Spring Pads

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GrahamC230K

MB Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 14, 2002
Messages
9,755
Car
Audi A3 & S4 quattro
Hi Guys,


I'm sure you have all heard the talk of "Spring Pads" used in varying sizes to alter the ride height of your car depending on engine size and options fitted.

Can also be used to lower your car fractionally unless you have the smallest spring pads.


Koolvin tells me the pads are marked with dots and I can read them with my wheel turned.

Trouble is dumb old me doesn't know where he is looking!


Am I looking here:

sp1.jpg


or here:

sp2.jpg


or completely wrong on both?
 
they are just inside the plastic cup on top of the spring.

springpads.jpg
 
Originally posted by GDC200
So what is the range of choice 1 to 5 , 1to 3, and what is the thickest and what is the thinest?
1 is the thinnest, 5 is the thickest. The thicknesses depend on the model year of the car, up to 09/96 (or something) the w202 used w201 spring pads, post 09/96 w210 pads. The differences between pads is about 5mm.
 
It's easier when you have one of these! - Big thanks to Jimmy.

c230ramp.jpg



Looks like I have no. 3 pads on rear and no. 2 pads on front.

springpad.jpg



I think I'll leave as is - 3 to 2 and 2 to 1 is not going to make much of a difference.
 
Last edited:
For W202 mid 96-99
Front(W210 part number) :
210 321 01 84 pad#1 5 mm
210 321 02 84 pad#2 9 mm
210 321 03 84 pad#3 13 mm
210 321 04 84 pad#4 17 mm
210 321 05 84 pad#5 21 mm

Rear(W210 part number) :
210 325 01 84 pad#1 5 mm
210 325 02 84 pad#2 9 mm
210 325 03 84 pad#3 13 mm
210 325 04 84 pad#4 17 mm

For W202 94-mid 96
Front(W201 part number) :
201 321 09 84 pad#1 8 mm
201 321 10 84 pad#2 13 mm
201 321 11 84 pad#3 18 mm
210 321 12 84 pad#4 23 mm

Rear(W201 part number) :
201 325 09 44 pad#1 8 mm
201 325 10 44 pad#2 13 mm
201 325 11 44 pad#3 18 mm


The different between W201 and W210 part number is because of the different shape of the spring.

The W201 spring pad has flat surface where W210 spring pad as a grove where the spring will sit.

On the earlier W202 cars the edges of the spring is tappered, that's why they use W201's spring pad which has flat surface..

compliments of J Irwin
 
Originally posted by GrahamC230K
I think I'll leave as is - 3 to 2 and 2 to 1 is not going to make much of a difference.

Very wise, changing/removing springs is a big job.:crazy: :crazy:
 
Has anybody got a rough idea on price for these spring pads?
 
I looked up one HERE

and got

A2103210284
SHIM
EUR 3.65
The part is available.
 
Thanks Sp!ke,

I worked out that I could drop mine 8mm all round for less than EUR 16, not a bad price but 8mm is not going to be that noticable.
 
jimmy said:
Thanks Sp!ke,

I worked out that I could drop mine 8mm all round for less than EUR 16, not a bad price but 8mm is not going to be that noticable.

How are you compressing the springs to do the job?
 
Sp!ke said:
How are you compressing the springs to do the job?

When I recently changed the rear springs I just dropped the whole rear wishbone, wheel and all and used the ramp and a jack to lower it down, needs two people but quite easy.

I don't think it is worth bothering with to drop only 8mm, I currently have No.4 shims front and No.3 on the rear. If I change to No.2 front and No.1 rear it will lower the car 8mm. I should have changed for different springs at the time but I do like my Elegance suspension, just want to lose the dune buggy look as some people here would say :D
 
I quite like my Dune Buggy :)

However . . . in the event that you were to give it a try in the pursuit of experimental science, and if the result looked a bit meaner, then I guess it wouldn't hurt . . . . ;)

S.
 
I hope to change my front spring pads this weekend. I have the parts ordered and the spring compressors are waiting in the garage. It should be an easy job on the front and it should lower the front about 18mm, that should level it up nicely as the front sits 15-17mm higher than the rear at the moment, measuring from wheel arch edge to wheel centre.

Fronts- NS 385 <> OS 379 mm
Rear - NS 367 <> OS 365 mm

Anybody else know their measurements?
 
Last edited:
Keep me posted :D I'll check my measurements for you as a comparison.

S.
 
I did this a while ago as well link

C200 Sport

Front 325mm
Rear 325mm
 
does anyone knows the suspension for e240 advangarde. it seems like my car always rub the bend?.. it is to low?.. the ride is not comfort at all.. any comments?.. thanks
 
Finally got around to changing my front spring pads today. The car now sits pretty level at 365mm all round from wheel centre to wheel arch.
 
jimmy said:
Finally got around to changing my front spring pads today. The car now sits pretty level at 365mm all round from wheel centre to wheel arch.


What number did you use, #1's?
 
GrahamC230K said:
What number did you use, #1's?

Yep, went from #4 front down to #1, didnt touch the rears.
 

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