My car, a '99 E300TD Avantagarde Wagon, just failed its annual test (MOT in UK) for broken springs. Had the back drivers side wheel off last night and things are not right.
The rear spring is displaced outwards in the lower control arm, such that the edge of the "cup" of the control arm has already sheared a 3" section off the bottom of the coil - and is busy slicing through another 3" section.
Now, I have no issues with replacing the springs, c/w shocks and shims, spacers and everything else that goes with the 4 springs & (front) shocks, but I am concerned about the displacement.
Local MB dealership confirms my own schematics - that there is nothing between the rear coil and the lower control arm. i.e. its metal to metal.
Can anyone offer any advice on this ?
The "cup" seems a bit too big for the spring to just sit in, unretained in any way. My expectation was that a grooved spacer would be used to receive the coil, like the front springs.
My concerns might be unfounded, but I don't want 3" sheared off my shiny new Eibachs.
The bottom cup for holding the spring has a recess pressed in to hold the spring and stop it turning . There is a small hole ( about 4mm ) at the end of this recess this is to locate the spring durning fitting. There is also a rubber pad that sits ontop of the spring , these come in different thickness ,from 1 to 4 or 5 .
Rear Spring connection to Lower Control Arm 
Linear Mode
