DIY: Front and Rear Sway Bars
#76
thanks!
there are a couple different brands you could go with:
Stock: 20 mm front and 13 mm rear
C32: 22 mm front and 16 mm rear
H&R: 26 mm front and 19 mm rear
Evosport: 24 mm front and 19 mm rear
Eibach: 24 mm front and 22 mm rear
i would recommend going with a H&R front and a Eibach rear
there are a couple different brands you could go with:
Stock: 20 mm front and 13 mm rear
C32: 22 mm front and 16 mm rear
H&R: 26 mm front and 19 mm rear
Evosport: 24 mm front and 19 mm rear
Eibach: 24 mm front and 22 mm rear
i would recommend going with a H&R front and a Eibach rear
I have a stock 2006 C180 Kompressor and would like to upgrade the sway bars front and rear. I read somewhere that the sway bars from the touring/estate car are thicker than the standard sedan car, is this correct?
I also understand that thicker/stiffer sway bars will stop the car from rolling too much in the corners, but does a thicker sway bar in the front also cause understeer? What do you want more, oversteer or understeer and what does it feel like?
Lastly, which should I change first, the rear or the front. I also read somewhere, where a guy said just change the rear sway bar and have done. What is the general concensus?
Many thanks
#77
Super Member
Hi, I'm new to the MB World and would like to ask a question about sway bars.
I have a stock 2006 C180 Kompressor and would like to upgrade the sway bars front and rear. I read somewhere that the sway bars from the touring/estate car are thicker than the standard sedan car, is this correct?
I also understand that thicker/stiffer sway bars will stop the car from rolling too much in the corners, but does a thicker sway bar in the front also cause understeer? What do you want more, oversteer or understeer and what does it feel like?
Lastly, which should I change first, the rear or the front. I also read somewhere, where a guy said just change the rear sway bar and have done. What is the general concensus?
Many thanks
I have a stock 2006 C180 Kompressor and would like to upgrade the sway bars front and rear. I read somewhere that the sway bars from the touring/estate car are thicker than the standard sedan car, is this correct?
I also understand that thicker/stiffer sway bars will stop the car from rolling too much in the corners, but does a thicker sway bar in the front also cause understeer? What do you want more, oversteer or understeer and what does it feel like?
Lastly, which should I change first, the rear or the front. I also read somewhere, where a guy said just change the rear sway bar and have done. What is the general concensus?
Many thanks
C32: 22 mm front and 16 mm rear
or
H&R: 26 mm front and 19 mm rear
If the rear sway bar is too big or too stiff, then that means that the car will have oversteer - which means almost SURE DEATH for someone that doesn't have AutoX/HPDE driving experience.
So, you do NOT want a setup like the Eibach with a 24 mm front and 22 mm rear.
It's best to get a matched set like the C32 or the H&R.
You can not be sure that a 19mm sway bar's stiffness is the same between manufactures.
You can not be sure that just because Brand-A has a sway that is 21mm think, it is stiffer than Brand-B that has a sway bar that is 20mm thick.
The sway bar stiffness depends on the metal used/and other factors.
Good Luck!
#78
Member
After pulling up the WIS associated with my VIN number, I noticed how they depict a lower (21c) and upper (21b) bracket. Does anyone else have that upper/lower bracket set-up? Mine was installed (or re-installed a while back by a mechanic) with a one-piece bracket as shown in some of the other posts above. A nut/washer combination on the other side of the subframe is holding everything together. I have the C230 kompressor sedan with a sport suspension (code 486). Could I be missing the upper bracket? Sorry to revive an old thread...
#80
This may be of value to others....
Just changed sway bar, bushings and links on the rear end of my son's 05 230K with the sport suspension. I was tempted to go with the H&R, but ended up going with MB through the local dealership.
They offered what seemed like a great price for the bar and bushings (I did Lemforder through RMEuropean for the links).
When I got home from picking them up, I noted the part numbers and thought that the shop made an error. I had them double-check and they showed me the screenshots that confirmed fitment.
Sway/Torsion Bar was 203-326-15-65 (with bushings as 203-326-00-81).
Different sites I had worked with had identified the bar that I needed as 203-326-14-65.
The one the shop spec'd went in perfectly and feels great.
From what I saw, this is the part that is designed for the CLK series with sport suspension (and is less expensive than the ....-15-65). Obviously the bushings should match the bar.
Just changed sway bar, bushings and links on the rear end of my son's 05 230K with the sport suspension. I was tempted to go with the H&R, but ended up going with MB through the local dealership.
They offered what seemed like a great price for the bar and bushings (I did Lemforder through RMEuropean for the links).
When I got home from picking them up, I noted the part numbers and thought that the shop made an error. I had them double-check and they showed me the screenshots that confirmed fitment.
Sway/Torsion Bar was 203-326-15-65 (with bushings as 203-326-00-81).
Different sites I had worked with had identified the bar that I needed as 203-326-14-65.
The one the shop spec'd went in perfectly and feels great.
From what I saw, this is the part that is designed for the CLK series with sport suspension (and is less expensive than the ....-15-65). Obviously the bushings should match the bar.