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overreved
05-05-2007, 10:26 AM
Hey everyone,

I have a 59 190 sl and it only sees the light of day twice a year and every year I notice that the rear is jacked up high. It is as if we put it on a lift and when it came down the rear suspension wont settle. The suspension works...its not locked in...but it wont go down. Is there an adjustment of some kind? Did it have a load leveler like my 220? Thanks in advance...

Steve
Walt Puryear
05-05-2007, 12:42 PM
Steve,

There is an adjustment at the base of the springs but they only move the camber a small amount. The standard shocks would not affect ride height, but it sounds like thay may have been replaced with the 'load leveling' variety.

Walt Puryear
overreved
05-05-2007, 01:15 PM
Yeah this is something else. Its up about 4 inches so the rear tires dont sit evenly on the ground making a full contact patch. The suspension is original though and shocks are non adjustable.
Walt Puryear
05-05-2007, 01:36 PM
Perhaps they are gas shocks, the type that permit load leveling with the addition of air pressure. Another possibilty is non standard springs or spring shims being added.

Walt
Robby Ackerman
05-05-2007, 10:20 PM
Tell us what brand and if possible the model or part number of the shocks.

I agree with Walt that the shocks are the first thing to look at. I seriously doubt that you have a set of 50-year-old original shocks on the car. From your description, am I correct in picturing that the rear tires are pointed in at the bottom and out at the top?

Re the springs -- how many coils are there and what is the diameter? How many years have you owned the car? I wasn't too many years ago that it was a fad to jack-up the rear end. I've noticed that Cadillac is trying to resurrect this as evidenced with their new CTS. :)
Walt Puryear
06-04-2007, 02:11 PM
Steve,

A recent post on another forum might possibly apply to your car. At the base of the rear springs is a plate that is used to adjust camber. If it is inadvertantly installed upside down, the car would be raised in a fashion that you describe. Just a possibility I wanted to mention.

Walt