C32 v C55 Rear Torsion Bar Question
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From: Atlanta, GA
'02 C230 Coupe (Me) '03 SLK320 6MT (Wife)
C32 v C55 Rear Torsion Bar Question
Does anyone know the difference in diameter of the stock C32 and the C55 rear sway bars? I know they are different part numbers, but haven't been able to find diameters anywhere.
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From: Atlanta, GA
'02 C230 Coupe (Me) '03 SLK320 6MT (Wife)
Found the answer. Thanks!
C32: 22 mm front and 16 mm rear (A few 23mm front in the middle of the production run, but the part is superseded by the 22 again)
C55: 23mm front and 17mm rear
C32: 22 mm front and 16 mm rear (A few 23mm front in the middle of the production run, but the part is superseded by the 22 again)
C55: 23mm front and 17mm rear
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From: Atlanta, GA
'02 C230 Coupe (Me) '03 SLK320 6MT (Wife)
It was actually on a thread in the AMG forum; a more complete search when I had time found it. However, playing with VIN's from eBay shows that all of those I have checked have the 16mm C32 rear bar.
EPC, using a generic C55 lists a total different part number, that I would assume was the 17mm bar.
EPC, using a generic C55 lists a total different part number, that I would assume was the 17mm bar.
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From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
Best handling combo is AMG front bar, and H&R rear bar.
Trust me. I had AMG's front and back for years.
Then one day, I drove an M3.
I realized my coupey was understeering badly even with
stiffer bars.
Our coupey's are top heavy in the rear because of the hatch.
The thicker HR bar with AMG in the front is a perfect combo.
MB didn't bother to do any changes in suspension for the
coupe vs. sedan.
When I put on the HR rear, suddenly the front was biting the road in corners,
whereas in the past it just snow plowed even with ultra sticky tires.
Trust me. I had AMG's front and back for years.
Then one day, I drove an M3.
I realized my coupey was understeering badly even with
stiffer bars.
Our coupey's are top heavy in the rear because of the hatch.
The thicker HR bar with AMG in the front is a perfect combo.
MB didn't bother to do any changes in suspension for the
coupe vs. sedan.
When I put on the HR rear, suddenly the front was biting the road in corners,
whereas in the past it just snow plowed even with ultra sticky tires.
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From: Atlanta, GA
'02 C230 Coupe (Me) '03 SLK320 6MT (Wife)
Frank, I agree with you at this point... What I think are the 17 bars are listed as a 209xxx part when you search just the C55 in EPC, however, when I check a C55 by VIN it comes up with the C32 rear bars.
Checking the numbers the other way, the 209xxx part shows as used on the CLK55 and the C55, but I haven't been able to find measurements on those yet. I may just see if anyone has one in stock nearby and take a pair of calipers to see. I also haven't made the effort to find the VIN for some CLK55s yet. Maybe if tomorrow is slow at work.
Checking the numbers the other way, the 209xxx part shows as used on the CLK55 and the C55, but I haven't been able to find measurements on those yet. I may just see if anyone has one in stock nearby and take a pair of calipers to see.
I also haven't made the effort to find the VIN for some CLK55s yet. Maybe if tomorrow is slow at work.
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From: KC, MO
"annoyance" and "self-righteousness", amoung others...
However if you're looking to eliminate understeer and body roll, upgrade both. Somewhere there is a list of all the different sizes amoung brands. Maybe someone can post it here? Basically the larger the diameter, the stiffer the body will remain under cornerning/lateral acceleration. Anything larger than your stock non-amg bars will suffice, but remember even most of us "sport" guys go with larger bars. Choose a size based on how much give you'd like the suspension to have in the corners. Anything larger than AMG will exponentially increase the stiffness with each step up in diameter.
As I said, anything's better than what you have now.
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From: Los Angeles
2005 C230 Sport Coupe
[QUOTE=
Somewhere there is a list of all the different sizes among brands.
Maybe someone can post it here? [/QUOTE]
+1
Everyone on here talks about under steer?
With the C55 wheels on my car, and I am now running 255 35 18's on the back there never was, or now any under steer.
But then again I have read that the C55 front wheels were designed to help eliminate under steer as the V-8 is heavier in the front.
Also remember that when recommending bigger sway bars it will decrease your MB ride quality if you are into that?
