Rubbin'

[celsoboy]

Had my 99 E55 for a two months now and have been generally pleased. I purchased the car already lowered, it not sure if was aftermarket installation or part of the Avantgarde package (please see pic).

Anyhow, I noticing in turns at intersections where that if I put too much gas into the turn, I think the body has too much lean and the wheels starts rubbin the wheel wells or something. I'm not sure if its the antislip as well, maybe a function of both with the differential being off with the rubbing.

Has anyone experience a similiar situation?

Any recommendations to remedy the problem? TIA.

[SaMaS]

probably was lowered with aftermarket spirngs, you can look what kind of rubber pads you have if it's #1 you can change up tp #5 depends how high you like and that might work also it's cheap repair, maybe car was lowered just with springs so now you need sport choscks ... good luck ! nice car ! and welocme

[omeyhomey]

the car is too low, i'd go with spring pads that are 2 sizes bigger than what you have now. Also tirerack fender rolling tool is a great tool to help maximize clearance.

[celsoboy]

are changing the pad a DIY job or does one need to seek professional assistance.

[cqhall]

Originally Posted by celsoboy

are changing the pad a DIY job or does one need to seek professional assistance.

It's really advanced. You need a spring compressor plus expertise.

Search for "spring pads" and you will find pics. Pads come in 5 sizes, #1 thinnest to #5 thickest. They are used to fine-tune ride height.

Here's what I suggest. You can do this part yourself:

- Jack up the car. Insert jack stands for safety.
- You may or may not have to remove the front wheel.
- Look at the very top of the spring coil. It rests on a rubber pad. That pad will have little bitty nipples (a little bit bigger than a pencil tip. You will know it when you see it.)
- *** 3 dots next to each other means you have #3 pads
- ** 2 dots next to each other means you have #2 pads
- * 1 dots means you have #1 pads


Now you know what you got. Repeat for the rear if you want to know what's back there.


Step 2:
(Let's assume you have #1 pads for the sake of this example.)
- Go to the dealer and order #2 pads (about $10 each). Search here for part numbers if the service advisor is clueless.
- Get a mechanic to swap your #1 for the new #2 pads up front.

[JOE55]

here's what cq is taking about (spring pad bumps)
You can check the pad number by feeling the bumps on the pad itself. (see picture below)

Basically sizes are from:

5mm = 1 bump
9mm = 2 bumps
13mm = 3 bumps
17mm = 4 bumps
21mm = 5 bumps

Check what size you have right now ie; 3 bumps = 17mm Front & Rearc.. and go from there how low you wanna go.

Take care & enjoy the ride,
JOE55
Attached Thumbnails

Take care & enjoy the ride,

[SaMaS]

Nice write up JOE55.

[celsoboy]

I finally had the chance to take the front wheels off to determine the spacers being used. Let me preface this by explaining where I was logically. I bought my car in Jan of this year, already lowered, so I have no real history on what has been modified and with what parts. It had an Avantegard shift knob, I'm hoping and assuming it has the Avantegard package.

Based on the way my car sits, I though was riding on #1 spring pads and some form of aftermarket spring/shock combo which lead to the rubbing issues. After reading various columns, my next project what to change the spring pads to #2 up front and issued resolved.

Now today, I notice a tear on the tire along the inside edge about a foot long, no air/pressure loss. I bust out the jack to replace the tire and take a moment to finally inspect the equipment. To my surprise, I am on stock #3 spring pad (OEM) and all I could make from the the shocks was they are bilsteins and the number I could make out was "BE32710T0". So now my ideas/questions are:

1. after reading through a bunch of forum threads, the model number does not look familiar with those posted/recommended. I concerned that the parts were not design for the vehicle. The car seem to ride pretty well except for the tight corners where the rub usually occur. Do I need to change the spring/shocks/pads? I concern the shock may be too soft and there is too much play in its movement.

2. the rubbing on the inside seem to be due to the control arm or the suspension nut, is this common amoungst e55's?

3. I'm assuming that going up to a #4 pad may resolve this problem. I'm running Michellin PS 245/40 R18, will the additional 4mm doesn't seem like it will solve the prob.

4. I was along considering wheel spacers to provided a little more buffer to the suspension nut and/or control arm.

5. Also considering a camber kit that will push the wheel away from the culprits.

I'm kinda confused on where I should go from here. What I thought would be a minor spring pad switch now has me possible modifying the spring/shocks/pads. Your suggestions/advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[leomd]

r/e the avantgarde package go to this link and put in your Vin#

Mercedes-Benz Club Russia | Mercedes-Benz / VIN

Its a vin decoder that should tell you what options came originally with the car...

As far as i know rubbing on the inside of the tire by the control arm or nut is not a common problem... you may have a mismatched shock/spring setup in your suspension - I would fear that someone may have cut the oem springs and slapped in shocks? I think others on this board (JOE55) who have done the drop can give you better direction . I would consider pulling everything out, inspecting and replacing if necessary - you don't want to risk any tire or tirewear damage and you will sleep better at night knowing exactly whats in there.

Hang in there - you will get it sorted

[celsoboy]

Thanks Leomd

Here's what I found out from my VIN:

954 - equipment package for avantgarde vehicles (с 01.06.1993)

not to sure what this entails. my investigation continues.