C36 Suspension Upgrades
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 59
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From: Kirkland, WA
1997 C36 AMG
C36 Suspension Upgrades
so i have decided to go with billstien sports with the H&R sport springs for an upgraded suspension, but while at it, i figured i would upgrade some other stuff.
here is what i am thinking (in addition to the springs/shocks)
new polyurethane lower control arm bushings
new steering damper
new tie-rod ends
new (aftermarket) sway bars...(eibach, H&R??)
is there anything else i need to get/replace? does anyone have any good sources for the above suspension parts at a good price, especially the sway bars?
my car is a 97 C36 with just over 100k on it BTW...
thanks guys!
here is what i am thinking (in addition to the springs/shocks)
new polyurethane lower control arm bushings
new steering damper
new tie-rod ends
new (aftermarket) sway bars...(eibach, H&R??)
is there anything else i need to get/replace? does anyone have any good sources for the above suspension parts at a good price, especially the sway bars?
my car is a 97 C36 with just over 100k on it BTW...
thanks guys!
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Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Connecticut, New Haven
95' AMG SeeThreeSix
What LCA polyurethane bushings are you talking about, link?
Seems like you have done your research, you covered all the bases, aftermarket sways are harder to source. Try E-mailing some vendors that carry H&R and eibach products they will be able to get them for you, let us know what the quote you at as well. Welcome to the forum!
Seems like you have done your research, you covered all the bases, aftermarket sways are harder to source. Try E-mailing some vendors that carry H&R and eibach products they will be able to get them for you, let us know what the quote you at as well. Welcome to the forum!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: Kirkland, WA
1997 C36 AMG
What LCA polyurethane bushings are you talking about, link?
Seems like you have done your research, you covered all the bases, aftermarket sways are harder to source. Try E-mailing some vendors that carry H&R and eibach products they will be able to get them for you, let us know what the quote you at as well. Welcome to the forum!
Seems like you have done your research, you covered all the bases, aftermarket sways are harder to source. Try E-mailing some vendors that carry H&R and eibach products they will be able to get them for you, let us know what the quote you at as well. Welcome to the forum!
not sure about which bushings or where to get them, i just figured they could stand to be replaced based on the research i have done here. its tough to find exactly what i need though. do u think just replacing the LCA bushings with another set of the factory bushings will be sufficient? if i can find some, i would like to get something a little beefer than that stock ones. help me out with any sites for the srprings and sways if you know of some.
i have been a member here for a while now, just don't post much.....i do a lot of reading tho
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Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Connecticut, New Haven
95' AMG SeeThreeSix
Or you could go KMAC They offer aftermarket bushings (I think polyurethane as a matter of a fact...) that will give you a much more extreme adjustment window to correct negative camber when lowering, or even add camber for serious track use. They also have various other custom suspension products for shock mount tower adjustment and they even offer sway bars now, email them about sway bats for the W202 and I bet you they can make them. Let us know how it goes. 
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: Kirkland, WA
1997 C36 AMG
Or you could go KMAC They offer aftermarket bushings (I think polyurethane as a matter of a fact...) that will give you a much more extreme adjustment window to correct negative camber when lowering, or even add camber for serious track use. They also have various other custom suspension products for shock mount tower adjustment and they even offer sway bars now, email them about sway bats for the W202 and I bet you they can make them. Let us know how it goes.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 59
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From: Kirkland, WA
1997 C36 AMG
hey guys, i need some info.
i just heard from someone that the H&R sport springs will NOT fit my 1997 C36 since it has a production date after 1/1/1995. is this true?? i have had great success with H&R oproducts in the past and would like to continue to use them. i have heard the drop from the eibach springs is not as great as the H&R's and that the ride isn't quite as stiff.....
if anyone with a 1997 C36 thats is lowered could post up what you are lowered on where you got your parts, that would be greatly appreciated!!!
thanks
i just heard from someone that the H&R sport springs will NOT fit my 1997 C36 since it has a production date after 1/1/1995. is this true?? i have had great success with H&R oproducts in the past and would like to continue to use them. i have heard the drop from the eibach springs is not as great as the H&R's and that the ride isn't quite as stiff.....
if anyone with a 1997 C36 thats is lowered could post up what you are lowered on where you got your parts, that would be greatly appreciated!!!
thanks
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Canada
eclectic assortment of cars
I have the KMAC front kit, but have not yet installed it. Got a bit of a runaround from Import Auto Performance when I bought them. They make it sound like they have them in stock, but they weren't. In fact, they were made to order by KMAC directly in Oz. Bit of a pain getting them here. If I had known they were made to order, I just would have ordered direct from KMAC, and were even drop shipped direct from Oz too. I did lots of poking around, and it appears they are the only source for aftermarket adjustibility on the front, for camber and caster.
