New C32, ride is too rough, what to check?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Mountain View, CA
'02 C32
New C32, ride is too rough, what to check?
Hi everyone, just purchased a fairly modded 2002 C32 recently and am starting to get it back into shape after it was neglected a little bit by a college kid. Love the car, and just put a quick 6000 miles on it over two weeks on a run around the country.
The wife, however, is pretty bummed about the ride quality: small bumps reach into the cabin, large bumps are hell, and I've been bottoming out (tire to wheel well) pretty often, mostly on highway bridges, with maybe 500lbs of people and cargo for the recent trip. I'm not sure what exactly the culprit is. Here's what's in it:
106,000 miles
255/35/18 Potenza RE760 Sports, new in rear, 75% in front
Renntech springs (ride height is -low-, no gap in back at all, probably #1 pad)
K-mac bushings
H&R front sway bar
stock (Sachs?) shocks and struts.
So, any idea what to suspect here? Maybe a combination of low-profile tires, stiffer springs, and possibly worn struts? Something else? Any help would be appreciated before the wife makes me buy a pr***!
The wife, however, is pretty bummed about the ride quality: small bumps reach into the cabin, large bumps are hell, and I've been bottoming out (tire to wheel well) pretty often, mostly on highway bridges, with maybe 500lbs of people and cargo for the recent trip. I'm not sure what exactly the culprit is. Here's what's in it:
106,000 miles
255/35/18 Potenza RE760 Sports, new in rear, 75% in front
Renntech springs (ride height is -low-, no gap in back at all, probably #1 pad)
K-mac bushings
H&R front sway bar
stock (Sachs?) shocks and struts.
So, any idea what to suspect here? Maybe a combination of low-profile tires, stiffer springs, and possibly worn struts? Something else? Any help would be appreciated before the wife makes me buy a pr***!
Last edited by basc; Aug 17, 2014 at 01:50 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,040
Likes: 125
From: Atlanta Metro
Current: C217 V12TT AMG Previously: C55 AMG, SL65 AMG
Hi everyone, just purchased a fairly modded 2002 C32 recently and am starting to get it back into shape after it was neglected a little bit by a college kid. Love the car, and just put a quick 6000 miles on it over two weeks on a run around the country.
The wife, however, is pretty bummed about the ride quality: small bumps reach into the cabin, large bumps are hell, and I've been bottoming out (tire to wheel well) pretty often, mostly on highway bridges, with maybe 500lbs of people and cargo for the recent trip. I'm not sure what exactly the culprit is. Here's what's in it:
106,000 miles
255/35/18 Potenza RE760 Sports, new in rear, 75% in front
Renntech springs (ride height is -low-, no gap in back at all, probably #1 pad)
K-mac bushings
H&R front sway bar
stock (Sachs?) shocks and struts.
So, any idea what to suspect here? Maybe a combination of low-profile tires, stiffer springs, and possibly worn struts? Something else? Any help would be appreciated before the wife makes me buy a pr***!
The wife, however, is pretty bummed about the ride quality: small bumps reach into the cabin, large bumps are hell, and I've been bottoming out (tire to wheel well) pretty often, mostly on highway bridges, with maybe 500lbs of people and cargo for the recent trip. I'm not sure what exactly the culprit is. Here's what's in it:
106,000 miles
255/35/18 Potenza RE760 Sports, new in rear, 75% in front
Renntech springs (ride height is -low-, no gap in back at all, probably #1 pad)
K-mac bushings
H&R front sway bar
stock (Sachs?) shocks and struts.
So, any idea what to suspect here? Maybe a combination of low-profile tires, stiffer springs, and possibly worn struts? Something else? Any help would be appreciated before the wife makes me buy a pr***!
Super Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 522
Likes: 15
2002 C32AMG
If you're not willing to go back to stock suspension components the best way to get some cushion is some higher profile, soft sidewall tires but cornering will suffer badly and tires aren't cheap.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Mountain View, CA
'02 C32
I am actually ok with bringing the suspension back to stock in this case, but would prefer avoiding the cost of new wheels and tires. I've found almost everything already, but can you recommend a good source for stock springs?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Mountain View, CA
'02 C32
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
c32 amg
rough ride c32amg
My c32 was too rough also with H&R coilovers. I "detuned" to Bilstein sport shocks/struts and H&R springs from Tire Rack. Car still lower than stock ,but looks good and much better ride. I have a set of AMG stock springs listed on Ebay for 150.00 if interested, this includes shipping. I can drop the cost a bit,but shippingfrom VA to CA is pricey. item # on ebay is :151379862498 dusty
