[driftmeister]

I bought the H&R Spring part# 29559-1 for non-SLS shocks and fitted with Bilstein HD. Found it to be very soft on the road and does not have any sporting feeling to the handling. Remove the HD to check whether it's faulty but there was nothing wrong with it.

The H&R packaging states the correct part number, is there a possibility that i was sent a wrong part which is for SLS setup instead? The drop for the front is more than 2 inches and the rear is like 3-4 inches.

Anyone can advice me whether this is what the H&R springs suppose to be like?:surrender:

 

[jhodg5ck]

that's Way too much of a drop in the rear.. Any pics?

Jonathan

 

[driftmeister]

I thought the same way too, just don't feel right about the excessive drop with spring pad with 1 nub front and 2 nub rear. See pictures attached.

Posted this earlier in another thread : http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w12...s-sls-delete-integrated-power-steering-4.html

Took some photos on the spring comparison for front & rear earlier today. Car is still in the workshop to replace the rear to 3 nub but i think the increase in height will be very minimal (no pictures yet until tomorrow).

Installed HD Bilstein and H&R springs for non-SLS (Part number 29559-1), car sat very low due to spring pad 1 nub front and 2 nub rear. Problem i'm having now is the car rebound felt overly soft like there is no shock pressure on the HD or the springs are too soft. I double check the H&R box packaging to see whether i had the correct spec. Based on reading all the thread mentioning that the ride quality will be much firmer than SLS setup, somehow it felt the other way round. From what i have gathered from these site : Import Replacement Parts
the H&R has few type with the same number 29559 but with additional 1 & 2 after the main number. What is the difference?

FYI The rear HD shocks (new) was re-installed again today to check whether it was faulty, but there is nothing wrong with it.

 

[Prochambers]

I remember when I had my car lowered about two years ago with the original 15 inch wheels. Shortly thereafter I put my original springs back in. The streets in Philadelphia did not agree with that lowered mode. Here are some of those old photos to compare with your current setup. I had 1 nub in front and 2 nub in rear.

 

[Prochambers]

Now here's my car using original springs with 16" wheels. 4 nub in front about to changed to 2 nub and 3 nub in rear. When lowering your car it does matter what size wheels you have installed on the car as this helps with height and ground clearance. I know from experience that it matters. Hopefully these photos help.

 

[driftmeister]

Thanks for the prompt feedback. My main concern is how soft the ride is compare to my previous SLS. The rear ride is so spongy and floats instead of a firmer sportier ride. Do you think because of the nub type i was using makes the HD works less effectively? Even when stationary, i could bounce the rear without much effort like a worn shocks.

Heard so much about the HD and H&R combo to give a sportier ride, planning to keep the original 15inch at the moment. Should i go back to stock springs for now?

 

[McVegas]

I just did the conversion on my 560SEC - I considered using 14MM and 19MM in the rear. Both are three nub. I ultimately went with the 14MM. It dropped the back about 2.5 inches. In front i used 8MM (1 Nub) resulting in a drop of about 2.5 inches. I also went with the HD's up front.

My ride is much firmer, short of harsh. Handling approved tenfold. I did use the
correct springs for SLS equipped cars, which I believe is about 1/3 coil shorter.

I think in retrospect i used the right spring pads, my car is as low as I think it can go without tire scraping. I can scrape the rear tires if i go over uneven
surfaces at speed and I can rub the front of the bumper on a steep driveway.

I can't imagine the ride feeling softer after this conversion. Maybe take a look at the SLS - oil level in reservoir tank, leaks or worn cells perhaps?

 

[trooper6]

McVegas,

Looks good!

+1 on the worn accumulator spheres=bounce

Mike

 

[A&L's300SL]

I'm not trying to hijack this thread as I too am looking at getting a set of H&R's but for my front end. The ride is great at the rear with the SLS dialed down about 25mm but the front springs are stock with 4 nub rubbers on.

Unfortunately as you can see it just looks wrong.

 

[oisaj_dude]

Judging by the pictures posted, I think your ride height is perfect. How do you see it as being to low in the rear? If anything, your car seems to have a slight rake to the front, nice look.

Procambers' looks to low in the rear, his rear fender drops below the rear wheel while yours stays a comfortable .5"-1" over it.

 

[BARON YOUNGMAN]

I am very interested in doing this... what was your cost? and where did you get the parts? Did you remove or cut off the SLS system. I think mine car sits too high, but I do love the comfortable ride, I agree that the stock system really is soft. Here is a pix before paint and I think you will agree with me it is too tall.

 

[driftmeister]

I just did the conversion on my 560SEC - I considered using 14MM and 19MM in the rear. Both are three nub. I ultimately went with the 14MM. It dropped the back about 2.5 inches. In front i used 8MM (1 Nub) resulting in a drop of about 2.5 inches. I also went with the HD's up front.

