New shocks

[RichardF]

New to me 2008 CLK cabriolet 85000 miles, std suspension (non sport)17" wheels, newish pirellis the ride is good, never harsh no odd noises but unless the road is billiard smooth it feels fidgety. Slightly more vibration in the cabin than I'd expect.not unsettled still compliant. I'm particularly sensitive to this sort of thing, many people wouldn't notice.

Road surface related not speed related.


Does this sound like shocks?

ETA feels like overinflated (its not) or very low profile tyres (they're std 17")

 

[whitenemesis]

Sounds like a cabriolet. I test drove a couple of CLK cabs and they both flexed and fidgeted over imperfect roads.

 

[Shadgrind]

Sounds like a cabriolet. I test drove a couple of CLK cabs and they both flexed and fidgeted over imperfect roads.

My CLK350 convertible ‘Elegance’ spec, so 18” wheels and apparently sports suspension, feels fantastic to me, but I used to have a 30mm lowered MX5 or four before that, so what do I know about a supple ride? Most of my MX5’s were slammed to the deck and the missus used to have to get out when I went over aggressive speed humps so it didn’t scrape too badly, still scraped though. Loved the fact that to get a low rise jack under it you had to drive onto a 2x4 or it wouldn’t go under

 

[RichardF]

Sounds like a cabriolet. I test drove a couple of CLK cabs and they both flexed and fidgeted over imperfect roads.

I could live with it, but would improve it if I could. I'd be irritated if I replaced them to no benefit however.

 

[slade1]

Try smaller wheels, I did this with my CLK, 17 to 16inch. Not much difference in ride, steering better and tyres much cheaper and last longer.

 

[MrGreedy]

About 7-8 years ago, my 2004 w203 coupe with sports suspension was fidgety on less than perfect road surfaces. So original bushes, shocks etc were about 10 years old and 100k miles. It was particularly unnerving accelerating out of corners on rough roads and I had no confidence I wouldn't lose the back end in a snap. Passengers apparently couldn't feel it.

I don't know if there are similarities in parts/floor pan/design between the two, but the interior switch gear and dash has a lot of similarities for that era.

I decided to go whole hog and replaced all rear suspension/handling components. Subframe bushes, all arms, links and drop links, shocks, springs and the rubber spring cups that sit in the lower suspension arm (those two bits were only bits direct from Merc). I did what I could myself and my local garage that worked on all my cars was kind enough to let me supply Lemforder for everything else plus full Hunter alignment after using the camber aduster bolts.

It was about a day's labour at the garage.

Total transformation and felt like what I imagine the new car was like. Zero fidgeting on corner acceleration on particular corners that previously were worrisome.

This unfortunately doesn't help pin point, but might give some hope that it can be improved.

 

[RichardF]

We got together with my trusted MB specialist, and decided not to bother. He did find a broken rear spring, so a pair of those incoming.

I've been paying more attention to road surfaces in my other cars, it's just oversensitivity from the nut behind the wheel.