Pagoda SL Group

W113 Pagoda SL Group => Drive train, fuel, suspension, steering & brakes => Topic started by: Harry on November 09, 2016, 18:16:01

Title: Rear Shock Installation
Post by: Harry on November 09, 2016, 18:16:01

1966 230SL, New Bilsteins
My question is how tight do you need to tighten the nuts at the top of the shocks (inside the trunk)?  You have the 9mm (I think) flat on the shock end and the large (17mm or so) nut.  When tightening, you are actually compressing the rubber between the washers - providing some pre-compression.  I tightened mine until I reached a point where the rubber doughnut couldn't be turned by hand and the wrench was probably just beyond a good "snug" tight.  What's the correct tightness?
Thanks,
Harry

Title: Re: Rear Shock Installation
Post by: Mike K on November 10, 2016, 11:17:55

Harry,
That sounds right. I used the same method/measure to tighten my shocks when I replaced them.

Best,
Mike

Title: Re: Rear Shock Installation
Post by: Benz Dr. on November 10, 2016, 15:59:58

I tighten them until the nut won't turn any more. Make sure the dished washer is facing upwards. I see a lot of them facing down which will tend to bind up movement as the shock is doing its work.

Title: Re: Rear Shock Installation
Post by: ja17 on November 10, 2016, 16:00:29

Just tighten them until the nut bottoms-out. The shaft threads stop when the rubber compresses to the correct amount.

Title: Re: Rear Shock Installation
Post by: Harry on November 10, 2016, 17:18:54

Thanks very much!