SIGagain

I am hearing a noise in the rear from the suspension when going over wavy (undulating) roads...it may be the cold temps but I'm thinking the rear shocks may be going...the passenger rear seems to have more motion in it than the driver's side...

if it should be shocks (and I may do struts too) at almost 72K miles what does anyone suggest???

I believe stockers are Bilstein Touring (B4) and the OE type are not too expensive but Bilstein makes Sports (B8) and Heavy Duty (B6) types...big price differences too...

the B4s should give me back the as new feel but I am not sure what that was since I didn't buy mine as new...

the B6s (HD) are supposed to tighten things up on a stock suspension and I have had some experience with these on a truck and I liked the improvement over the stock Bilstein's in that application...these are the most expensive...

the B8 (Sports) appear to be the firmest ride and might be for shortened springs...I would probably pass on these as I don't plan on changing springs or anything else if I don't have too...

Prices seem to be all over the place with shock warehouse appearing to have the best prices so far...

any suggestions, comments you care to share would be appreciated...

Bill

SIGagain

looks like my only choice for shocks and Bilstein in the cabriolet are the touring-OE version...it seems that the Heavy Duty versions do not fit the Cab...

Bill

SIGagain

nobody has replaced the OE shocks on their Cabriolet???

Bill

johny1989

i heard b4 are very hard.
i am also researching this now and i came to a decision of finding some decent used originals

SIGagain

My understanding is the B4-Touring is the softest but still firm...i've had the B6 HDs on other vehicles and never found them too hard...never had the B8 Sports but those are more for lowered suspensions...

Mine is a W209 if that means anything...

Bill

onecomm

I have a w209 cab....2007 with B8's......19" rims.......ride and handle really well....but also i have the eibach springs too.

SIGagain

yes...the Sports (B8s) are better with lowered springs...thanks for your feedback...

Bill

kb24forlife24

How is the ride/handling? I just mounted 18" Forgestar wheels and I have Eibach springs with Bilstein B8 shocks sitting in my garage. How is the ride and do you rub? I know I'm gonna have to fender roll both front and rears.

Gary C

I've been lowered on h&r springs koni yellow front struts and bilstein sports in the rear, for 1 1/2 years. I wish I wrote down the part numbers for all this to be of more help to anyone doing this. But I will say, that was by far the best mod I have done. Looks and handling. I then added 18 inch Roderick wheels 18x8 and 18x9. Front was 35 offset was supposed to be 32 their mistake. I decided to put a 5mm spacer on the front instead of shipping it back they bought me the spacer. Perfect fitment no rubbing. The rear is35mm offset, I just installed a 15mm spacer. Nice flush look. My rear fenders are rolled. No rubbing 99% of the time. When I have a passenger and hit a really big bump at speed I will get a little squeak letting me know I am at the ragged edge. I almost went with a 20 mm spacer.

kb24forlife24

My wheels are 18 x 8.5 ET28 in the front and 9.5 ET33 in the rear. I'm scared of the rubbing because I'm on the stock suspension right now but as I've had the parts for a while just sitting in my garage. I called a shop for fender rolling the fronts and they said that they might not be able to do it because it isn't aluminum/steel or something like that? Is that true? They said they could do the rears though.

SIGagain

lots of feedback for lowered suspension cars...wish there was as much for standard suspension cabs...

bheng

not entirely sure if it fits the cab but if I had OEM suspension (and wanted to keep it), I would consider Koni FSD

SIGagain

thanks bheng...I'll look into Koni too...

Bill

mrbobby

I had the same (?) noise in the back of my '05 Cab. We traced it to a broken rear spring. Strangely only the tip of the spring was broken resulting in a very small height differential.

SIGagain

thanks...

Bill

SIGagain

my issue was in fact a shot passenger side rear sock absorber...I picked up a pair of OE (I thought) Bilstein Touring and the shocks removed were Sachs...
70,049 miles...

Bill

SIGagain

I must admit I am somewhat surprised that there is so few comments or feedback on shocks and struts for our W209 cars...

Bill

SIGagain

realized after driving a bit that the from is also soft so I ordered some Bilstein B4 struts...

I took the opportunity of nice weather in ChicagoLand to check the air filters and the cabin filter...all look clean at 72,049 miles...oil is clean and full as well...

Bill

abqhudson

It looks like our only choices are OEM or Bilstein. Wish there was something else - no Koni that I can find. Any other options??

SIGagain

I saw plenty of choices...Sachs, Koni, Bilstein, Monroe, KYB...but I have the standard suspension and springs with 17"wheels and tires...

Rockauto.com has good prices too...

Bill

SIGagain

what a difference with new struts and shocks...

Bill

DanielFD

you changed everything out?

SIGagain

the front struts and the rear shocks with Bilstein B4 Touring...I received no real comments or help on anything different and I thought OEM was Bilstein...my 2007 CLK 350 Cab had Sachs from the factory...

Bill

DRACO

So how is the ride with your new Struts/Shocks?

I see there are Monroe, KYBs maybe Koni's has anyone tried these?

TIA,

Jim

SIGagain

I think it rides, drives and handles much better than before...the rear end seems a bit soft over undulating pavement but for most everything else, it seems firm but not hard.

I especially like the change in the front end from a Strut change...the front responds much better and I don't feel the roll (seems to stay level now) that I did before the strut change...

Bill