Well, since no one seemed to be answering my questions about lowering a CL or improving its ride quality, I decided to take it upon myself.

Here's the "Beta Version" results. Took about 20 minutes per side, and total cost was 85 cents. I want to refine it a little further, and perhaps lower it a little less than I have... it's a full 2-inch drop in this configuration.

The ride is superb. I'm convinced this is much closer to the German specs for which the damping and spring rates were tuned.

No computer or electronic hackery involved. I've only done the front so far, but wanted to share the interim results.

Sorry about the car being a little dirty, its those rainy days that I find time to tinker!

- Dave

 

Can you share your technique ?

 

Now, that is what I call "Slamming" a car to the ground.

 

you must share please

will this method work for 01 CL500??

 

OMG! Can't believe you slammed that puppy! How many inches was the drop and what was the process you used to drop that.

 

It's a two-inch drop, which I think might be bit too much (setting it to the 2-led highest ride height setting barely gets it back to stock!).

I'll post a how-to when I've finalized things (I'm still refining the way I'm doing it)... and when people start answering all my other damned posts. Share, people!

 

w0rd

 

Ok, here are the results. I think its too low in the back, so will probably bring it up about an inch back there, and maybe another 1/4in to 1/2in up front.

 

More photos....

 

WARNING: I do not endorse nor suggest that you perform these modifcations to any car. This was done for investigational purposes only to learn more about the ABC system.

Do not operate a car with a ride height or any suspension modifications without first consulting local regulations and your Mercedes Benz dealer for guidance and approval.
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What I would up doing was removing the top "ball" joint to which the ride height sensors attach on the front A-arms. Easy to get at... you don't even need to remove the wheel once you know where they are.

I sawed off and then drilled out the mounting stud and replaced it with a machine screw of approximately the same girth but with an extra inch. I then tack welded it together, but you could use a nut.

I added an extra nut and washer in the middle of the stud so that when reinstalled the whole thing was pushed down an exta 5/8 of an inch or so. This fools the wheel sensor into thinking the wheel is much lower than it actually is.

If you don't want much drop or don't want to modify the mounting bracket, I'd try just shimming it down with 4-5 washers (leaving enough thread exposed up top for the nut to bite). That simple version would get you a full inch, I bet.

In the back I sawed up a Home Depot corner bracket to give me a little piece of metal that I could bolt to the factory mounting point, and then drilled a hole in my new piece to relocate that mounting point about 3/4 of an inch down. When I redo it I will use less of a change to get less drop.

I'll even take pictures next time!

 

what? I thought the 03 CL600 got the 8 piston front calipers.

 

I've read that too somewhere, but the brochure says no and from what I know about calipers, its got two pistons per side for a total of four.

 

You can't miss the football size 8 piston calipers.

 

yea i cleaned a set yesterday for a friend... more pics to come And yes those are michelin pilot sports A/S, didn't know they made 19 inch super wide/low pro all season tires!

 

davepl, you talking about this piece?

 

Yup, that is what he modified. Those are your modified ones from TWS ?

 

Wow, Jl88, that's almost -exactly- what I wound up doing! I played with a few other solutions (shimming it, pre-rotating the sensor) and arrived at that.

Where did those photos come from? Did you make those or is someone selling them?

Thanks,
Dave

 

Awiner: yep, TWS had some custom brackets made which are longer than OEM.

davepl: The part on the left is the OEM part. The middle is modified OEM part. The right is The Wheel Supply's lowering kit. They have a part that's even longer which allows them to drop airmatic cars very low. I've been familiar with all different methods of lowering airmatic cars for more than a year now. Most shops that lower airmatic cars approach it the same was as you did. Dealerships also bend the bracket instead of replacing it.

TWS Lowering Kit installed:

 

Cool. Three questions:

(a) Which bracket are you talking about bending? In the rear? You have to move it down, so I'd think bending wouldn't be very accurate...

(b) Dealerships? Are there really MB dealerships that will bend brackets to lower customer's cars????

(c) Any wheel alignment or other issues I can learn from you rather than from experience? :-)

- Dave

 

The dealerships actually bend the bracket. Alot of guessing to get it right, but that is what the service people do at Rusnak Mercedes. Of course, i'm assuming that this is a side deal and not a sanctioned MBUSA service.

The rear part can be bent to lower the back 2 wheels.

Well, i'm a bad judgement of alignment. I never noticed anything *that* bad, meaning, my cars haven't had any severe problems with drifting or shaking. However, an alignment couldn't hurt.

 

Wow, great work davepl! The front looks easy from what I can see on my car, but can you be more specific as to where the rear bracket is that needs to be changed/modified? Do I need to remove the rear wheel to get to it? Can't seem to locate it on the rear with the wheels on. Any help with with rear would be very much appreciated.
Can't wait to get rid of the 4x4 look...

 

Yes, wheels will need to come off the back, then the bracket will be obvious.

Remember for the back you are trying to relocate the lower mount ball -downwards- (away from the sensor).

Someone suggested just bending the bracket, which I hadn't thought of.

 

Thanks...I'll take off the rear wheels and take a look.

 

davepl,

The rear set-up on my E500 airmatic must be different than your cl55, either that or I'm too dumb to find the rear bracket/sensors. I took the wheels off the rear, but no luck. Does the rear of the cl have a shock in addition to the air, like the e500, or does it just have the airmatic without the shock? That may be the difference. My E has airmatic in front without the shock, and the bracket/sensor is easy to locate, but not the rear. Anymore suggestions as to where to go from here?

 

It's not Airmatic at all, its hydraulic Active Body Control. I'd imaging there's still a sensor somewhere, but I've never even sat in an E class yet, so I can't offer much intelligent direction...