C36 AMG, C43 AMG (W202) 1995 - 2000

C43 AMG shock absorber question

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Old Feb 8, 2017 | 10:51 AM
  #1  
peppyhead's Avatar
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From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
2003 Corvette Z06, 1999 E55 AMG
C43 AMG shock absorber question

I think I've mentioned in some of my previous threads that my car is pretty low on the front but seems to drive fine in the 3 min I have actually driven the car.

Now I haven't got underneath to really check the suspension but I believe there is front and rear shocks as well as springs? Do these have a history of the front shocks going? That's the only thing I can think of because the car looks like it's been lowered on the front.
Also it's hard to jack the car up as I can't really find a spot, any suggestions?
Positive is that shocks are reletively inexpensive.


Here is a pic.
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Old Feb 8, 2017 | 11:15 AM
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05 c55 silver, 98 Imperial Red C43
That car definitely looks like its been lowered a tiny bit.

Chances are the stock springs were cut.

Heres a great page for any new W202 owner. You'll find everything here.

http://qclt.com/train/w202/w202/chassdrive.htm
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Old Feb 8, 2017 | 11:18 AM
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2003 Corvette Z06, 1999 E55 AMG
Yeah that's what I was thinking. It drives fine but if the springs were cut would the car still be ok for a bit to drive?
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Old Feb 8, 2017 | 11:20 AM
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05 c55 silver, 98 Imperial Red C43
Originally Posted by peppyhead
Yeah that's what I was thinking. It drives fine but if the springs were cut would the car still be ok for a bit to drive?
Yea no problem. My friend had his cut on his c36 to be way lower than that.

The height you are at, there should be no suspension issues. Trust me I know....being this low my car has given me all kinds of alignment issues.

I went as far as buying $400 adjustable bushings which only gave me .2 degree of extra adjustment on camber........which wasn't enough
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Old Feb 8, 2017 | 11:42 AM
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From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
2003 Corvette Z06, 1999 E55 AMG
Thanks PJ. I've had some german cars in the past, and most recently a Cayenne, which was a complete nightmare so I am trying to not overeact and dump a crap load of money for no reason, but I am also trying to educate myself more and more on these w202's AMG's, and from what I hear the drive trains are pretty rock solid
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Old Feb 8, 2017 | 11:53 AM
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front ride height looks like the eüropean stance can you insert 2 fingers (pistol)?
maybe Kanadian imports had euro spec suspension?

have you checked spring pads if you are on #1 nibble like on our eüropean cars?

what color are your springs, do they have a funky blue or reddish color?
if yes, car has lowering springs
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Old Feb 9, 2017 | 06:16 PM
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W202 C43 1999
That front height looks the same as my C43 and its got stock springs all round, NOT CUT.

The shocks will have no impact on the ride hieght what so ever.
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Old Feb 9, 2017 | 06:17 PM
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W202 C43 1999
Originally Posted by PJmak

I went as far as buying $400 adjustable bushings which only gave me .2 degree of extra adjustment on camber........which wasn't enough
Which ones? The K-MACs give wayyyy more than that.
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Old Feb 9, 2017 | 06:32 PM
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05 c55 silver, 98 Imperial Red C43
Originally Posted by W202AMG
Which ones? The K-MACs give wayyyy more than that.
Yep Kmacs but I was already so low so thats all it gave me.
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Old Feb 9, 2017 | 06:42 PM
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W202 C43 1999
I havent tried aligning with it that low, i had the Vogtlands in for about 2 weeks and found it bull**** stiff, so i went back to the stock Euro OEM AMG springs.

I have K-MAC front and rear, including the 12 link bushes.

Only thing stopping my car being like a new one is the stone chips, which show up badly on the 189 Black Emerald!
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Old Feb 10, 2017 | 12:08 PM
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Mercedes C55 AMG
You might have thinner springs pads they go between top of spring and chassis
They come in different thickness
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Old Feb 10, 2017 | 11:08 PM
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W202 C43 1999
Originally Posted by raw1879
You might have thinner springs pads they go between top of spring and chassis
They come in different thickness
Yeah i know about those, that wont change the rock hard stiffness.
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