They have a metal sleeve on the outside, then inside that there is a poly bushing. The inside that, there is another metal sleeve with the adjusting bolt. The 'bush removal tools' are very rudimentary pieces, three cut pieces of steel piping and a small, solid piece of steel rod. Bit of a euphamism for tools there I think! I will likely need to get the lower control arm off the car completely, press the old stuff out and press the KMAC stuff back in.
They have a metal sleeve on the outside, then inside that there is a poly bushing. The inside that, there is another metal sleeve with the adjusting bolt. The 'bush removal tools' are very rudimentary pieces, three cut pieces of steel piping and a small, solid piece of steel rod. Bit of a euphamism for tools there I think! I will likely need to get the lower control arm off the car completely, press the old stuff out and press the KMAC stuff back in.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 59
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From: Kirkland, WA
1997 C36 AMG
**UPDATE**
so i actually talked to someone at H&R and they confirmed that they do not have an application for the 1997 C36. it seems as if something changed within the suspension when the 97's were produced. the only application they have is for 95 and 96's.
so now i need to consider other springs. anyone have anything positive or negative about any brand? right now i am considering going with eibach. i am just bummed that H&R doesn't appear to have an application for my 97. any help on this would be great!
so now i need to consider other springs. anyone have anything positive or negative about any brand? right now i am considering going with eibach. i am just bummed that H&R doesn't appear to have an application for my 97. any help on this would be great!
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 263
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From: Frederick MD
83 500SEC, 87 300D, 02 C32(x2), 02 C320T (x2), 03 C320T4, 03 C320T, 03 E55, 05 E320CDI, 06 E320CDI
So did you ever figure that little problem out?
Here are the Eibachs:
http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/S...lar=&brand=all
and when you deselect the C36 model and go with its base unit a lot more options are available including Eibach, Koni, H&R, cup kits, sway bars(28mm F, 18mm R) etc:
http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/S...lar=&brand=all
This is what I used for my C36 and they fit fine. It appears they are having a sale on all Koni stuff at the moment, the spring kit is cheap!
www.mbpartswarehouse.com also sells the Eibach sway bar kits which seem to be the same size as the H&R ones and they are 'adjustable'
http://www.mbpartswarehouse.com/part...94962347&Nty=1
Here are the Eibachs:
http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/S...lar=&brand=all
and when you deselect the C36 model and go with its base unit a lot more options are available including Eibach, Koni, H&R, cup kits, sway bars(28mm F, 18mm R) etc:
http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/S...lar=&brand=all
This is what I used for my C36 and they fit fine. It appears they are having a sale on all Koni stuff at the moment, the spring kit is cheap!
www.mbpartswarehouse.com also sells the Eibach sway bar kits which seem to be the same size as the H&R ones and they are 'adjustable'
http://www.mbpartswarehouse.com/part...94962347&Nty=1
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: Kirkland, WA
1997 C36 AMG
So did you ever figure that little problem out?
Here are the Eibachs:
http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/S...lar=&brand=all
and when you deselect the C36 model and go with its base unit a lot more options are available including Eibach, Koni, H&R, cup kits, sway bars(28mm F, 18mm R) etc:
http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/S...lar=&brand=all
This is what I used for my C36 and they fit fine. It appears they are having a sale on all Koni stuff at the moment, the spring kit is cheap!
www.mbpartswarehouse.com also sells the Eibach sway bar kits which seem to be the same size as the H&R ones and they are 'adjustable'
http://www.mbpartswarehouse.com/part...94962347&Nty=1
Here are the Eibachs:
http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/S...lar=&brand=all
and when you deselect the C36 model and go with its base unit a lot more options are available including Eibach, Koni, H&R, cup kits, sway bars(28mm F, 18mm R) etc:
http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/S...lar=&brand=all
This is what I used for my C36 and they fit fine. It appears they are having a sale on all Koni stuff at the moment, the spring kit is cheap!
www.mbpartswarehouse.com also sells the Eibach sway bar kits which seem to be the same size as the H&R ones and they are 'adjustable'
http://www.mbpartswarehouse.com/part...94962347&Nty=1
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 263
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From: Frederick MD
83 500SEC, 87 300D, 02 C32(x2), 02 C320T (x2), 03 C320T4, 03 C320T, 03 E55, 05 E320CDI, 06 E320CDI
Yeah my disclaimer is I'm kinda partial to Bilstein and H&R. Track car #1, 87 300D had Bil sports and 300E H&R springs and was great. #2 the 83 500SEC has Bil HD (no sports available) and H&R springs and did fairly well for a boat. C36 is going to be #3 so I have yet to test it fully but I know what to expect.
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So what are you're saying, Koni's no good for a Merc?
I was interested in buying the chicken yello Koni's with adjustble stiffening settings!
These Koni's are cheaper to buy than the OEM BILSTEIN/AMG shox at the stealership!
So would it be a bad combination to use Koni and euro version AMG springs?
