Time to replace suspension for the C43
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Joined: Apr 2010
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From: PDX
1999 C43, 2008 P30 E63, 2014 SQ5, 2024 Model Y Performance
UPDATE: After way too many man hours, the new shocks, springs, tie rod end and ball joints are in (they forgot the steering damper 
). Most of the bolts were frozen so they had to heat the bolts so that they expand and then take them out.
I'm getting my alignment tomorrow but I can already say that the car feels a thousand times tighter than before. The car is stiffer and jumps in the corners without a hint of body-roll. So much nicer to drive and much more enjoyable.
I love the way to car feels but it's real stiff, I took my friends for a ride and after 5 min they complained about their backs ! I will keep it that way for now because I only drive 20 miles top a day and I love how stiff the car is but in the future I might go back to stock Bilstein and not sport. The main issue are the roads here in mass which suck and are full of cracks and pot holes.
The car seats very low though, there is not even a finger gap between the tires and the wheel arches. It's a bit too low for me and I guess I will try to play with the spring pads to gain few mm if I can. I need to check which pads I'm running as of today.
Here are the long awaited pictures of the car with the new set up. What do you guys think ?
). Most of the bolts were frozen so they had to heat the bolts so that they expand and then take them out. I'm getting my alignment tomorrow but I can already say that the car feels a thousand times tighter than before. The car is stiffer and jumps in the corners without a hint of body-roll. So much nicer to drive and much more enjoyable.
I love the way to car feels but it's real stiff, I took my friends for a ride and after 5 min they complained about their backs ! I will keep it that way for now because I only drive 20 miles top a day and I love how stiff the car is but in the future I might go back to stock Bilstein and not sport. The main issue are the roads here in mass which suck and are full of cracks and pot holes.
The car seats very low though, there is not even a finger gap between the tires and the wheel arches. It's a bit too low for me and I guess I will try to play with the spring pads to gain few mm if I can. I need to check which pads I'm running as of today.
Here are the long awaited pictures of the car with the new set up. What do you guys think ?
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From: Land of mountains, cheese, chocolate and watches
12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG + Ultima Can-Am sold)
Looks nice, low but not too low. If people complain of back pains, tell them to drive a water bed or some other slush type vehicle 
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22 X3, 21 330e, 97 M3, 97 C36 (sold), but on the hunt for a clean, low-mile C43!
I agree, that's not too low at all. If it tucked all round, then that would be too low. Anyway, looks good, but you might want to space out those rear wheels just a tad (~5-8 mm?), and you're golden!~
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From: San Diego/San Francisco
AMG GLC63. Audi R8
So I got a flat last week, got the car fixed and realigned. When I came back to pick the car, the mechanic told me that my shocks and struts were cooked. Normal you'll tell me after 137,000 miles on stock suspension. It's true that it felt like I was riding on freakin' wood. So I decided to go for it and change a bunch of things before the harsh winter shows up here in Mass.
I bought the H&R Touring cup suspension kit for the C43. It's H&R (sport) spring combined with Yellow Koni shocks that have been repainted grey and rebadged H&R to suit the package. In addition to that I bought new tie rod ends, a new steering damper and new ball joints to have a better steering feel. I will have everything installed but the end of next week the later. The suspension kit is supposed to lower the car of about 1.5'' all around.
Does anyone have such a set up (H&R touring cup kit)? I read a lot of reviews on different cars (german only) and the reviews seemed to be really good. If not, I guess my car will be the test bed for this setup !
Cheers
I bought the H&R Touring cup suspension kit for the C43. It's H&R (sport) spring combined with Yellow Koni shocks that have been repainted grey and rebadged H&R to suit the package. In addition to that I bought new tie rod ends, a new steering damper and new ball joints to have a better steering feel. I will have everything installed but the end of next week the later. The suspension kit is supposed to lower the car of about 1.5'' all around.
Does anyone have such a set up (H&R touring cup kit)? I read a lot of reviews on different cars (german only) and the reviews seemed to be really good. If not, I guess my car will be the test bed for this setup !
Cheers
Last edited by DuaneC63; Nov 23, 2011 at 03:58 AM.
