W114 lowering question

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Charles Morgan

MB Enthusiast
Joined
Feb 2, 2010
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8,206
Car
Mercedes 250CE W114, Alfa Romeo GT Coupe 3.2 V6
I now have the larger wheel size and trims for my coupe. I am keen to lower it a bit as it will improve both the appearance and the handling. H&R make lowering springs that produce a 5.5cm drop - which is possibly a bit much. However, the Bilstein B4 shocks available (and OEM) will only cope with a 4 cm drop.

There are different rubber spring caps sizes available 8mm, 13 mm (which is on the car) 18mm to 23mm at the front and 9.5m 14mm and 19mm at the rear.

The maximum height boost available from spring caps looks to be not enough at the front or rear

Any suggestions for options to enable me to lower by say 3cm - 4?
 
To show the effect I'm aiming at (possibly not as low) vs stock

Stock car on 14s

104321d1343769867-fs-1971-250c-w114-red-coupe-s-california-1971250c-009.jpg


Lowered car on 15s

x1a2053.jpg
 
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AMG_280E_W114_test_01-02.jpg


No easy solution but one suggestion was to do what AMG evidently did in the 70's Remove 1/2 a coil on the front spring and 1/4 a coil on the rear spring [ standard fitment springs] This "allegedly" had the effect of lowering the car around 2.5 cm all round . Combine that with a 8mm pad from 13mm and you have a 3cm drop. It will also marginally increase the spring rate as explained here https://www.eatondetroitspring.com/cutting-coil-springs-calculations/

ps no idea on the veracity of the lowering thing. Anecdotal evidence only its trail and error territory :dk:
 
My starting point would be Koni Special D shocks (adjustable rebound/mono tube) for your particular car rather than the B4's. These will handle up to 40mm drop from memory. Then I'd look at getting suitable springs like the H&R's etc and adjust the drop if excessive with spring pads.
 
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Cracking looking car. Really like the colour and the interior looks like a perfect match and those seats are class.
 
No easy solution but one suggestion was to do what AMG evidently did in the 70's Remove 1/2 a coil on the front spring and 1/4 a coil on the rear spring [ standard fitment springs] This "allegedly" had the effect of lowering the car around 2.5 cm all round . Combine that with a 8mm pad from 13mm and you have a 3cm drop. It will also marginally increase the spring rate as explained here https://www.eatondetroitspring.com/cutting-coil-springs-calculations/

ps no idea on the veracity of the lowering thing. Anecdotal evidence only its trail and error territory :dk:

Is there a source for the AMG lowering data? (i.e. cutting a half coil etc lowers by 2.5). A 3 cm lowering is plenty.
 
Is there a source for the AMG lowering data? (i.e. cutting a half coil etc lowers by 2.5). A 3 cm lowering is plenty.


Sorry no- just anecdotal evidence from a classic car forum. Hence my scepticism. Might be worth a try if you could lay your hands on some old springs?? The part no for the standard spring is A1153212904 15.5mm diameter free length 431.5mm
see below for all applications
SPRING CHASSIS - FRONT AXLE, W114, W115, R107 MERCEDES-BENZ A1153212904 1153212904 A1153212904

Lesjofors still make a spring for the W114/115
Lesjöfors Automotive - Catalogues

Their old catalogue for 2009 is here.
http://automotive.lesjoforsab.com/automotive/download/catalogues/Lesjöfors Std 2009 low.pdf

page 45
 
Is there a source for the AMG lowering data? (i.e. cutting a half coil etc lowers by 2.5). A 3 cm lowering is plenty.

Ideally, with a standard car with its weight on its wheels, measure the distance spanned by one coil. Then measure the leverage involved (eg, if the spring were half way along the wishbone then the leverage ratio would be 2:1 - nb if it were McStrut the ratio would be 1:1) and work from there.
Say, there was 70mm spanned by each (compressed) coil and the leverage ratio was 2:1 then removal of 1/4 of a coil would lower the car 35mm. (If it were a McStrut at 1:1 then removal of half a coil would achieve the same result).
 
I removed the spring pads from the rear of my CLS (219) , i took the four (4mm) pads from the seat but it actually lowered it around 25mm due to the spring being located half way along the rear suspension arm from the inboard pivot mount.

Where the springs are located in relation to the suspension arm on your car i don`t know but the above maybe worth considering.

Kenny
 
Further to the spring cutting thing I confess I was thinking of the W124 /190 situation where the bottom "tail" of the spring coil fits into a half coil recess in the suspension arm and the top which fits into the spring pad is ground flat--- the implication of this is that the top of the spring can be rotated in its mount in order that the bottom of the shortened spring can be located properly in the suspension arm. If this is not the case then cutting off "part coils" would be difficult.
 
Would not the simplest solution be to get a pair of custom made springs made from one of the coil spring specialists. Give them the details and they will make exactly what you want. Friend just had a pair made for a custom application cost was £100 ish .
 
Would not the simplest solution be to get a pair of custom made springs made from one of the coil spring specialists. Give them the details and they will make exactly what you want. Friend just had a pair made for a custom application cost was £100 ish .

H&R's are £210 for a set (4) delivered.
 
Just checked the spring pad I have which is 13mm, so the maximum extra I can get is 12mm, not enough. So with available spring pads, I can't use the H&R with either Bilsteins or Koni, which does seem odd given they make the things to fit.

Am I missing something?
 
I could be incorrect but I think the H&R 55mm drop is on a totally standard car with the slimmest spring pad fitted which would be 8mm. So, if you fit 23mm, it's 55mm less 15mm = 40mm (1.6 inch ) drop.

Does that add up & make sense?
 
That does make sense for the front. The difference between the thickest and thinnest pads at the rear is 9.5 mm though - so that gets you to a verboten 45.5mm.

Perhaps I should ask H&R?
 
Just sent an email. It's holiday time so I'm not holding my breath!
 
Thinking again about the large maximum (maximum, might be the key word)) 55mm drop H&R only offer for the W114/115. I'm wondering is this based on the fact that of the springs location in relation to centreline of the wheels and this creates a leverage ratio just like what occurred to KennyN's car.

So, if the ratio was say 4 to 1 for simplicity, a 5 mm decrease in spring pad thickness will translate into a 20 mm decrease measured at the outside face of the wheel. And of course vice versa. Thus it's only a matter of playing around with available choice of spring pads to get the desired height/drop.

Maybe too, the 55mm spring is a 'one size fits all' due to lack of demand compared to other more popular cars, that's why I used the word maximum above. But to tell you the truth saying that doesn't makes sense either.

After rambling on above I'm still confused as H&R clearly state that their Sport Springs are ''Compatible with OE and aftermarket shock absorbers''.!

Looking forward to hearing about the reply from H&R. No doubt it will be a :doh: moment from me. :D

I removed the spring pads from the rear of my CLS (219) , i took the four (4mm) pads from the seat but it actually lowered it around 25mm due to the spring being located half way along the rear suspension arm from the inboard pivot mount.

Where the springs are located in relation to the suspension arm on your car i don`t know but the above maybe worth considering.

Kenny
 

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