6.9

The caliper method has been used since 1959.
When you have the gauge it was easy to set the suspension with them but if you do not have the gauges then measuring the bumper height is the only method available .
I would love a set of gauges because hassling with a tape measure and going back and forth measuring the heights gets old very quickly.

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12-14-2004, 11:49 PM #8
Tom Hanson
MBCA Member

What the heck, try to stuff a MB 6.9 liter V8 in it. What a machine that would be..
__________________
Tom Hanson
Orange County Section

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I used Styria's dimensions of 26 front 25 rear. Not only does it look better but improved the ride. It seems to me that MB would have given a specification and procedure of measurement other than a special caliper on suspensions arms. Oh well....problem solved anyhow.

Thanks for all the input.



John Moore
NC
6.9 #142
6.9 #4630
450SLC #14289

As Chris J Correctly observes,to do it the factory way you need the angle measuring device on the control arms to measure the height(see '4') .
And as your form is for the American version it would make the car sit higher if you measure a car at 506 mm to the top of the bumper rubber. I think this may have been for the US federal minimum height headlight positions which led to cars like the Etype jag having those ugly frog headlights.

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12-14-2004, 11:49 PM #8
Tom Hanson
MBCA Member

What the heck, try to stuff a MB 6.9 liter V8 in it. What a machine that would be..
__________________
Tom Hanson
Orange County Section

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I have finally located the ride height specs in the "M-B Technical Data 1980" and I include a copy of what it says but I am not sure how you apply it.



I measured my car today (Euro with 16 inch wheels) with a straight edge at the highest point of each wheelarch opening and the fronts were both 66.5 cm and the left rear was 63.5 cm and the right rear 63cm - with the motor idling.

Reading the specs suggests that the front ride height is the same as a Euro but the rear is 6mm higher. It must be the bumpers that change the ride height visually.

Bill

1979 Euro 6.9 with AMG modifications #5554
1979 450SEL plus another 1979 for spares

I just went through this with my car and the newly refinished Ronal 16x8 wheels. If you refer to the 6.9 owner's manual on page 73 the Overall vehicle height (constant) is given as 55.5 inches. We assumed that this is the highest point on the top of the car to the ground.

However, that spec had the car too low relative to the tires and fenders so we set it higher and more along the lines of what Tom Hanson is suggesting. I'll post some pics. Just replaced every rubber wear item in the suspension front and rear. That along with the Ronals and the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 225/55/ZR16's have made for a very nice improvement in how the car drives and handles. It also looks like a completely different car.

I have the Fische here Chris, but without looking I believe the cars are measured at the bottom of the doors to the ground at four points. I just dont remember what the measurement was.

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12-14-2004, 11:49 PM #8
Tom Hanson
MBCA Member

What the heck, try to stuff a MB 6.9 liter V8 in it. What a machine that would be..
__________________
Tom Hanson
Orange County Section

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Are the correct parameters not included in the Technical Data book?

I don't have an edition late enough to include 6.9s, so I can't check it for you but Mercedes is very good about documenting such things.

The book won't list the data as "height from the ground to the fender" but will provide some absolute reference such as height difference between inner and outer pivots points of lower A arms for the front suspension and camber for the rear suspension for 112 and 109 chassis cars, for example. This allows the suspension to be set to the correct geometry without having to worry about unquantifyables such as tire height and wear or defective rubber parts between the suspension and the body.

Chris Johnson
If you aren't constantly impressed with your car, then it needs fixing.
100.012-12-000867

Hi styria, I've had occasion to ponder this at various points, and your quoted figures are the first concrete suggestion I've seen. Did you determine those values empirically, or from some reference document?

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116.036
116.036
116.024
116.020
107.044
202.018

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Thanks for the suggestions guys !

John M

John, Front 26" and Rear 25". Just got to be a bit precise with rears to save scrubbing tyres, ususally on the inside if the setting is too low. I made that mistake. Regards Styria

"My Gleaming Beauty"
topklasse.net.au

i agree with Tom On this,but the USA cars without the hi ride position always looked too high compared with the cars for other markets. You can achieve high position by removing a pin on the main valve.

quote:

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12-14-2004, 11:49 PM #8
Tom Hanson
MBCA Member

What the heck, try to stuff a MB 6.9 liter V8 in it. What a machine that would be..
__________________
Tom Hanson
Orange County Section

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You might get sevceral different answers and maybe even some arguments on this subject. Find a sales brochure or some old factory photos and adjust it "visually" to the pictures.

Supervisor, Parts Ops
MB Classic Center USA
MBUSA, LLC
949 598-4842 direct
thomas.hanson@mbusa.com

I am trying to get #4630 back to its correct ride height. Does any one have measurments from "road" surface to wheel opening lip at centerline of front spindle and rear axle?

Thanks
John M
NC
142
4630