Thanks,
Dave
Somewhere there is a list of all the different sizes among brands.
Maybe someone can post it here? [/QUOTE]
+1
Everyone on here talks about under steer?
With the C55 wheels on my car, and I am now running 255 35 18's on the back there never was, or now any under steer.
But then again I have read that the C55 front wheels were designed to help eliminate under steer as the V-8 is heavier in the front.
Also remember that when recommending bigger sway bars it will decrease your MB ride quality if you are into that?
Thanks,
Dave
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Joined: May 2009
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From: Atlanta, GA
'02 C230 Coupe (Me) '03 SLK320 6MT (Wife)
AMG: 22mm Front and 16 mm Rear
Brabus: 27mm Front and 23mm Rear
Eibach: 24mm Front and 22 mm Rear
Evosport: 24mm Front and 19 mm Rear
H&R: 26mm Front and 19 mm Rear
Stock: 20mm Front and 13 mm Rear
From this POST in the W203/CL203 Suspension thread.
Brabus: 27mm Front and 23mm Rear
Eibach: 24mm Front and 22 mm Rear
Evosport: 24mm Front and 19 mm Rear
H&R: 26mm Front and 19 mm Rear
Stock: 20mm Front and 13 mm Rear
From this POST in the W203/CL203 Suspension thread.
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From: Phoenix AZ & Cayucos CA
’27 AMG SL55(ordered), ‘23 EQS 580 SUV, ‘19 AMG E53 Cpe, ‘48 Willys Jeepster
Banned
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 997
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From: KC, MO
"annoyance" and "self-righteousness", amoung others...
Dave,
Well I guess you're alone in the w203 world that you don't need to buy sway bars. Good for you, you just saved some $$ my friend! Apparently your driving style doesn't induce the awful understeer these cars produce.
Ride quality is only affected around corners. Soft stock suspension "gives" around corners due to small swaybars, lending a cushy corner. Larger sways, stiffer corner.
Well I guess you're alone in the w203 world that you don't need to buy sway bars. Good for you, you just saved some $$ my friend! Apparently your driving style doesn't induce the awful understeer these cars produce.
Ride quality is only affected around corners. Soft stock suspension "gives" around corners due to small swaybars, lending a cushy corner. Larger sways, stiffer corner.
+1
Everyone on here talks about under steer?
With the C55 wheels on my car, and I am now running 255 35 18's on the back there never was, or now any under steer.
But then again I have read that the C55 front wheels were designed to help eliminate under steer as the V-8 is heavier in the front.
Also remember that when recommending bigger sway bars it will decrease your MB ride quality if you are into that?
Thanks,
Dave
Everyone on here talks about under steer?
With the C55 wheels on my car, and I am now running 255 35 18's on the back there never was, or now any under steer.
But then again I have read that the C55 front wheels were designed to help eliminate under steer as the V-8 is heavier in the front.
Also remember that when recommending bigger sway bars it will decrease your MB ride quality if you are into that?
Thanks,
Dave
Banned
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 997
Likes: 2
From: KC, MO
"annoyance" and "self-righteousness", amoung others...
AMG: 22mm Front and 16 mm Rear
Brabus: 27mm Front and 23mm Rear
Eibach: 24mm Front and 22 mm Rear
Evosport: 24mm Front and 19 mm Rear
H&R: 26mm Front and 19 mm Rear
Stock: 20mm Front and 13 mm Rear
From this POST in the W203/CL203 Suspension thread.
Brabus: 27mm Front and 23mm Rear
Eibach: 24mm Front and 22 mm Rear
Evosport: 24mm Front and 19 mm Rear
H&R: 26mm Front and 19 mm Rear
Stock: 20mm Front and 13 mm Rear
From this POST in the W203/CL203 Suspension thread.
Stiffest corner possible: H&R front, Eibach rear (Brabus is out of production)
Understeer is lent when the front swaybar is much larger than the rear in VERY simplified terms. Opposite for oversteer (usually induced with a more balanced setup with crap tons of torque with RWD)
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 22,058
Likes: 19
From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
+1
Everyone on here talks about under steer?
With the C55 wheels on my car, and I am now running 255 35 18's on the back there never was, or now any under steer.
But then again I have read that the C55 front wheels were designed to help eliminate under steer as the V-8 is heavier in the front.
