2001 W208 320 CLK Anti roll bars upgrade?

[Boz]

Hi guys

Well the restoration journey for my 2001 W208 320 CLK has begun and I'm looking for anti roll bar recommendations for the front and rear....also suspension upgrade (springs and shocks) if anyone has any?

Many TIA
Cheers,
Boz

 

[DSM10000]

It depends what you want to achieve. What do you mean by "suspension upgrade"? The 208 was never designed as a sports car.

New original specification Springs, Dampers and ARB would undoubtedly improve the ride and handling over it's current setup.

 

[Boz]

It depends what you want to achieve. What do you mean by "suspension upgrade"? The 208 was never designed as a sports car.

New original specification Springs, Dampers and ARB would undoubtedly improve the ride and handling over it's current setup.

The CLK currently has 140K on the clock so I'm looking for it to ride and handle better than it does now.

Cheers

 

[DSM10000]

The CLK currently has 140K on the clock so I'm looking for it to ride and handle better than it does now.

Cheers

New and original components will achieve this as the current ones will be very much past their best.

 

[W1ghty]

Have a look at AUTODOC if you are buying a lot of stuff .

 

[Petrol Pete]

Just going 'large' on the ARB (front and/or rear) without doing similar on the springs and shocks will most possibly upset the whole caboodle.

The ARB is basically a spring straightened out . As an example , on my 2006 S203 C55 AMG the bars are much thicker and solid metal compared to the skinny hollow ones on most of the other S203 C class cars of the same era .....that do not have a 5.4 V8 engine (all of them) . Same goes for the springs on the AMG , very different.

Whether spending big money on 'upgrading' the suspension on a 2001 CLK is worth the money is , of course , your decision. Probably plenty stuff out there.

As an aside when I wanted to renew the front ARB bushings on my C55 they were no longer available , only bonded to a new ARB . Instead I went for the 'softest' Bushes that PowerFlex make for my car. Shown here , I can't feel any difference . Genuine MB AMG springs and Koni gas struts were also installed , along with Lemforder top bearings and new bmp dampers.

 

[Boz]

Just going 'large' on the ARB (front and/or rear) without doing similar on the springs and shocks will most possibly upset the whole caboodle.

The ARB is basically a spring straightened out . As an example , on my 2006 S203 C55 AMG the bars are much thicker and solid metal compared to the skinny hollow ones on most of the other S203 C class cars of the same era .....that do not have a 5.4 V8 engine (all of them) . Same goes for the springs on the AMG , very different.

Whether spending big money on 'upgrading' the suspension on a 2001 CLK is worth the money is , of course , your decision. Probably plenty stuff out there.

As an aside when I wanted to renew the front ARB bushings on my C55 they were no longer available , only bonded to a new ARB . Instead I went for the 'softest' Bushes that PowerFlex make for my car. Shown here , I can't feel any difference . Genuine MB AMG springs and Koni gas struts were also installed , along with Lemforder top bearings and new bmp dampers.

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View attachment 168091

Awesome! GREAT points and thank you for the detailed reply and the the pics mate, very much appreciated!

Chers,
Boz

 

[Boz]

New and original components will achieve this as the current ones will be very much past their best.

Much appreciated!

Cheers,
Boz

 

[Boz]

Have a look at AUTODOC if you are buying a lot of stuff .

Thanks mate

Is AUTODOC a member on here?

Cheers,
Boz

 

[DSM10000]

Thanks mate

Is AUTODOC a member on here?

Cheers,
Boz

AUTODOC are a motor parts company based in Germany although some of their websites suggest that they are UK based!

 

[Boz]

AUTODOC are a motor parts company based in Germany although some of their websites suggest that they are UK based!

Ahhh...great, thanks for the heads up on that! Cheers!

 

[DSM10000]

Ahhh...great, thanks for the heads up on that! Cheers!

Nothing wrong with them and they can have some bargains but returns are slow!

 

[Petrol Pete]

As said Autodoc are pretty good / but parts can take a while to arrive. Get the phone App and sometimes if you leave parts in your 'basket' they will remind you and lower the price . Not always.

The Orange KONI gas struts and rear shocks in my photos (post #6) were supplied by them at a good price.

 

[Boz]

As said Autodoc are pretty good / but parts can take a while to arrive. Get the phone App and sometimes if you leave parts in your 'basket' they will remind you and lower the price . Not always.

The Orange KONI gas struts and rear shocks in my photos (post #6) were supplied by them at a good price.

View attachment 168106 View attachment 168107

Ah cool....I will definitely do that and check out the KONI options. I pretty sure my 320 CLK has been lowered slightly so will need to look into sourcing similar springs.

Many thanks for the recommendation.

Cheers,
Boz

 

[W1ghty]

Ah cool....I will definitely do that and check out the KONI options. I pretty sure my 320 CLK has been lowered slightly so will need to look into sourcing similar springs.

Many thanks for the recommendation.

Cheers,
Boz

AUTODOC seem to take about 8 days ish , the maximum discount is probably around 45% ish .
Using their app is slightly cheaper than their website

 

[Boz]

AUTODOC seem to take about 8 days ish , the maximum discount is probably around 45% ish .
Using their app is slightly cheaper than their website

Great stuff...really appreciate the info on this mate!

Cheers,
Boz

 

[W1ghty]

Great stuff...really appreciate the info on this mate!

Cheers,
Boz

Us CLK owners have got to stick together buddy

 

[Boz]

Us CLK owners have got to stick together buddy

I totally agree mate!

 

[ToeKnee]

Us CLK owners have got to stick together buddy

What, both of you??

 

[Petrol Pete]

Ah cool....I will definitely do that and check out the KONI options. I pretty sure my 320 CLK has been lowered slightly so will need to look into sourcing similar springs.

Many thanks for the recommendation.

Cheers,
Boz

There are lot's of shock/strut options out there , these Konis just fitted my 'budget' at the time , generally speaking it would appear that the different versions of Bilstien out there are the 'go to' damper .

But for me , and every day road use , these fit the bill.