Bob .. This topic is being discussed on two threads. A couple of years ago, I went through the spring codes and all that when I replaced my bushing rubbers. At that point, Ray Paul at the old Star Quality in New York recommended the thickest rear rubber bushing. The car still did not sit in a manner that I wanted. I got into the project again a month or so ago when I decided to replace the front springs with firmer springs. That led to the Koni shocks and the "Pressure vs. non-pressure" shock question. I had replaced all of the shocks with new Bilstein shocks (gas type) shortly after I bought the car. From Arthur's reading of the manual, my 230SL should "standard" shocks (non-gas). All of this could have been easier if I had changed just the shock and then just the spring verses both together.
This is also complicated by not having any specification of "ride height". I have been using the measurement from the center of the star in the hubcap to the lowest point on the fender. This measurement is independent of tire size, inflation, ware etc. When I started, the front measure was 14.5 inches, after springs and shocks, 13.5 inches. I was going to take measurements at Blacklick but cars were parked on rolling grass.
Jim Villers
190SL, 230SL 5-Speed, 190E 2.3-16 Kompressor
