Suspension setup...

[R2D2]

...........why do I bother?

 

[Will]

Calm down Greg ! I'm sure most people (myself included!) didn't notice this until recently!

As many people are probably aware, I was the first person on here to order the Bilstein 'Lorinser Spec' shock absorbers some months back (as far as I know )

I was pretty sure that after circa 90K miles and being a sport chassis model running AMG wheels from new the original shocks had taken a bit of a battering.

I ordered these particular shocks for three main reasons:

Firstly, they were a very reputable brand (Bilstein are the OE shocks on my car supplied to MB)
Secondly, they suited my vehicle type and the type of dampers I was looking for (firm set up)
Thirdly, they were an excellent price (I paid £100 but got a discount on the postage )

As my car was already running OEM sports suspension and I was happy with the ride height I felt no need to change the springs or spring pads. I fitted the shocks myself which only took a couple or three hours in the garage.

Initial observations were that these were very firm shocks, which settled down a fair amount after a few hundred miles. After a few thousand miles, I've no real regrets.
The ride is most definately 'firm' and may not be to everyone's taste, but as I am running 35/40 profile tyres on 18" wheels anyway it is not going to ride like a Rolls Royce! On reasonably flat roads (eg modern motorways/A roads) I would personally say the ride has improved slightly, but on rough roads at slighly lower speeds it seems slightly more bone-jerking!

Overall I am happy with them, especially for the price and the fact that I didn't need to pay someone to have them fitted. The minor trade-offs that I mentioned are far outweighed by the handling, braking and ride benefits overall.

So as has been said here before, if you are running original shocks on a car several years old with a reasonable mileage, consider inspecting/replacing them?

Will

 

[Laters]

...........why do I bother?

I get that feeling all the time when it comes to people on the internet.

Anyway back to the point.

I replaced my shocks with the lorinser bilstein shocks that were sold on ebay (£80 a set what a steal)

When I replaced my shocks and steering damper the car now drives better than when I bought it . It feels taughter and more composed on smooth roads .
It can feel a little nervous on rough surfaces (due to the stiff suspension) but it is a lot easier to catch and slide now due to the total lack of body roll which helps stop the weight transfer pendulum effect that big-ish, heavy-ish cars tend to suffer from .
The reason I changed the shocks was not due to wear or mileage but due to me being a little uncertain about one of them after being forced up a kerb by a moron driver (see moron driver post in incidents section) and the shocks that I removed were in a ok condition (apart from the suspect one). OK the ebay price also helped me make my mind up
The new shocks (lorinser bilstein) were a lot firmer off the car but do not feel too bad on the car now they are bedded in (or maybe I’ve just got used to them). The first few hundred miles were a bit (lot) harsh though.
Please remember that my car is a sport and has firmer suspention as standard hence the small differace in ride quality.
Overall a good value purchase that has improved the way the car drives.
Paul

 

[R2D2]

Sorry guys. just having a sulk. Nothing personal.

 

[grasmere]

Ive got 225 45 17 AMG replicas and have recently replaced the shocks with ebay specials ie lorinser stiff ones - like Wills.

Easy to change (with ref to Haynes manual )

MUCH firmer ride, I quite like it over a wallowy, softer ride, easy to change.

summary - very pleased

 

[rees_A]

Also had Lorinser Spec Bilteins from e-bay. Very pleased, old shocks must have been really knackered...I can go over speed humps whilst moving now.(Before I had to stop and crawl over due to the amount the shocks made the car dip) Car rides excellently and was defo a steal at £75 incl delivery.

 

[jimmy]

Jimmy, Graham, Will ++++

Yes, mostly very pleased with mine. Visually the car sits dead level, low (not slammed) and looks great with the 17" AMGs, admittedly this is more down to the sport springs. The handling is faultless, I was quite astonished at how the car handled around the Bruntingthorpe track.

My only criticism is that the ride can be a bit 'jittery' on rough roads but you cant have the best of handling and ride unless you have air suspension.

Also the car tows much nicer now.

 

[R2D2]

Would everyone agree that after 50,000 your shocks need done and that anyone who has, hasnt regretted it even when they have gone for very firm sporty ones?

 

[C43AMG]

Hi,

I have a C43AMG, i have been reading your comments with great interest. Not knowing a thing about suspension, or how the car should sit, i have a couple questions if i may. You mentioned that the car "Sits Level" in one of the threads. I have just fitted 18" AMG Styling11 wheels, what i have noticed is the car sits like a wedge high at the back low at the front. Is that normal or is it because of the AMG suspension?.I have only had the car a couple of month's so i did not take much notice of how the car was sitting with the 17" wheels. Would you say the C43's suspension is adequate?.If i do change i think i would have the Sachs Supertouring Shocks and No1 Spring caps that R2D2 has as i don't want to firm a ride although i have noticed since the 18" wheels have been fitted it's a little bit firmer. The car is five years old and has done 37000 miles. How can you tell the correct way the car should sit?

Hi Will, as you live locally to me can you suggest where i may take the car to be checked out?. I just want to make sure that the car is correct.

Many thanks.

Peter.

 

[Mambo]

Would you say the C43's suspension is adequate?.If i do change i think i would have the Sachs Supertouring Shocks.....

I wouldn't change the shocks on the C43! If you want to lower the ride, swap out the springs and spring pads but I would leave the shocks well alone!

 

[jimmy]

I mentioned that the car sits level now, because it used to be a little higher at the front. I corrected this with use of thinner spring pads, the shocks have nothing to do with the ride height.

 

[Mambo]

I wouldn't change the shocks on the C43! If you want to lower the ride, swap out the springs and spring pads but I would leave the shocks well alone!

Just FYI my car came with #1 pads from the factory but I have heard this can vary from car to car? Maybe you have different number spring pads @ the front and back?

This is how mine sat on standard 17" alloys with factory springs and #1 pads

Not sure if it looks wedge like, its an odd angle, what do you think?

and it sits like this with 18" wheels, H&R springs and #3 pads front and rear

 

[C43AMG]

Suspension Set up

Hi,

Many thanks for your thoughts.

Mambo the photo of your car on the 17" wheels is slightly Wedge, the photo with the 18" wheels is definately level due to the springs and pads of course. Can i send you a Email of my car and you then can see what i mean?. Please don't ask me to post a photo as i am very stupid when it comes to computers!!.Or if any one else could post it for me i would be grateful,Thanks.

Regards.

Peter.

 

[R2D2]

If shocks on a normal w202 are done by 50,000 maybe the front shocks and springs are suffering under the weight of a C43 engine plus maybe some enthusiastic driving? Do you know what spring pads youve got Mambo?

 

[Mambo]

If shocks on a normal w202 are done by 50,000 maybe the front shocks and springs are suffering under the weight of a C43 engine plus maybe some enthusiastic driving? Do you know what spring pads youve got Mambo?

I put on #3 spring pads once I had the H&R springs fitted as the #1s I had on there made the car too low (lots of tyre rubbing!).