stim141

My CLK430 (2000) has about 73K which I've owned since new. Lately the car doesn't have the "feel" that it had and the suspension feels fairly soft. I don't get multiple bounces but when you go over a rough road it seems to wallow a bit. When you press on the front or the rear there is very little resistance and it rebounds fairly quick.

Had the front and rear end bushings checked out and they are not ripped and have little/some give under a prybar. Guys didn't think they were bad. No knocks or creaks.

So.. Keeping the same ride height - same stock tires/wheels what shocks are recommended aside from the OEM MB shocks? Would like a little better handling without changing the springs.

I'd have the fronts changed out at a shop so I don't have to deal with renting/finding the correct spring compressor. The rears seem very easy to do based on a few DIY's.

MarcusF

Bilstein shocks (HD) are very good. The springs don't have to be compressed to change the front or rear shocks.

rorf

Get Bilstien shocks from FCPEuro - excellent service.

CJackson13

Koni Sport shocks are also good. They're fairly stiff in my opinion and bilsteins probably give a smoother ride. It's all up to personal preference though.

dlbehrns

I have Bilstein Sports and if I had it to do over again I would get the HDs. My car corners like a go-cart with Vogtland springs and strut bars but the sports are really stiff for the beat up roads in Nebraska.

stim141

Thanks for the rec's. At what interval have you guys replaced yours? I called a local indy that specializes in MB's and BMW's and without looking at the car - yet - he basically said "its too soon." When I asked him why - he said with MB's shocks last much longer (year/miles). On my car either they are leaking or have just gone soft because the ride quality is a little odd and when you press down at the front or rear it offers very little resistance - some - but very soft. Also the axis of "wallow" occurs at opposite points - say passenger front and driver rear - not always but it doesn't seem like rebound at both fronts together and rears together - if that makes sense.

rorf

I changed mine at 100 000 miles and there was actually nothing wrong with them - the new Bilstein HDs hardly made a difference.

I think it depends how you drive your vehicle - hit pot holes and speed bumps at speed and they will definitely not last.

The originals are Sachs which are brilliant and expensive but I believe one can get 150 000 miles plus out of them

stim141

That confirms what the indy guy said but there definately is something wrong because the handling is not what it used to be. Either one or more of the shocks is leaking throwing the handling off there is something else going on with the suspension. If I can't find it I'll take it in because everything else is perfect (at the moment) and this ruins it.

rorf

Go for Bilstein HDs - they're cheap enough. While you are at it, change the front ball joints and the drag link which are common wear parts on this model.

I still believe the R129 and W124s have a better front suspension layout than the CLK 208 model which always seems a bit loose.

Also check the front wheel bearing adjustment.

CJackson13

My stock shocks were somewhat soft at ~180,000 miles... They definitely werent blown though, I just wanted something stiff and more race-y so I changed them.

dlbehrns

[QUOTE=stim141;5643493]That confirms what the indy guy said but there definately is something wrong because the handling is not what it used to be. Either one or more of the shocks is leaking throwing the handling off there is something else going on with the suspension. If I can't find it I'll take it in because everything else is perfect (at the moment) and this ruins it.[/QUOTE
If the shocks are leaking find the leaky one or, don't torment youself and just buy some new shocks