Front coil springs

[CJHenderson]

Is there rubber mounts that are for the bottom of the coil springs, how do I measure the diameter of the springs inside or outside Dia.?

[Pawel66]

I have been through this recently...

There are various heights pads up there, nothing at the bottom. Important not to forget that the front springs have their top and bottom that are not the same.

[CJHenderson]

Thanks for clearing that up. As for the thickness, I have no idea because when I remove the springs the upper pads were almost completely worn through. I'm thinking of the 25mm might work fine.

[Charles 230SL]

CJ, I think there's a part number (or some other marking) on the old pad that identifies how thick it is.   

[Pawel66]

There are several sizes of those available from MB. I do not know what to advise here. I bought something mid range, could be 22mm or so, but I am not sure what size it should be exactly.

[stickandrudderman]

The different thickness rubbers are to adjust ride height, or more specifically, wishbone angle.

[CJHenderson]

What would have been the standard thickness coming off of the factory floor?

[stickandrudderman]

I don't know for a fact, but if I was building new cars I would start with the middle of the range.
That's what I do when restoring them.

[Raymond]

There are a number of threads about this, if you search.  There is also one which explains how to use rubber flange gaskets to adjust ride height.  When I did mine, i chose a thinner thickness and added the gaskets.  It worked perfectly.  It's a bit of a pain putting the springs in and out but it beat buying a spring rubber that was too thick.  Search "flange gasket" in quotes to see Jim Villers presentation on this.

[mnahon]

I thought that Jim Viller's approach of using flange gaskets was for the rear springs. Can it also be done on the front springs?

[CJHenderson]

Just received the rubber mount but doesn't seem right. The coil springs has a thicker diameter coil compared to the groove in the pad. Am I suppose to heat the pads to fit over the springs?

[Pawel66]

Mine fitted just fine... are they from Mercedes? Did you make sure you put them on top of the spring, not the bottom?

Well, they will be pressed when you put the car on wheels...

[CJHenderson]

Have no clue as to which is top or bottom, it looks the same

[Pawel66]

It should not. If I remember correctly (I have ny BBB back home) the bottom end of the spring is bent inwards at an angle to fit the lower control arm seat. Top of the spring ends round. I hope I remember correctly...

[Pawel66]

The end of the spring not bent inwards (sorry for this), but outwards a bit, on the bottom. I found the picture, attached.

[CJHenderson]

Thanks for the reference this will get me going to finish the install.

[sandcrab59]

If you can find someone that has the real small blue tech specs book,in there is the correct springs and rubber mounts for your car.
It should be for 1970. I assume you have a 1970 280SL. There is a spec book for every year.
Mine is upstairs and it is very late and I do not want to climb stairs tonight.
Tom