Mercedes W124 Coupe - Suspension/Wheels...How to go low?

[charan_singh]

Guys,

New to this forum, but have found lots of useful bits and bobs....however, still need some help.

Car: W124 Coupe (220)
Problem: Ride height/Stance & getting the thing level (lowering the front)
Goal: Level ride height (front and rear)

So, car has a 40mm drop on an Eibach Pro Kit (the shocks were not changed by the previous owner at the time when this changeover was done) so it rides rough, and doesnt sit as it should (IMO)

Need the car to sit lower at the front, as at present it looks unbalaned (low back/higher front). Dont really want to mess around with the rear given the negative camber that could result in any more of a drop....so that will stay the same.

Have been advised to change the spring pads (front) to lower upto another 20mm (ish), and change the shocks at the same time. Everything else is apparently ok.

So, I need some new spring-pads (some combination of 4bump > 1 bump), dependent upon what is on there at the moment and some new shock absorbers to match the Eibach Springs. Some investigative research seems to suggest I need some shortened Shocks. i.e. Something Bilstein. Anyone have any ideas?

Perhaps Bilstein B8 Sprint Shocks?
Any ideas on the 'Spring pad' theory?

Any help would be much appreciated...

Thanks..

 

[BillyW124]

Hello Mate, welcome,

In this same boat myself mate, my most recent ongoing thread i have is on this same issue. been niggling me for a long time.. search my threads and see other members answers.

are you able to post a pic of your motor sideways? comparison would be good.

ive changed to 1 bump pad in the front and 3 bump in the rear. Has made an improvement but want the back to sit higher to eliminate the sagging look. my front is sitting just right i think..

 

[charan_singh]

Cheers mate. It does seem a common topic!

Your motor looks very tidy, would drop you a pick of mine, but its nearly always on uneven ground so a picture wouldnt really provide an accurate view of the problem.

What spring pads did you start with and what drop did you achieve with the 8mm pad? I'm pretty certain i need those Bilstein B8's (given they are the ones recommended for anything over a 40mm lowering spring), but the question of pads remain. Unfortunately im not sure what pad is on there at present, but perhaps understanding your setup may provide me with a better way of estimating the pad i will require. Essentially, when the car is dead flat, i want to go lower by about 10-15mm.

Thanks -ill see if i can post a pic anyway.

p.s - how do i search your threads?

 

[BillyW124]

Cheers dude,

I had 3 pip pads on the front and 2 at the rear. It would help if i knew what springs and mm drop the previous owner put on the car prior my purchase. Coudn't have asked this as i bought from an idependent garage. They are yellow springs and by doing a bit of research points to APEX springs with a 30mm drop.

Anyway, to check what you have on you motor get down on your knee's and look at the upper most part of the springs. You'll see they are held in by the pads. If you're lucky the pips, or bumps are hopefully facing outwards and you just have to count them or 'feel' them. or just get it on a ramp.



i'll post a pic on my ongoing thread later tonight so it would be easier to understand the stance issue i have.

you are right, It has been reccomneded that if you go 40mm or lower then shocks will be needed to cope.

I was looking at the b12 kit but was advised that it will be to low and to harsh a ride.

to search a thread just go on to my profile and then click on serach threads started by user..

 

[aka$h]

This is how my last E36 sat:

I went for H&R 60mm drop front and 40mm drop rear. With Brabus Shock all round and the highest spring pads front and rear.

 

[BillyW124]

oi Aka$h dont tease man! i'm eating my lunch!

 

[charan_singh]

that looks lovely mate. I really want to leave the rear end alone at the minute, bad experience on my last 124 & E60 meant I was burning through rubber every 300 miles as a result of the negative camber, just want to get the front a little lower!

So, i think i need to swap those Shims to a one bump, change the shocks and hey presto...hopefully.

...although someone has suggested that given im not got 'low-low's springs up front (40mm eibach's) i may be able to save a couple a hundred quid and just stick some oem shocks under there (as opposed to the bilstein B8's that come in at £160 each!)....

