a sway bar is. Years ago, when the hydrauic compensator quit I had it replaced with a massive coil spring. What I call a compensator is like a massive shock absorber type of thing between the two halves of the helical axle. There is a spring compressor which compresses even that great spring between the axle halves so it can be installed. However, that was a different model Mercedes to my present 1982 300TD. Thing is, I'm not sure if my car has a compensator.

I know from experience that the hydraulic compensator between the two halves of the rear axle cannot be repaired.
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Saturday, March 6th, 2010 AT 10:46 PM
Tiny
DR LOOT
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First of all Mercedes has one of the most advanced suspensions ever designed, they have not changed their designed from the beginning the suspension on this current Mercedes is the same suspension on your last one, so the answer is yes "does the car - a 1982 300TD - has a rear axle compensator?"
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Sunday, March 7th, 2010 AT 3:00 PM
Tiny
JAMESLEI
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Thank you Dr. Loot.

Looking at the way the rear of my 1982 Mercedes 300TD sits too low and by the way the rear wheels seem to be bowed outwards, it makes sense that the car does have a compensator and the compensator is kaput.

Last time this happened (with another old Mercedes) I managed to get a mechanic to replace the compensator with a massive coil spring.

I know that these hydraulic compensators are factory sealed and cannot be fixed.

Thanks again - Now I know what needs to be done.
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Sunday, March 7th, 2010 AT 6:34 PM

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