joboo

i just got a 95 c36 and i'm pretty sure the front is lowered but not sure if the rear is. anyone know how i can tell. I tried to look at the springs, they are black and have no name on them, just some numbers. are these stock springs? anyone know what the deal is with the spring pads? can i just remove the pads to lower? where are the pads/

DougandhisC280

If they're black, they're probably just stock. I would hope someone wouldn't be dumb enough to only lower the front. The spring pads are at the top of the springs. You can purchase the pads at different thicknesses but it is recommended to change the springs and shocks to lower it so you don't bottom out or anything. If you have an AMG model, you probably have the thinnest pads already installed.

scorchie

I swear I don't just post just to correct you, Doug.

Actually, both H&R and Eibach have black springs.

I've seen about 1/3 of the H&R that I've installed have been black instead of blue, and 3/4 of the Eibach were black instead of red.

-s-

joboo

umm ya, i'm not sure if the pads i have are the thinest available, i've seen a few other c36 that are lowered with h&r springs and the rear is way lower than mine, i'm wondering if the pads are removable or what the deal is. anyone know? i heard that there is only pads in the rear? is this true?

DougandhisC280

Don't worry about correcting me, I'd rather know if I'm right or wrong. Here is a sure way to tell if they're factory or not. When Mercedes inspects a car before it leaves the plant they put dots of paint on parts to show that it has been okayed. There should be about four dots all different colors on the springs if they are factory. There should be pads on the front and rear.

Mercedes Tuner

The Spring Pads are on top of the Springs, in the Spring Seat. There are I believe 5 different size spring pads available.

The US Version of the C36 does not have the smallest Spring Pads since US Ride Height Specs do not allow it. However you can change the pads to the smallest ones. The spring pads have **** on the edge marking their thickness. They are on a scale of 1-5 with 1 being the smallest. There is approximately a 1 inch difference between size 1 and size 5. Usually the front pad is one size smaller then the rear. I believe that the C36 has a size 3 in the front and a size 4 in the back. If you were to change it to a size 1 and a size 2 it should lower the car to Euro Spec Height approx 3/4 of an inch.

joboo

how do i check which pads are installed now? can i see them by jacking up the car?

tpliquid

u shold be able to see it when u jack up the car, just make sure u whipe the spring first. there shold be green green green white?

Mercedes Tuner

You should be able to see which pads are in the car by jacking it up. On the lower outer edge of the pad (just outside of the spring) there will be a series of **** hanging off the side. They are grouped together and may not necessarily be facing outwards, but usually they are.

oosix

My 96 came with #2 front pads and #3 rear pads. From what I know, fronts range from 1 to 5. Rears range from 1 to 4. I think the difference between 1 & 5 pads is 25mm and 24 mm is approximatly 1 inch. The C36 came with AMG springs and AMG/Bilstien dampers. They're not really stock but I guess they can be referred to as being stock b/c they came with the car. Each of the shocks have the AMG/// logo etched on their bodies. Springs are unmarked but are different than the c280 b/c the spring wires are so much thicker.

joboo

Okay thank you all for your input. I jacked upithe car today and this is what I saw. The front spring on the driver side has HWA 202 321 9904 on it. It also has red and pink paint on them. It also looks as if there is spring pad with level 2. The rear has red blue and white paint on the spring and it has level 3 pads on it. As far as I can tell, these springs are fatory AMG and the spring pads are the original as well. I am planning on changing all my pads to level 1 and installing H&R springs. What do you guys think of this idea???? Has anyone done this yet??? Or do most people just change the springs and not bother with the pads??? thanks.

oosix

Well, u have to ask ur self if u are planning to sell ur car in the next couple of years and if the existing shocks are in good condition. Lowering ur car beyond the #1 pads will wear out the AMG shocks faster b/c the shock pistons are compressed lower than the shocks' intended range of operation. The original AMG shocks and springs are very expensive. So if u plan on selling the car and want to return it stock, then it's a good suggestion to have the original shocks in good condition. All this doesn't matter if ur existing shocks are already shot.

Mercedes Tuner

As far as the spring pads, you should go down equally front and rear, if the front has a #2 and the rear has a #3 then go down 1 each, or the car will be lower in the rear then the front and it won't look right.

I had this C 230K in the shop last week that was all riced out. Someone installed Eibach Springs and changed the Spring Pads. The Pads were #4 in the front and #1 in the rear and it looked like the car had like 10,000 lbs in the trunk and was practically dragging on the ground. It was quite funny to see. I asked the customer if they wanted that fixed, and of course they denied it cause they liked the way it looked.