idea to suspesion de-modding from H&R+Koni back

[1998K]

first step on my W202 kompressor (Italian Greece Portugal engine 1998cc with 192HP ): from factory bootish elegance set up to H&R with koni yellow externally adjustable dampers.
This 2 years and abt 28000km ago. Ride is like a train but confort is completly lost (koni are already setted to softest)

Since I've to change tyres I'm wondering to put back the factory spring

Please what's your idea and personal experience, in particular with reference to:

will work well koni yellow dampers after 28000km with a different (softer and different ride) spring ride?

how it will ride in term of confort and sport approach body roll (does someone utilize koni with stock elegance/classic spring)

I'm wondering to utilize lower spring pad to lower the car as much I can, since the H&R lowering is really an improovement in term of aesthetic poin of view.

Yes may be my idea is really strange but, and I'm really not convinced to proceed with!

I thank you for any suggestion

Marco

 

[bolide]

I'd suspect the loss in ride quality is all because the spring rates are too high. I'd switch back to the factory springs, keep the Konis and see how you like it

If it's still no good I'd look at Bilsteins - maybe Bilsteins Comforts - as I've found them easier to live with than Konis

Your Konis may be designed to work with shorter than standard springs. I'd contact the local distributor and ask if you can use standard springs with them

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[KLP 92]

I'm currently having the same probs on my W202 estate. I have the Lorinser shock with H&R springs.

The ride won't become softer until you change the shocks. I initially had the Lorinser shocks with the standard springs and i didn't really notice any difference when i changed to the H&R springs. I'm considering changing back to standard MB sport shocks.

 

[1998K]

Dear Friends,

thanks a lot for your reply. So it seems I'm not the only one with this problem having changed the suspension set up.

As far as the koni yellow I've read somewhere that they don't have the a shorter rod lenght, as I know some specific Bilstein damper have, so may be they could work with factory spring (elegance ). But it's better to verify.

It's not so clear if the harsh ride is due to the damper or the spring. In any case I keep for sure the koni, in case I'll see how it can work with the elegance spring! As said I'd like to install a shorter spring pad to lower a bit respect the jeep aspects of factory elegance set up, I'l do a search to find the spring part number, but I've already look below my car to locate the pad I've already but I'm not able to locate it

thanks again

Marco

 

[KLP 92]

As i've said earlier, the springs in my case made minimal difference, the hard ride is mainly down to the shocks.

I'm on the look out for MB sport shocks at the moment, but i'll definately miss the handling of these! I can out corner a C43 with ease with this set up!

 

[1998K]

Thanks again!

Yes it's a hard decision, also my car ride like a train and in the corner is always "flat" on the road! but my wife and my newborn baby are subject to an hard trips!

decision decision!?

 

[grober]

merc parts

Mercedes do variety of springs for your car with different rates according to equipment. see http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...GM=717.460&CT=F&cat=45H&SID=32&SGR=015&SGN=01
and
http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...GM=717.460&CT=F&cat=45H&SID=32&SGR=120&SGN=03

 

[1998K]

Mercedes do variety of springs for your car with different rates according to equipment. see http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...GM=717.460&CT=F&cat=45H&SID=32&SGR=015&SGN=01
and
http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...GM=717.460&CT=F&cat=45H&SID=32&SGR=120&SGN=03

thanks for the link but the information they describe to identify the factory installed parte are not really clear to me.

In any case I've the orginal elegance spring sitting in the garage, so this should be ok!

As far as the spring pad, I was thinking that I can change them as I want/need isn'it? They should work fine!

that's what I'm planning to do, I hope I'm correct

 

[Dieselman]

Sometimes the best compromise is to use softer springs and stiffer dampers.

You will allways feel quite a noticable change when changing from the OEM dampers because MB fit dual rate dampers. Soft for the middle position and stiffer when compressed.
This is why your new setup probably feels jiggly. An oversprung car will also feel like it's rapidly bouncing over bumps.

 

[1998K]

mmh so Dieselman you belive that if I put back the elegance spring with the koni yellow the result will be better?

thanks.

I've heard some people that are saing that also with factory spring the ride will be still harsh, due to the fact that handling is mainly ordered by the damper, spring help to lower the car mainly!

I'm confused