300CE handling

[Nik_Codling]

Hi again...

I've just posted a message about the steering on my'89 300CE, I'm not sure if this is related.

I've found the car to be quite unstable in the bends at highish speeds. If I hit a bump mid-corner it tends to pitch the car over onto the outside rear wheel, and if it's wet it's been known to cause the odd slide....not ideal at 85mph.

I fitted new Bilstein gas shock absorbers all round a few months ago. The car now sits higher. With elderly springs on the car, I'm wonderin if this combination of topped-out ride height, plus slightly saggy old springs is contributing towards the pitching of the suspension. In other words, the new shocks are causing the car to sit higher, but the old springs are knackered, and not as effective as they should be in the first few inches of travel, thus causing a fair bit of roll in the corners.

I'm considering a spring-lowering kit to bring the ride down to a sensible level, lower the C of G, and perhaps increase stability a bit.

Is there another possibility that instabilty could be caused or contributed to by something like worn suspension bushes? I'm worried i may have stressed the rear suspension with towing perhaps...

Sorry this mail is a bit vague, but if anyone could offer me their experience or advice it would be welcomed.

Many thanks,

Nik

 

[kid-jensen]

Nik

The shock absorbers certainly shouldn't affect the ride height, they are only there to damp the movement of the suspension.

Were the shock absorbers internally sprung apart? if they were, they would need to be sprung pretty hard to raise the ride height---I'm not convinced.
Are you sure that the suspension was re-assembled the same way as it came apart? That's the only thing I can think that would raise the car.

If the new shock absorbers are running out of travel because they are operating at one end of their stroke, one way or another they will hit a hard stop and try to pitch you off the road.

You shouldn't have to buy new springs to bring you down to the same ride height you had before..........

 

[Nik_Codling]

Hi Paul,

Thanks for your reply.

I know what you mean about the shocks effecting ride height - this is the job of the springs! However, the shocks are gas-filled, and when i fitted them I noticed that when the shaft is released they naturally spring out to full extension.

I can't be totally sure that the car now rides higher, but it certainly looks to me like it does.

So that aside, would a £65 investment in a set of Eibach lower springs be worth my while in terms of handling? It's pretty awful at the moment, and I'm willing to sacrifice a little ride quality for better cornering.

cheers,

Nik

 

[kid-jensen]

Lower Springs

Nick,

I really don't want to advise on this brecause I think the ride on the coupe is too hard already. I suppose this is when you know you're getting old............

Before you get the credit card out, try lowering the car with the type of kit that compresses 2 or 3 coils of each spring with a u-bolt. This will at least diagnose the problem.

They are even available in halfords...