Lowered springs

[odyseus]

Hi all,

I have a 1993 C220 auto saloon and fitted the ventura lowered springs from Eurocarparts just over a year ago.

Now the car seems to sit too low at the front (it was always pretty low at the front to start with !), the back is OK with an even gap between the wheel and the wheel arch. At the front, the top of the tyre is almost level with the wheel arch. Under nornal driving it seems fine but when I turn out of my drive on full lock there is a grating noise from the wheel arch.

The mercedes mechanic started talking about how the car was lower than Mercedes recommend and I should have used their springs etc blah, blah.

The front shock absorbers are both leeking so I have orderd a Bilstein sprintline shock kit.

Also I have fitted the thickest spring seat (4 bumps - original was 2) to make the car sit higher - although it hasn't made much difference.

My only concern on fitting the springs was how much I had to compress them to fit them?

So my questions are:-

(1) can the springs be damaged by over compressing? - that said the car has always been low at the front.

(2) will the new shock absorbers make the car slightly higher?

(3) Should I invest in some new springs say Eibach? (I'm reluctant as changing the springs is a real pig of a job!!!!).

(4) Any othere suggestions?

 

[bazza]

My mate has the Ventura springs on his 190E and it sits really low at the front-#4 pads and is actually 1cm higher than stock at the rear-#3 pads.
Somebody else was complainig of this on the eurocarparts forum, so it seems to be a fault.
I have Eibachs on my 190E with #1 pads up front and#3 at the rear and is perfect for everyday use.
I would let eurocarparts know of your problem and let them come up with a solution
PS you should use shortened shocks otherwise they will only last about a year before they wear out and start leaking

Bazza

 

[Orlando 300E]

Hello,
Don?t think the springs get damaged by over compression -but then again I'm not a metallurgist (!)
New shock absorbers might change the ride height -but you will still get contact with your wheel arch under compression and steering lock.
If you are thinking of changing the springs yourself & they are anything like a 124 ones (over twice the length of the compressed ones) -get a garage to do them, you are right a pig of a job.
Experienced both Eibach and H&R (each time only a 40mm drop) both are great quality. The Eibach ones were on an Audi (front wheel drive) with adjustable Konies: drove like a go-cart. H&Rs with standard new Billie?s on my current mount: comfort & less roll.
Hope that helps
O.