Also remember that when recommending bigger sway bars it will decrease your MB ride quality if you are into that?
Thanks,
Dave
Everyone on here talks about under steer?
With the C55 wheels on my car, and I am now running 255 35 18's on the back there never was, or now any under steer.
But then again I have read that the C55 front wheels were designed to help eliminate under steer as the V-8 is heavier in the front.
Also remember that when recommending bigger sway bars it will decrease your MB ride quality if you are into that?
Thanks,
Dave
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 876
Likes: 81
From: Phoenix AZ & Cayucos CA
’27 AMG SL55(ordered), ‘23 EQS 580 SUV, ‘19 AMG E53 Cpe, ‘48 Willys Jeepster
I suspect that's why H&R hasn't gone as big at the rear as at the front. As mentioned above, the last thing a w203 needs is more understeer. That, or they're less likely to get sued because you hit the tree going backwards.
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Posts: 7,268
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From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
I think Brabus bars would have to be waaaay overkill, especially in combo with new springs. I keep the 17" wheels as I at least get a little buffer from the 45 series tires.
Yeah, it's a bumpy ride on a crappy road, I avoid crappy roads.
But the stock suspension was wishy washy, still bumpy and lots of dive and rocking front to rear.
Sucked.
I struggled to stay in the seat on my daily commute from Silly con valley 'over the hill' to Santa cruz county due to the
extreme body roll.
My 1st interation of AMG bars front and rear, and Vogtland springs shaved 5 minutes off my daily commute,
and I wasn't pushing it. And I arrived home refreshed instead of exhausted from wresting the damn car
over the hill. Since the coupe boasted "sport suspension" I expected more,
like a stripped stock 325 BMW of the same era, but was I wrong.
In the end I've got 2 grand into suspension.
I don't really have any issue with wheelspin.
On steep inclines, like the driveway in my sig pic, I use the W setting on the tranny
to get me up and out without spinning.
Yeah, it's a bumpy ride on a crappy road, I avoid crappy roads.
But the stock suspension was wishy washy, still bumpy and lots of dive and rocking front to rear.
Sucked.
I struggled to stay in the seat on my daily commute from Silly con valley 'over the hill' to Santa cruz county due to the
extreme body roll.
My 1st interation of AMG bars front and rear, and Vogtland springs shaved 5 minutes off my daily commute,
and I wasn't pushing it. And I arrived home refreshed instead of exhausted from wresting the damn car
over the hill. Since the coupe boasted "sport suspension" I expected more,
like a stripped stock 325 BMW of the same era, but was I wrong.
In the end I've got 2 grand into suspension.
I don't really have any issue with wheelspin.
On steep inclines, like the driveway in my sig pic, I use the W setting on the tranny
to get me up and out without spinning.
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; Jan 20, 2011 at 12:41 PM.
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From: VA
THE C350
that is my one issue with my amg rear bar. When i pull out of work i have to go up a hill then a dip and right turn onto a road with a 45 mph speed limit. I have to be careful or i will start spinning and have the traction control cut throttle as i make the turn. that said it is my favorite mod on my car it helped so much in the corners 
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 22,058
Likes: 19
From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
that is my one issue with my amg rear bar. When i pull out of work i have to go up a hill then a dip and right turn onto a road with a 45 mph speed limit. I have to be careful or i will start spinning and have the traction control cut throttle as i make the turn. that said it is my favorite mod on my car it helped so much in the corners
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 461
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From: Orange County, CA
C230 K Coupe (05)
Would you happen to have the part numbers for these? I'm looking to install amg sway bars on my 2005 coupe. Not decided if I want the C32 or the C55 yet...
TIA
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Posts: 818
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From: Atlanta, GA
'02 C230 Coupe (Me) '03 SLK320 6MT (Wife)
The ones I used are listed HERE, starting at post #63. PM me if you need anything you don't see there.
Last edited by MW_ATL; May 23, 2011 at 08:58 PM.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 385
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From: Richmond California
2021 GLC300 4Matic
front
A-203-323-44-65
22mm my stock was 20mm
Rear
A-203-326-15-65
16mm my stock was 13
I drove the car this morning and all I can say is that this is a really good upgrade and I am glad I completed one more project.
next on the list
1-vinyl wrap the top next week when Don gets to the bay area
2-tint windows 30% all around.
