For the past several months we have been working on improving suspension on W203, C32 in particular. Our plans include creating suspension packages with components that are tuned to work together. One of our major goals is to improve the handling without compromising the ride.

A bit of theory: W203, like many cars has 10 springs. Huh? Yes, you have coil spring in each corner, wheel and tire and what is called anti-sway or stabilizer bar on the front and in the rear.

We all know what coil springs do. It is the first thing we modify to improve handling and looks. This is what we did on our C32. We used H&R springs for C320 and they made a noticeable, yet comfortable, improvement in handling. Stock AMG shocks have no problem controlling these springs.

Now, wheels and tires. The size of the wheel, the sidewall stiffness of the tire and it's air pressure have a significant effect on car's handling. I will cover those in more detail next time, as we are getting ready to try 18s and 19s and judge their effect on handling.

Now, Anti-Sway Bars (ASB) or what also are known as stabilizer bars. ASB is what is called torsion spring. Their purpose is to keep, stabilize, car in side to side motion. C32 has 22 mm front bar and 16 mm rear bar. We made prototypes that are 24 mm in the front and 19 mm in the back. We did not want to go too big on the size. If the bars are too stiff, than the car starts to hunt on the freeway and turns nervous and choppy. Too make them more tunebale we made them 3-way adjustable on the front and 2-way adjustable in the back.

Here is the link to the front prototype:



Here is the rear:



By being able to change their rate, one can fine tune the suspension and set up the car for the track or the street, by simply moving ASB links. I will post more info on how ASB work later on.

I had them on my car for several days now and the car is noticeably more responsive with less roll through the corners. I took it over some pretty bad roads and it ran straight and true.
The bars will be powdercoated deep purple, our color and will come with new rubber bushings. First 25 sets should be ready by mid-August.

Thanks you for listening.

 

It's very exciting to open your post everytime I'm very interested in this, can you quote me the price of the ASB? Or just the rough estimate.

One more thing, regarding the suspension package, will it include everything? Spring, shock and ASB? Thank you and all the best on your research ... Go Vadim

 

If you're excited now, just wait until late August-September, when Vadim finishes up more of his projects! Feel free to email me with questions or pricing inquiries; I think you will find them to be priced very reasonably!

 

Here is another C32 owner who is looking forward to the ASB. And yes, I would love to know how much it cost. Can I be on the first 25 list?

 

Harris (and others):

Of course you can be on the list! Email me your name and phone number, so I can contact you on Monday and take down your full contact information.

Thanks!

Ben

 

Nice work, Vadim

Thicker sways should prove to be a good way to improve handling. I might like this better than lowering as an option. Talk to us about the adjustability when you get some time.

 

r_1_c32: Yes, suspension packages will come complete in different stages depending on your driving goals.

rrf: Give me a week of playing with different settings and I will post more info.

Thank you for encouraging words everyone.

 

Quick question, where is a reliable source for aftermarket AMG parts?

 

Why don't you use the polyuretain? On my old car (not an MB) I just replace most of hte rubber bushing to plastic like polyuretain and it make a big improve on the car handling.

 

Two problems with polyurathane.

Number one. No one makes them for W203. Custom orders start at 1000 pieces and up. It is hard to sell a sway bar kit if bushings cost more to make than the bars themselves.

Number two. Need for lurication. Most MB owners do not want to think about it every 5-10K miles. At this time it is easier to modify factory bushings.

 

although this is for the sedans, i'm assuming that some of the info is applicable to the coupes, right? just to clarify, you're saying that anything larger than 24mm front and 19mm rear may be more detrimental? the kleemann sway bars are larger but initial impressions are favorable.

also, are you developing kits for the coupe as well?

 

Like I said before our number goal was to preserve as much comfort as possible. Sedan owner is likely to have a spouse who would raise a concern if the car is to nervous and hard to drive. A c-coupe owner on the hand is likely to demand more sporting ride. This why KLEEMANN uses a bit bigger bars in their kit.

And, no we are not planning to make C-coupe kit.

 

Don't all c class cars have the same mounting points for the bars?

Even if they don't, I think that you're probably missing the boat on the coupe, since that's probably going to have the highest % of owners who are willing to mod their suspensions. Good news for Kleemann, though.

 

I guess it's a good thing Evosport sells Kleemann products too!

 

kleemann says that the kleemann/eibach swaybars would fit the c32s as they share the same chassis. are your sway bars designed in some way that it isn't applicable to the coupes?

your front sway bar is the same size, but the rear is a bit smaller.
evosports 24/19
kleemann/eibach 24/22

 

Our sway bars are now available, and currently on sale for the introductory price of $549. We have verified that our Adj Anti-Sway Bars will fit the C-Coupe as well. Please contact me with any questions you may have.

Thanks

Ben

 

Might as well ask the question:

why would someone pay more for your bars than the Eibach/Kleemann ones?

Not trying to start a fight, but the question's going to be asked sooner or later.

 

I think the price difference is due to that Evosports swar bars are adjustable, while the Kleemanns are not.

 

I thought the Eibach/Kleeman bars are adjustable.

 

The KLEEMANN Sway Bars are adjustable on the Front only (2-way adjustability) Our bars are also a bit bigger in the rear- 22MM vs 19mm. Same size in the Front (24mm).

 

what are you referring to when you say "our bars"?

the kleemann's are 24/22mm

the evosports' are 24/19

are you kleemann/eibach?

 

His is addy is CO - did Evosport move, Young?

Now that the smartass part of the answer is done, yes, he's with Kleemann; I think that I talked to him once. Though it seems like Brandon hogged all of the attention for himself in that Benzo article. :p

 

I checked with my local tire shop and they have the Eibach Anti-Roll kit available now for $350. PM/E-mail me if you're interested as maybe I can get it a little cheaper if we do a group buy.

 

Don't know if you know this, but it's easier to PM you when your PM box isn't full.

Count me in, if there's no good reason explained to us why I should consider the Evosport ones instead. Thanks.

Can you post dyno #s on the sways?

 

Do they physically have them, or is it the same "I have them," that other shops say? To my knowledge, besides cars that are going to SEMA, Kleemann is the only one that has the sway bars right now. Eibach verified to me that more sway bars will not be available until October.