My ride is much firmer, short of harsh. Handling approved tenfold. I did use the
correct springs for SLS equipped cars, which I believe is about 1/3 coil shorter.

I think in retrospect i used the right spring pads, my car is as low as I think it can go without tire scraping. I can scrape the rear tires if i go over uneven
surfaces at speed and I can rub the front of the bumper on a steep driveway.

I can't imagine the ride feeling softer after this conversion. Maybe take a look at the SLS - oil level in reservoir tank, leaks or worn cells perhaps?

I have converted to HD Bilstein for the rear, maybe my expectation I have after sitting in non-SLS cars mainly 300SE models using stock spring and they seem to be quite firm. Anyway i found out that Bilstein also produce stock springs to match with the HD shock and retain the stock ride height too which i can then play with the spring pad size to get the desired ride height. New SLS ram is currently out of budget for now. :crybaby2:

 

[driftmeister]

Now here's my car using original springs with 16" wheels. 4 nub in front about to changed to 2 nub and 3 nub in rear. When lowering your car it does matter what size wheels you have installed on the car as this helps with height and ground clearance. I know from experience that it matters. Hopefully these photos help.

Thanks so much for the photos, it really help me decide on the nub size to use on the H&R. I would totally agree with you on using the stock springs for daily usage and not worrying about humps. But I prefer to use 1 nub front and 2 nub rear since the stock spring height is quite high which i am planning to do after testing the H&R for a week.

Btw after doing an alignment earlier, don't think i can live with a negative 2.5 deg camber for the rear since it will much tyres every 6 months of daily driving since I also discovered the rear right side toe-out 3 deg and after replacing both side, it reduce 1 deg to -2 deg now. I can live with camber if i can get them to toe-in but there is no way to adjust the rear for camber or toe. Any advice on this?:bowdown:

 

[driftmeister]

I'm not trying to hijack this thread as I too am looking at getting a set of H&R's but for my front end. The ride is great at the rear with the SLS dialed down about 25mm but the front springs are stock with 4 nub rubbers on.

Unfortunately as you can see it just looks wrong.

If you going for H&R, then go for 2 or 3 nub front and the rear can remain at 3 nub since you can adjust the SLS for your desired ride height. I just find the H&R springs is too short and even using 3 nub for the rear, the increase is so minimal that you can easily scrape your mufflers if not careful over humps.:surrender:

 

[driftmeister]

This is my currently height with 1 nub front & 3 nub rear with H&R springs. Just wish i had AMG 17 or 18 inch rims to fill the wheel well...

Mcvegas : I love your ride & stance especially on SEC.

 

[ianrandom]

Driftmeister - it looks great. They all look great lowered. But highly impractical that low if its soft too. You'll be scarping all the time when carrying passengers, no?

Prochambers - what did you use to get your lowered effect? Looks fab. And what were the disadvantages? I'd love to go this low but worry about rubbing.

A&L, yeah your car is so nice but that front is way high. Mine was the same. I cut the coils but i'm tempted to get new all round H&R.

 

[Prochambers]

I had used the H & R lowering springs. But I didn't like it because when I had some folks in the car, all I could hear was boom, bang, scrap. And god forbid trying to enter or exit a deep slope at a gas station or parking lot. So I went back to original spring set-up and sold my H & R's in like 24 hours. Lol!

Prochambers - what did you use to get your lowered effect? Looks fab. And what were the disadvantages? I'd love to go this low but worry about rubbing.

 

[driftmeister]

Driftmeister - it looks great. They all look great lowered. But highly impractical that low if its soft too. You'll be scarping all the time when carrying passengers, no?

Prochambers - what did you use to get your lowered effect? Looks fab. And what were the disadvantages? I'd love to go this low but worry about rubbing.

A&L, yeah your car is so nice but that front is way high. Mine was the same. I cut the coils but i'm tempted to get new all round H&R.

I seriously find the H&R spring is too soft, currently owned an Nissan R34 Skyline and when we start using uprated springs it can easily be felt the minute out of the workshop. Whoever sat in my Merc thought that im using chopped worn out springs on the rear only. The front springs for both SLS & Non SLS kit would probably be the same so it quite firm but nothing close to my original stock spring which is very neutral.

 

[driftmeister]

Anyone has a picture with 4 nub spring pad on H&R + stock rims for the FRONT? Would like to raise the front slightly...worry one day i scrap the front engine oil /gearbox pan after seeing some raised manholes on the roads. Anyway to raise the rear even more, maximum is 3 nub available.

 

[E38B12]

Looks very nice.