Billy - when you went from 3 bumps to 1 bump up front - what drop did you achieve?

Akash - very clean mate.

Im also waiting to stick the new wheels on once the stance is right...picked up a set of 18" AMG Aero II's, 8/9 stagger. Need to set the stance before deciding on rubber/stretch.

 

[charan_singh]

i meant 3000 miles!

 

[300CE]

Welcome to the forum Charan! I've attached a couple of piccies of mine - unfortunately, i've know idea what height it's at as it came that way when i bought it. The chaps here will be able to give you plenty of advice.

 

[aka$h]

9" rears are going to be very tight for the back of a w124. You need to roll the arches and machine 5mm off the hub of the wheel to get them on without running stretched tyres.

Going from 3nib to 1nib will make around 8mm of difference

 

[BillyW124]

that looks lovely mate. I really want to leave the rear end alone at the minute, bad experience on my last 124 & E60 meant I was burning through rubber every 300 miles as a result of the negative camber, just want to get the front a little lower!

So, i think i need to swap those Shims to a one bump, change the shocks and hey presto...hopefully.

...although someone has suggested that given im not got 'low-low's springs up front (40mm eibach's) i may be able to save a couple a hundred quid and just stick some oem shocks under there (as opposed to the bilstein B8's that come in at £160 each!)....

Billy - when you went from 3 bumps to 1 bump up front - what drop did you achieve?

Akash - very clean mate.

Im also waiting to stick the new wheels on once the stance is right...picked up a set of 18" AMG Aero II's, 8/9 stagger. Need to set the stance before deciding on rubber/stretch.

Not sure the exact measurements but i would say a finger and a bit drop between the fender and the tyre.

But overall on both sides together it is noticable and actually drops quite a bit.. i get down pipe scrape on humps now even with a 3nip pad as opposed to a 2nib from before at the rear!

Also waiting on summer to put my 18x8 AMG mono's on. I should take my own advice and really see how the car sits once these are on?!

im sure Aka$h can input more but depending on offset of your staggered rims for the 9inch rear, you may face issues.

 

[BillyW124]

..lol there you go just read Aka$h's post!

 

[charan_singh]

....tight yes, but do-able, JUST! im planning on running 245/35. Me and a mate, bought the same set a couple of months back, et31 F et35 R, they fit pretty well, although going too low on the back proves troublesome..

...So im looking to drop by another 10mm on the front hopefully...i think im a need 1 bump shims... Thanks

300CE, nice motor mate..

 

[BillyW124]

post pics mate, we like pics!

 

[charan_singh]

LOL - i will do.

Akash (or anyone else!), in regard to the shock absorbers for the front. Do you have any opinion on what i should be using? Ive gone for eibach springs....and am considering bilstein B8's...but have been told i may not need to bother? Ive always felt the need to match the shock absorber with the spring...

Thanks

 

[aka$h]

Before you do anything, get the wheels on. What tyres were you going to use on the front?

Given the difference in dish is about 10mm between the 8" and 9", I didnt bother with staggered wheels. I was running 235/40/18 tyres all round. Im not a fan of stretched tyres, they cause the car tramline as well as having an impact on ride quality.

 

[aka$h]

I personally find Eibach springs too soft, I had them on a CLK some years ago and it used to bottom out.

 

[charan_singh]

OK, i was going to go with 215/40 on the front. Dont mind a bit of stretch, it depends on how low the car will fall once the shocks and shims/pads are swapped over. At the moment the car handles horribly on the front. And i agree that Eibach springs are a little soft, not exactly 'sporty', but i dont want to go overboard on the car just yet, it has some other issues that require attention

Given the eibach springs ive got, what shocks would you recommend?

 

[charan_singh]

wheels...

 

[charan_singh]

car...is on an incline, so this pic isnt really accurate in terms of the current stance....