Ingenieur

has anyone done this?

for my VIN it shows 4 top spring shims
5 mm
9 mm
13 mm
17 mm

iirc the car comes with 13's
if they were swapped for the 5's would that lower the car 8 mm?

I'd like to lower mine but don't want the 20 mm (and the ride and potential alignment issues) the H & R's offer

I'd like to lower the rear a bit, the front seems OK
this might be a good solution

has any one done it?

m a x i m u s

people swap spring pads a lot in the w202 c43, so I'm sure it would yield what you're looking for. some nay sayers were saying not to bother, since the drop is so negligible, though. if you're looking for an 8mm drop, I'd say go for it. of course, you'd have to check to see which pads are on your car already.

roadtalontsi

ive actually got a set of 5's and possibly 8's - might be 13's. If you're interested I'll let them go for 15$+shipping. Ill double check the p/n's tomorrow they are like new.

Sincity

I'd like an 8mm drop and still retain OEM ride quality. Can anyone else confirm the stock 13mm spring pad all around?

m a x i m u s

iirc, the pads can vary by car. you'll need to check yours to be sure.

Ingenieur

I don't think the pads in the front have different heights

abcut973

I don't recall any pads in the front?
Or are you talking about the bearing/upper mount?

Roswell

Only the rear has spring pad, OEM are 13mm.

Dropping the rear only with pads will look weird as our cars sits lower in the rear stock form. I actually had to raise the rear with 17mm pads after installing my H&R springs.

Ingenieur

this is the parts diagram for my car, a 2009
item 8 is the upper pad, 4 is the bearing
it appears to have a pad, but unlike the rear only 1 PN is listed
the rear has 4, each a different thickness
perhaps the front could be shaved down 5 mm or so?
imo not worth the aggrevation of disassembly
the rears would be easy to swap out

some measurments from mine:
floor to fender lip: F 26.0, R 25.8 w/ 3/4 tank of fuel

tire to fender lip gap, measured with a string, level and steel rule:
F 26 mm (1.02"), R 24 mm (0.95")

So both are basically 1" for all intent & purpose, they are the same, I think it's an illusion that the rear is lower, mine actually looks higher, but measures the same.

I don't think the H&R's lower the rear more than the front, but the Eibachs do for many applications, to help transfer some weight rearward

tires OD loaded at curb
F 25"
R 24.85"
makes sense since unloaded OD is F 25.4 and rear 25 per mfg data and the front is lower pressure and carries more weight so would compress a bit more

To get a 'rake' reference I used the seam at the door bottoms from floor to middle of the seam measured at each wheel arch. I've seen lowered cars where this is almost level.
F 10.2", R 11.7"
1.5"/78" or 2% rake

If the rear is lowered 8 mm or 0.3" the rake would be 1.2/78 or 1.5%

I think the 8 mm drop would level the car out a bit and make the wheel/fender gap appear even (although the rear would be 0.7" vs 1" front).
I like the 'look' with a bit of rake and the front gap a bit larger than the rear

C300forlife

Still have those 5mm ?