ride height question
#1
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C32 AMG - RIP :(
ride height question
I have a 2002 C32 with about 70k miles on it. The wheels are 19" and tires are 265/30/19 and 235/35/19. I just bought it last week and the wheels/tires are the only mod according to the previous owner. My concern is that the rear ride height is perfect. Maybe a 1" fender gap. The front sits a bit too high to me. There is a 3" fender gap. My question is, do C32's normally sit like this? Does the rear have an autoleveling suspension that is sagging maybe? Or maybe it's not autoleveling but the springs are sagging? I'll post a pic tonight so u all can see.
Any thoughts? I'd like an even gap all the way around.
Any thoughts? I'd like an even gap all the way around.
![nix](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/nixweiss.gif)
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2008 A8L, 2002 996TT X50, 2009 X5
+1
Mine sits that way too - while it seems bizarre, that's just how they came. If you want an even drop F&R, your best bet is coilovers - KW, H&R, or Bilstein PSS9s are all popular. If that's a bit pricey, go with Renntech (if they still sell them? they've taken them off of their website w203 listing?!?) or H&R springs - but you need to use the #4 spring pads in the rear to make sure it doesn't drop too much...
Mine sits that way too - while it seems bizarre, that's just how they came. If you want an even drop F&R, your best bet is coilovers - KW, H&R, or Bilstein PSS9s are all popular. If that's a bit pricey, go with Renntech (if they still sell them? they've taken them off of their website w203 listing?!?) or H&R springs - but you need to use the #4 spring pads in the rear to make sure it doesn't drop too much...
#4
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+1
Mine sits that way too - while it seems bizarre, that's just how they came. If you want an even drop F&R, your best bet is coilovers - KW, H&R, or Bilstein PSS9s are all popular. If that's a bit pricey, go with Renntech (if they still sell them? they've taken them off of their website w203 listing?!?) or H&R springs - but you need to use the #4 spring pads in the rear to make sure it doesn't drop too much...
Mine sits that way too - while it seems bizarre, that's just how they came. If you want an even drop F&R, your best bet is coilovers - KW, H&R, or Bilstein PSS9s are all popular. If that's a bit pricey, go with Renntech (if they still sell them? they've taken them off of their website w203 listing?!?) or H&R springs - but you need to use the #4 spring pads in the rear to make sure it doesn't drop too much...
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2008 A8L, 2002 996TT X50, 2009 X5
Don't people sometimes "cut" a factory spring to drop a car? I wonder if the front AMG springs could be trimmed enough to drop the car 1-1.5", and leave the rears alone, without any major problems... has anyone tried this? I know it's probably not optimal, just wondering if it's been attempted.
BTW, jgsx, I've noticed your posts on this topic before, and that even with Renntech springs (supposed to be the most level of the bunch) and #4 pads, your R sits significantly lower than your F. But that seems to disagree with most owners who've used lowering springs - they all tend to state "if you use #4 pads in the back, you'll be good" - so I see one of two options here... one is that your car, for some reason, is different than most when it comes to suspension issues, or two, you're more discriminating on drop levels than the average owner...
Last edited by c32AMG-DTM; 08-30-2007 at 07:33 AM.
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C32, Cobra, 700hp Vespa
I went with the TEIN springs, and I love them. Perfect ride height front and rear. #4 pad in back, and no rubbing at all, even with the car loaded up.
#7
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You know, I've wondered this myself - I'm confident the "look" question is that it would look fine... more concerned about the "behave" question, mixing and matching different suspension would seem to be a bad idea, I'd think.
Don't people sometimes "cut" a factory spring to drop a car? I wonder if the front AMG springs could be trimmed enough to drop the car 1-1.5", and leave the rears alone, without any major problems... has anyone tried this? I know it's probably not optimal, just wondering if it's been attempted.
BTW, jgsx, I've noticed your posts on this topic before, and that even with Renntech springs (supposed to be the most level of the bunch) and #4 pads, your R sits significantly lower than your F. But that seems to disagree with most owners who've used lowering springs - they all tend to state "if you use #4 pads in the back, you'll be good" - so I see one of two options here... one is that your car, for some reason, is different than most when it comes to suspension issues, or two, you're more discriminating on drop levels than the average owner...
Don't people sometimes "cut" a factory spring to drop a car? I wonder if the front AMG springs could be trimmed enough to drop the car 1-1.5", and leave the rears alone, without any major problems... has anyone tried this? I know it's probably not optimal, just wondering if it's been attempted.
BTW, jgsx, I've noticed your posts on this topic before, and that even with Renntech springs (supposed to be the most level of the bunch) and #4 pads, your R sits significantly lower than your F. But that seems to disagree with most owners who've used lowering springs - they all tend to state "if you use #4 pads in the back, you'll be good" - so I see one of two options here... one is that your car, for some reason, is different than most when it comes to suspension issues, or two, you're more discriminating on drop levels than the average owner...
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#9
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04 C32 Silver
i am wondering the same thing, the only way to find out is to get the stock AMG rear spring rate and compare it to the H&R rear, if they are the same, then you can use stock rear and H&R front. Anyone here knows the stock spring rates?
#10
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Unfortunately it isn't that simple. You'd be changing the corner weights. Like Fifth pointed out, the car is supposed to be "lower" (when looking at fender gap) in the back.
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04 C32 Silver
you can remove current pad and change to thinner pad to lover the rear and leveling the car. i know the gap will not give you the levelling you want, most cars are like that.... and it will change the front to rear weight distribution yes.
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02C32AMG
I have a 2002 C32 with about 70k miles on it. The wheels are 19" and tires are 265/30/19 and 235/35/19. I just bought it last week and the wheels/tires are the only mod according to the previous owner. My concern is that the rear ride height is perfect. Maybe a 1" fender gap. The front sits a bit too high to me. There is a 3" fender gap. My question is, do C32's normally sit like this? Does the rear have an autoleveling suspension that is sagging maybe? Or maybe it's not autoleveling but the springs are sagging? I'll post a pic tonight so u all can see.
Any thoughts? I'd like an even gap all the way around.![nix](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/nixweiss.gif)
Any thoughts? I'd like an even gap all the way around.
![nix](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/nixweiss.gif)