Maybe changing to H&R lowering springs together with Koni's would be a better combination on a Benz?
Do you have any good or bad experiance for this set up?
Let me know!
Thanks
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,297
Likes: 1
From: Connecticut, New Haven
95' AMG SeeThreeSix
so i actually talked to someone at H&R and they confirmed that they do not have an application for the 1997 C36. it seems as if something changed within the suspension when the 97's were produced. the only application they have is for 95 and 96's.
so now i need to consider other springs. anyone have anything positive or negative about any brand? right now i am considering going with eibach. i am just bummed that H&R doesn't appear to have an application for my 97. any help on this would be great!
so now i need to consider other springs. anyone have anything positive or negative about any brand? right now i am considering going with eibach. i am just bummed that H&R doesn't appear to have an application for my 97. any help on this would be great!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,101
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From: MA
Mosselman 190E 16V+ C63S+ Abarth 595
Hey buddy!
So what are you're saying, Koni's no good for a Merc?
I was interested in buying the chicken yello Koni's with adjustble stiffening settings!
These Koni's are cheaper to buy than the OEM BILSTEIN/AMG shox at the stealership!
So would it be a bad combination to use Koni and euro version AMG springs?
Maybe changing to H&R lowering springs together with Koni's would be a better combination on a Benz?
Do you have any good or bad experiance for this set up?
Let me know!
Thanks
So what are you're saying, Koni's no good for a Merc?
I was interested in buying the chicken yello Koni's with adjustble stiffening settings!
These Koni's are cheaper to buy than the OEM BILSTEIN/AMG shox at the stealership!
So would it be a bad combination to use Koni and euro version AMG springs?
Maybe changing to H&R lowering springs together with Koni's would be a better combination on a Benz?
Do you have any good or bad experiance for this set up?
Let me know!
Thanks
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
From: Frederick MD
83 500SEC, 87 300D, 02 C32(x2), 02 C320T (x2), 03 C320T4, 03 C320T, 03 E55, 05 E320CDI, 06 E320CDI
Actually, while partsgeek has them for a few bucks less, www.mbpartswarehouse.com has free shipping so it costs less in the end for them.
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I have the Koni adjustables and at their stiffest setting they arent nearly as stiff as bilstein sports. Best place to buy Bilsteins is from partsgeek.com. They usually have them for the cheapest and ship surprisingly fast. C36s just came with Bilstein HDs, nothing to do with AMG. Using konis or billy sports with stock springs is going to be stiffer than stock, so better handling. H&Rs and either konis or billy sports will make the car handle much better.
Is this true?
I was told that when they are at their softest settings they are still STIFF as hell like Ron Jeremy in action!
I was thinking to replace my shox with 4 KONI's when the day comes, they are much cheaper to buy, so money is an object when buying performance shox, much cheaper than what stealership sells them!
Is this still a good combination to use my EURO springs on my C43 with KONI's?
Or not?
AMG/Bilstein OEM shox are specially designed for our cars!
Therefore it might be or not be a good combination?
Maybe the special synergi will only be noticed with H&R springs and the Koni set up?
Euro C43's are lower than US versions of the same car!
il post pics when I install them
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 59
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From: Kirkland, WA
1997 C36 AMG
i was just calling them for fitment specs......didn't get any price quotes. i am still unsure about which direction i am gonna go. i know for sure i am gonna go with the billy sports, but i am on the fence as far as srpings: eibachs with a specific 1997 c36 fitment, or H&R that are for the same year c280 sport......i have had nothing but good things to say about H&R in the past. on the other hand i have never used a set of eibah springs, so i just to make a decision and go with it
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 369
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22 X3, 21 330e, 97 M3, 97 C36 (sold), but on the hunt for a clean, low-mile C43!
so i actually talked to someone at H&R and they confirmed that they do not have an application for the 1997 C36. it seems as if something changed within the suspension when the 97's were produced. the only application they have is for 95 and 96's.
so now i need to consider other springs. anyone have anything positive or negative about any brand? right now i am considering going with eibach. i am just bummed that H&R doesn't appear to have an application for my 97. any help on this would be great!
so now i need to consider other springs. anyone have anything positive or negative about any brand? right now i am considering going with eibach. i am just bummed that H&R doesn't appear to have an application for my 97. any help on this would be great!
Member
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: On a rock
92 AMG 190E EVO2DTM, 240T Turbo Benz, 84 AMG 190E, 560SEC-TT, 95 C36 & a BHG 98 C230
I have W208 LCA Bushings. The handling is so much better. I also installed Sport Bilstiens with the stock springs. (95 C36)
On my customers 97 C36 we used the H&R 97 C280 Lowering Springs with no problems. Drop was 1.5" from stock.
On my customers 97 C36 we used the H&R 97 C280 Lowering Springs with no problems. Drop was 1.5" from stock.
