503C43 ////AMG

So I am gathering the parts to lower my car and this is what I have (or have ordered) so far:

1.) Vogtland springs
2.) Bilstein sport shocks
3.) K-MAC rear camber kit

I am looking to pick up these items:

1.) Spring pads
2.) Factory eccentric camber bolts

I went down to my local MB dealer and asked about these items, this is what they told me:

1.) Spring pads are only 9mm for the front and 5,9,13,17mm for the rear
2.) They gave me a part# of A202 330 01 18 for the eccentric camber bolts.

Here are the questions I have:

1.) What are the stock spring pad sizes for the C43?
2.) What sizes are other people using as far as spring pads go and does anyone have the part numbers for the spring pads?
3.) Is the part number they gave me correct for the eccentric camber kit and if not does anyone have the correct part number?

I appreciate any help

Saaboteur

Here are the part numbers for some of the pads:

210 321 04 84 pad#4 17 mm front
210 321 05 84 pad#5 21 mm front

210 325 04 84 pad#4 17 mm rear

And I wrote down in my notes after seeing some posts on club202.com, that if you just change the third set of digits (the '04' and '05' in the numbers above) to 01, 02 or 03 you will have the #1, 2 or 3 pad. The parts guy at the dealer I get parts from said that there is no corresponding #5 pad for the rear though, if I remember right.

But these 210 numbers are only for the 'facelift' 202s. I believe the earlier cars use a 201 number. Something to do with the bottoms and tops of the springs, ie. cut down flat or left round?

I have a print out from club202 that says the front camber bolt part number is what you listed, 202 330 01 18, but with a note next to it saying 'C36'. Dunno if that meant to denote that it was only for the earlier cars or what?

I will scan the full document with a lot of common part numbers and post it up tomorrow.

Quite a pity that club202 is gone, lots of good info there.

Oh, the parts guy at the dealer told me that C43s came stock with #2 pads. He warned me about that when I ordered the #4 pads. I chose the #4 pads because of a few others who have the Vogtland and #4 combination, including these posts:

https://mbworld.org/forums/4087281-post49.html

https://mbworld.org/forums/c36-amg-c...son-1-5-a.html

503C43 ////AMG

So correct me if I am wrong but the facelifted models are 1997 and newer right? I wonder why the parts counter told me that the 9mm pad (I believe it's a #2) is the only pad they had listed that would fit the front of a C43? I am going to call today and see if they say the numbers you gave me will fit the C43.

503C43 ////AMG

After looking at the pictures in the threads you had linked I am leaning towards #4 pads all the way around as well. The pics below really sold me on the ride height the #4 pads give you.

VOGTLAND springs + #4 PADS:

Saaboteur

There was another pic in that thread that convinced me on the #4 pad route too - post #16:https://mbworld.org/forums/896241-post16.html

Much as I love the really dumped look, I can't justify it with winter and our crappy roads. I hope the #4s won't be too much as it is! Fingers crossed.

I will post up the PDF with the club202 list of part numbers in the stickied DIY video thread. Probably best place to have it.

KJI3jflarryfe93

what's the original pad thickness in mm on US C43's?
my euro C43 has #2 = 9mm pads all 4 corners factory supplied.
when I'm going to lower my car with some special goodies hopefully next year?
I already invested in #1 pads front and #2 pads rear.
My car doesn't rub with factory stock springs (euro is lower than US cars compared to each other) and #2 pads all 4 corners.
I hope I still have the factory looks with a raised butt and lowered front after the shock/spring change?

503C43 ////AMG

Pads are the same for euro and US version as far as I know.... I have #2 pads (9mm) stock.

KJI3jflarryfe93

so if we use the same factory pads supplied to our cars, then it's the factory springs that differs between US cars and Euro C43's?
your cars are alot higher than euro versions

Saaboteur

That's my understanding.

The Euro spec springs are available, I found the part numbers in that club202 posting. I called up the dealer, and they were a bit expensive, I think about C$130 each. It made buying the Vogtlands (and then adjusting ride height with pads) a much easier decision.

503C43 ////AMG

I have always thought it was the springs that were the difference between the Euro and US versions as far as ride height was concerned. It would be a pretty big spring pad to bring it from the Euro ride height to the US ride height. We can confirm this after I install my suspension I will measure the springs. Look at some of my pics, I have like a 3-4 finger gap between my tire and fender. Looks like I am ready to go off roading

KJI3jflarryfe93

yo buddy.
if you have a 3-4 finger gap on your car?
then I have a 2 finger gap at rear wheels and front is about 1,5 finger gap almost 2.
so my car is low but can be lowered a tad more for that seksi look a car should look from the beginning.

503C43 ////AMG

Your gap between your tire and wheel well sounds real close to what I am looking for.... Lucky you

KJI3jflarryfe93

lucky me.
I think not!
It's a bit high for my taste.
I wanna drop it a an inch or so?

503C43 ////AMG

Your car is so low compared to mine right now, its unreal

KJI3jflarryfe93

you wanna trade?
mine is almost full optioned.
soon to come is the rear electric rollerblind
nah, I wouldn't sell this car for a long time.
I will buy some suspension parts when I save up .some money and hopefuly for next year I will have them put on my car.

These are the parts I need
shox Bilstein B8 SPRINT
springs Vogtland
upper control arms Lemfoerder
adjustable camber arms for rear axle ???????????
I dunno know who makes the best ones for cheapest $$$$$$$$$$?

Leeward

Getting back to eccentric factory front camber bushes and bolts, here's my take on it:

These only give you a set 5mm offset of negative or 5mm of positive camber.

Compare this to the K-Mac front adjusters (looked up the part # for you, 502016J), this gives more than double that range of adjustment and they are precisely adjustable to any point in the range, not just the one adjustment position each way.

The same applies to the caster adjustment, which is part of this kit.

503C43 ////AMG

Didn't realize the factory eccentric bolts were so limited, perhaps I will be going with the K-MAC kit...... Add another $300 to the cost of my suspension .

Thanks for the input

Saaboteur

I think Kowalski's car looks just right. If the Euro spec springs were cheaper, I would have jumped on that option I think.

KJI3jflarryfe93

since I bought my springpads maybe a new set of shox is enuff then?
if I drop it even more, maybe the front spoiler will scrape on speed bumps when passing over them?

cars with extreme front spoiler lips has difficulties to go over certain speed bumps, these speed bumps must have a certain and comfortable angle when entering on-ramp and the same with off ramp.

dynomite05

This is the first I hear of a 21mm spring pad

DRBC43AMG

Extract from Saaboteurs c202 forum thread

dynomite05

ahhh. Thanks

503C43 ////AMG

Odd that they didn't seem to make spring pads that were specifically for the W202. Correct me if I am wrong but the first 3 number usually signify the chasis correct? They have W201 pads that fit the W202 and then the post facelift W202 has W210 spring pads??

dynomite05

The spring pads for the W209 start with 210 xxx

Saaboteur

There's a lot of cross pollination / sharing of parts from the collective Mercedes parts bin, with of course some model bespoke parts everywhere too. Marcus has a good article on the subject here:

http://www.marcusfitzhugh.com/CLK/DIY/dubdubdub.html