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From: Boston, MA
1999 MB C43 AMG
@eek: No I don't run the H&R supersports. I ran H&R sports and Bilstein sports. This car is my daily driver, it's already stiff enough with my current setup. The car dropped even more since I got the alignment and drove it a little bit.
I don't know what kind of spring pads I'm running, I need to check it out soon. I'm driving to Montreal for Thanksgiving so that will be a nice trip to break in the new suspension. I'll check the spring pads when I come back since I want to raise the rear a little bit. The rear tires are now within the wheel arches. Ultimately I'm looking for 1 finger gap between tire and wheel arches.
I'll ask my mechanic about camber bolts. Next Saturday, I'm getting the entire underneath of the car painted with a special rubber-like paint that will protect the frame from rust, snow, salt, etc. I will have the entire new suspension checked and the rear raised a little bit.
I think the thickest pads you can buy for our car are #5 and #4 for the front and rear.
I don't know what kind of spring pads I'm running, I need to check it out soon. I'm driving to Montreal for Thanksgiving so that will be a nice trip to break in the new suspension. I'll check the spring pads when I come back since I want to raise the rear a little bit. The rear tires are now within the wheel arches. Ultimately I'm looking for 1 finger gap between tire and wheel arches.
I'll ask my mechanic about camber bolts. Next Saturday, I'm getting the entire underneath of the car painted with a special rubber-like paint that will protect the frame from rust, snow, salt, etc. I will have the entire new suspension checked and the rear raised a little bit.
I think the thickest pads you can buy for our car are #5 and #4 for the front and rear.
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Joined: Apr 2010
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From: PDX
1999 C43, 2008 P30 E63, 2014 SQ5, 2024 Model Y Performance
@eek: No I don't run the H&R supersports. I ran H&R sports and Bilstein sports. This car is my daily driver, it's already stiff enough with my current setup. The car dropped even more since I got the alignment and drove it a little bit.
I don't know what kind of spring pads I'm running, I need to check it out soon. I'm driving to Montreal for Thanksgiving so that will be a nice trip to break in the new suspension. I'll check the spring pads when I come back since I want to raise the rear a little bit. The rear tires are now within the wheel arches. Ultimately I'm looking for 1 finger gap between tire and wheel arches.
I'll ask my mechanic about camber bolts. Next Saturday, I'm getting the entire underneath of the car painted with a special rubber-like paint that will protect the frame from rust, snow, salt, etc. I will have the entire new suspension checked and the rear raised a little bit.
I think the thickest pads you can buy for our car are #5 and #4 for the front and rear.
I don't know what kind of spring pads I'm running, I need to check it out soon. I'm driving to Montreal for Thanksgiving so that will be a nice trip to break in the new suspension. I'll check the spring pads when I come back since I want to raise the rear a little bit. The rear tires are now within the wheel arches. Ultimately I'm looking for 1 finger gap between tire and wheel arches.
I'll ask my mechanic about camber bolts. Next Saturday, I'm getting the entire underneath of the car painted with a special rubber-like paint that will protect the frame from rust, snow, salt, etc. I will have the entire new suspension checked and the rear raised a little bit.
I think the thickest pads you can buy for our car are #5 and #4 for the front and rear.
As far as the camber bolts I wouldn't recommend going with the factory eccentrics as they don;t offer much adjustment. You might be able to get away with it but I doubt it if you are lower than 1.4". Get some K-MACs, they are GREAT!
The factory eccentric bolts are like $20 from the dealer, the K-MAC are closer to $400 with shipping
Last edited by 503C43 ////AMG; Nov 23, 2011 at 11:27 AM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 265
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From: Boston, MA
1999 MB C43 AMG
Hey guys,
Quick question. Do you know if I can buy find spring pads from another place than the dealership? If no, do you know how much they costs from the stealership (set of 4) ?
Thanks
Quick question. Do you know if I can buy find spring pads from another place than the dealership? If no, do you know how much they costs from the stealership (set of 4) ?
Thanks
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Land of mountains, cheese, chocolate and watches
12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG + Ultima Can-Am sold)
They are not expensive and a good idea to buy direct from the dealer. Don't know if you can get them elsewhere
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1999 C43 AMG
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with old and saggy rubbers your car will sit a bit lower and will look more butch.
