'02 C32 Suspension Maintenance
 

At 130k mi it is time for a little suspension r&r on my daily driver. I have searched through all related forums, see helpful DIY write-ups:

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...asy-steps.html

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...placement.html

I plan on new front struts, strut bearings and rear shocks. The car has been up on a lift recently and all major wear bushings, links and mounts are in great shape.

A few questions:
-While I have the struts/shocks out is there any recommended maintenance?
-For a few more $ should I upgrade from OE? If yes, can you recommend a shock that provides anti-roll performance and touring comfort?
-Should I replace my OE springs at 130K mi w/ the struts?

Side note: Since I am on the Maine coast where the ocean and public works compete for salt production I will be greasing everything I can get at with Waxoyl, a salt/rust inhibitor and I would suggest any northeast car owner do the same.

My suggestions from personal experience:

Check the condition of the sway bars under the bushings, especially the front. I had corrosion and upgraded the sway bars to Eibachs which will reduce your body roll. I would replace the end links as the heavier bars will stress these more.

I replaced my dampers with the C55 ones along with C55 front springs which will drop the front about an inch. You should replace the strut bearing at the same time. If going with the C55 struts, replace the bump stop with the C55 ones as the C32's are an inch taller.
The rear springs are the same for C32/C55. Unless the springs are badly corroded or cracked, they should be fine.

The details and part numbers can be found here: https://mbworld.org/forums/c32-amg-c...r-lowered.html

Can I use c55 struts and keep my springs?

If you are going to renew your suspension components with the C55 ones, I'd do the springs at the same time. I'm sure you can get them for about $80 each States side.

the C5 Springs was Tuned "Spring Rate" for the Heavier V8 engine so that being said it might make your C32 V6 Higher and not lower :-). i think you can use the the Strut & Shocks from the C55 on your C32 but i wont recommend using the springs from the c55..

The weight of the 112K is about the same as the 113 due to the supercharger. I did not measure the front height before and after the C55 front spring install but the drop is about the width of my thumb. One other local member did this before going with the Pss9 coilovers and got the same drop so they will work just fine.

Suspension part numbers question
 

I am replacing my struts, and strut bearings, and stabilizer links and am getting conflicting part numbers on parts.com. Could anyone point me in the right direction?

The (fantastic) DIY https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w203/210973-diy-strut-bearing-replacement.html quotes these parts:
(2) 203 320 02 73 Suspension strut bearing
(2) 203 320 00 56 Strut mounting kit
But parts.com lists it for an 09 CLK as strut mount not bearing: http://www.parts.com/parts/index.cfm...earch&siteid=2

What is troubling is that parts.com has a totally different diagram for a 2002 C32 http://www.parts.com/parts/2002/MERC...iagram=5775245http://www.parts.com/media/images/oe.../5/5775245.gif
Than a 2003 C32 http://www.parts.com/parts/2003/MERC...iagram=5775056http://www.parts.com/media/images/oe.../5/5775056.gif

I believe the 2003 diagram is the correct one as it seems to actually have the correct parts and is the same diagram used for all c32 and c55 cars on parts.com from '03 up. Only one problem, it lists all parts for c32 and c55 as "w/ 4matic" which neither even had as an option!

I'm pretty sure part 15 is the rubber bearing assembly that should be replaced even though is is labeled on parts.com as "mount" pn 2033200873
AND part 14 is labeled as "bearing" pn 0009812306 even though the picture looks more like the mount!

Yikes.

A little help anyone?