Uneven ride height (Front to Rear) after new coils

[Jonathan Hutchison]

I was hearing some clunking from the front of my 2003 C320 Sport Coupe so I took it to the garage who eventually discovered a broken spring. New springs were fitted at which point I noticed that the front wheel arches were 70mm on the right and 90 mm on the left from the tyres (the rears were 30mm on the right and 15mm on the left from the tyres. The mechanic said that the front would settle down after driving, but it seemed odd that they were unevenly high. He said that the rears were weak and so we replaced them too.
Now, the car is still high at the front - about 80mm from the tyre, but the rear tyres are actually at the same height as the wheel arch.. Even lower than before.
He says to me that this will level out with some driving.

Intuitively, this makes no sense to me. I think he has either fitted the springs incorrectly, or he has fitted the wrong springs.

Am I being too cynical or is he talking nonsense?

 

[LostKiwi]

I would suspect wrong springs.
Spring choice isn't as simple on these cars as others as there are combinations of springs and spring pads depending on spec and options.

 

[onefortheroad]

best goto the dealers for springs .

 

[ajlsl600]

dont think thats correct. check pt numbers with dealer or suspension specialist . have known left and right to be slightly different ,to allow for normal road camber .but with yr observations this does not make much sense

 

[bembo449]

I think hes fitted the wrong spring , hes probably sourced a standard spring and not one using the reg/chassis no , in my experience most cars have different spring rates for different engine sizes as obvs a 3.0 derv engine requires a different spring to say an 1800 petrol engine car

 

[RUBBER_UNDIES]

I was hearing some clunking from the front of my 2003 C320 Sport Coupe so I took it to the garage who eventually discovered a broken spring. New springs were fitted at which point I noticed that the front wheel arches were 70mm on the right and 90 mm on the left from the tyres (the rears were 30mm on the right and 15mm on the left from the tyres. The mechanic said that the front would settle down after driving, but it seemed odd that they were unevenly high. He said that the rears were weak and so we replaced them too.
Now, the car is still high at the front - about 80mm from the tyre, but the rear tyres are actually at the same height as the wheel arch.. Even lower than before.
He says to me that this will level out with some driving.

Intuitively, this makes no sense to me. I think he has either fitted the springs incorrectly, or he has fitted the wrong springs.

Am I being too cynical or is he talking nonsense?

You should have 3 colours on the original springs.this will translate into a MB part number.

 

[Bubble]

You should have 3 colours on the original springs.this will translate into a MB part number.

This is correct and very important to get the correct springs.

 

[rf065]

You should have 3 colours on the original springs.this will translate into a MB part number.

Every MB has different springs depending on what options the car left the factory with. The paint will tell which springs are required, I suspect your garage has not bought them from a main dealer.

 

[LostKiwi]

As above.
There are usually 2 or 3 different springs (for each axle) for each model plus 4 or 5 pads which work with the spring to give the correct height and spring rate for the options available for each model.
Its crucial to match up the correct pad and spring to maintain ride height, comfort and handling.

 

[Ben2057]

Do the front suspension have pads? I thought only the rear had pads.

 

[alexanderfoti]

Do the front suspension have pads? I thought only the rear had pads.

Depends some models do, some dont.

 

[Ben2057]

Depends some models do, some dont.

I have a cls 320 cdi 2006 don’t remember having any on the front but the rears did have some.

 

[LostKiwi]

My 129 has them front and rear.

 

[alexanderfoti]

I have a cls 320 cdi 2006 don’t remember having any on the front but the rears did have some.

No, but the 210 etc does.

 

[bembo449]

wonder if the OP got this sorted out ???

 

[Blobcat]

wonder if the OP got this sorted out ???

That’s something we don’t always know unfortunately. Members can be very quick to post when the problem starts but don’t always come back with the resolution which is a pity as it would help so many others.