[MOS500]

Hello,

Just wanted to share with you my recent suspension spring replacement which lowered my S500 by about 1.5" My last lowering modification was cutting the front spring coils and lowering the back by adjusting the SLS hydraulic valve. I was satisfied with cutting one coil from the front spring but couldn't get the back down any further with the stock spring and valve adjustment. I also noticed the rear outer hydraulic bushing was real loose. They rears are actually grease filled vs. the front hydraulic liquid filled bushings. I know because I TORE them about and wanted to see what all the hype was about...

The H&R springs were about $300 and the inner and outer rear bushings were about $20/ea. This is not an easy DIY but more of a difficult DIY due to lack of proper tools. The crux of this job is pressing the bushing in and out. Having the proper $126 bushing tool would have saved a couple of hours but I sacrificed my back and $12 for some grade 8 nuts/bolts, and short pipe nipple. You'll also will need a rental "ball joint" press free from Autozone.

I didn't intend this to be a 100 step DIY procedure but just some pix to highlight some of the work. Oh, I forgot to mention after I installed the new H&R springs, the front was perfectly lowered with the stock 23mm shim (rubber spring isolator) but the back was still high. I ordered a pair of 8mm shims from the dealership for $9/ea and the height is perfect even with the hydraulic valve in the middle position. The shims come in 4 sizes: 23mm 18mm, 13mm, and 8mm. The back went from 23mm to 8mm. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them!

And the ride is still smooth and sweet! I barely noticed a negligible increase in firmness but my wife doesn't...she just wonders why a routine tire rotation takes so long...

Good luck,
Mo

 

[MOS500]

A few more pix...

 

[MAVA]

Mo,

Thank you, fantastic write-up. I need to do this to mine, but right now, I need to take care of some cosmetic issues.

Great job- I love seeing these suspension DIY's.

Martin

 

[Eirik 400 SE]

Great job !!
Doubled up with pics though ?!
How long have you had it ? Ususally the car settles down in a week or so..
And, how's the ride now ?

 

[MOS500]

Oops, apparently, more than 10 pix can be posted.
I've had the new springs for about 1 week and it still rides nice and the same as far as I can tell. Everyday, I place my two fingers between the top of the tire and fenderwell to gauge any change in height.

I keep telling myself to keep the car mostly stock but now I'm itching to get some 18" AMG monoblocks...

I just hit 152,000mi...a little more and I can apply for one of those MBZ 250KMI badges...

 

[drcvd]

I admire your expert and deligence.

 

[Eirik 400 SE]

The AMG mono's look stunning on almost any Mercedes.. Also on the W140..
As your car is silver, it bet it would look even better than it does now..

 

[hellah fresh]

Nice work! What shim size did you go with for the fronts?

 

[MOS500]

I kept the stock 4 notch, 23mm shim in the front. I changed the back from 4 notch, 23mm to 1 notch, 8mm shim which lowered it about 15mm but in addition allowed me to put my adjustable hydraulic valve back to the middle position.

 

[hellah fresh]

Oh nice yes in the rear we have that hydraulic shock to our advantage.

 

[syljua]

I changed the back from 4 notch, 23mm to 1 notch, 8mm shim which lowered it about 15mm.

More than that (nearly twice) on the wheels, since the pad is half way inwards on the
suspension arm.

br,
syljua

 

[600amg]

Good job

I did mine in March 2008. H&R / Bilstein combo & eliminated the dirty SLS & bypassed the hydraulic lines. Never been happier with my car.

 

[MOS500]

More than that (nearly twice) on the wheels, since the pad is half way inwards on the
suspension arm.

br,
syljua

Actually the pad or shim sits on top of the spring which is a net 15mm shorter. How do you calculate it being twice as short?

 

[syljua]

Actually the pad or shim sits on top of the spring which is a net 15mm shorter. How do you calculate it being twice as short?

Read my text again, I said "more than that". Closer to 30mm on the wheels...

br,
syljua

 

[MOS500]

Read my text again, I said "more than that". Closer to 30mm on the wheels...

br,
syljua

I think I see what you're saying: "effective" drop is more than 15mm on the wheel vertical vs. 15mm "net" on the spring axis.

Its all good!

 

[hellah fresh]

Yo! H&R offers 1.5 drop? sofar i looked and i only see 1.2 drop. I want to go as low to the ground as possible.

 

[MOS500]

Yo! H&R offers 1.5 drop? sofar i looked and i only see 1.2 drop. I want to go as low to the ground as possible.

Change your front spring pad from #4 to #1 and you'll drop about another 1"

 

[hellah fresh]

^^^NIIICEEE!! i forgot about that and it makes perfect sense.

 

[Seria]

Where can i get this tool? Is there a tool number?

 

[The andrew]

Where can i get this tool? Is there a tool number?

Looks like the Balljoint press from Autozone, from the looks of it....