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On the lower spring seating surface where the spring pad sits there is locating tab goes through the pad. Is the spring supposed to sit inboard of that tab or is the end of the spring supposed to contact the tab axially. The attached picture I have it sitting inboard of the tab which looks like it should but honestly when I first took the struts out I thought that the spring was sitting with the end of the spring contacting the tab axially.
Ok next question I scratched / nicked the spring with the compression tooling. Thinking I should sand it smooth to remove any stress concentrations and repaint.
I too have to replace that rubber+steel shim under the spring sometime next year or so I guess.
Mine already kinda "eaten up" for its rubber layer.
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The bump stop I already renewed. It turned to dust slowly
New is light cream color, old becomes red like hahahha. MB genuine one best to use. I have tried aftermarket one, not good.
Bump stop material, reddish stain below
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Dumb Azz crappy aftermarket bump stop version 1, right side. I forgot the brand. Poor fit and so small.
Febi Bilstein bump stop 38573 vs original MB version A212 321 03 06-64. With white ring is original MB.
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MB version has nice "firm" feel to it. So I used the MB genuine one instead and kept the Febi Bilstein.
Febi Bilstein is not BILSTEIN the damper/shock, different company.
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Last edited by S-Prihadi; May 21, 2025 at 11:23 PM.
I actually replaced the strut last year but didn't replace the mount and bearing. So that is why I am back at this. This time I also replaced the spring pad and the bump stop. The old spring pads were stiff and the bump stop was disintegrating on the end like yours. The new bump stop is white and has the plastic ring. It doesn't fit the shaft quite as tightly as the orange MB one.
Compressing the spring and getting the spring to align on the seat properly has been a real bear.
I always use 3 spring compressors when doing front spring. Not 2 compressors.
3rd one is only for minor adjustment purpose, because the spring has to sit at an angle, the CASTER angle which is approx +7 degrees for our W212.
This is just an illustration.I have not spin the top mount the correct FRONT, thus the CASTER angle I shown becomes opposite . But u will get the point.
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3 spring compressors............
Oldie dark one is US made since the 80s, I borrowed from my cousin.
The silver hook version , new one is China made I bought locally.
Now I got another set of spring compressor.
This type :
Just an update.
The bottom shim is indeed without rubber coating at the spring mating surface.
I thought mine was overly rubbed and metal then becomes visible.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
. But u will get the point.
