Kevwood

http://www.wiechers-sport.de/index.p...d=18&Itemid=64

Klinh

Since you the first with the mods, please take some pics through out process of drilling the holes, installation...etc. We all want to learn from it. Thanks.

Jamesbbh

AAAAAnd look into my idea on the identical circle bracket on the lower side of the tower? haha

I wonder if the tri-mount rear is compatible with a cabriolet.

Klinh

I'm not to clear on this but I don't think there's any room back there. If you try, you would push the strut bearing plate out of the strut tower cup and that would cause major free play on the strut. The strut bearing plate are rounded like a cup and that slide onto the cup of the strut tower.

6speedclk

I can't wait to find out if they fit his car without a lot of modification. I have already looked into it for my car. Thank you for the part #s.

Jamesbbh

Yea just from memory looking back there, even if it did fit the already minimal storage space would be demolished. I think I'm going to end up going with sways front and rear and the strut bar in just the front.I'm going to teach myself how to lay fiberglass at some point this spring/summer and do a small enclosed, color matched 10" add-on sub/amp anyways so I need to leave as much room back there as possible. Can't wait to see the installed pics of these bars though!

Kevwood

You can count on it, I document everything like a mother f'er.

I've already scetched out what I think I need to do, I'm already out of country again (was only home for 14 hours) so I might drop a strut this weekend when I'm back home and have a look around.

Klinh

Lol..........I'll try to help you out this weekend by looking at the suspension and maybe take some pics under the strut tower. It should be easy with the flasher on.

Kevwood

Thanks, much appreciated! I hope to have the time to drop a strut as well and take a good look. Getting some great responses on the CLK63 AMG Black Series forum as well, I'm actually quite eager to do this now that I know it's not a simple bolt on. We'll get it figured out, list the parts and steps needed so others can follow later if they so decide - then it'll be a simple bolt on!

Klinh

Based on Wes pics of the strut brace, it a non-adjustable brace which mean you better have your measure right on before you drill the holes. You can't afford to re-drill any holes. Btw, this mods is beautiful to look at. I don't think anyone would mind to have it there permanantly, worse case, just have it weld on and respray the area.

Klinh

Wes, why don't you show us the diagram of the BS front suspension strut coilover since you have access to infos. At least we can see what it look like on drawing.

Kevwood

Yes, the bar and brackets need to be assembled and the firewall notched so the holes can be correctly marked. I actually also have "welded???" written down on my sketch pad but it may not be possible depending on how much clearance there is between the stock 500 top hat and the underside of the rounded bar bracket (removing/adjusting it, etc.).

Once I have the bar here it'll be a matter of an hour of less to know exactly what the proper way to do will be. I think I already know but need to drop a strut first and see if it looks like I think it does.

*Edit* Okay, if I was decide to go the "welded" route I have an idea to keep it easily removable. Have another ring made the same size as the bracket ring, weld 3 studs to it keeping the underside flush, then weld the ring and stud assembly to the tower. The bar bracket would then sit down on top of it and bolt into place. That or drop the strut, drill the holes through the strut tower, insert 3 studs and weld them flush underneath with 1/2 - 5/8 inch through the top, slide the bar on and bolt down.

Tons of possibilities but I still think I have a very simple way of doing it that won't require any welding whatsoever.

dynomite05

Here ya go.

Klinh

Ahaaa......so the BS got the tradition strut design with 3 bolts top mount. Based on the Wes pic and my pic, I can see that the spacing between the 3 strut brace bolts are not as wide as the strut tower. On the Clk500, the spring are much much wider on the top and so the strut plate is very wide to the point that it almost take up all space under the strut tower. To drill and put any bolt under the tower would definitely push the the strut plate out of the tower cup like hole. Welding seem the be the best of option as od now.

Klinh

This is a pic of BS from under the strut tower and it shown there's alot of room around it. Which tell me the strut plate on the BS is small and almost the same size as the Clk500 strut bearing. If they are the same size, there's No way you able to drill holes and put screws there. Wes, can you shown us a pic of the Clk 500 strut assemly? Thank you.

dynomite05

I see what you're saying. Here is the pics from the 500.

Klinh

Thanks Wes !! Yup, the strut bearing might be in the way of the BS strut brace bolts because they look almost the same size to me. Btw Wes, how do you able to get infos like these? Do you have to pay a membership fee? I wouldn't mind pay a fee to gain infos knowledges like these.

Jamesbbh

OOOORRRR pay a small fee to wes and get him to look it up!! haha

Kevwood

The blackie has a coil-over strut design where as we have the traditional strut & spring combination. That make a lot of sense now when looking at the picture of the blackie strut tower - the tree bolts are not there for the bar bracket, they are the strut mounting bolts. This also explains the absence of the top hat mount on our CLK's.

I need to take a look at the strut mount in our cars now (top side that makes contact with the strut tower) and see is my original ideal will still work.

Sure lots of fantastic feedback between the 209 and blackie members. Thanks for the diagrams too Wes.

Klinh

If the BS strut 3 bolts diameter is the same size as the item 130 (bearing)on the Clk 500 strut diagram then you're in big trouble in regarding drilling hole to match.

Kevwood

Au contraire, mon ami!

dynomite05

Here is the link to the EPC. I think you could register for free, but the membership is only like $13 a year. I just did the membership.

https://epc.startekinfo.com/epc/welcome.jsp

Kevwood

After poping the hood and comparing pictures, I believe that my above thought was indeed incorrect. The strut tower of the 63 blackie is not reinforced to handle the strut bar, it's a different diesign altogether for the coil-over suspension.

Now, that being said there are still several options to get the bar on, not interfere with anything and most importantly - be functional. The strut tower on our CLK's has an uneven design like the blackie, however, ours has 3 different levels of height where as the blackie has two. I still believe that my original idea will work albeit, it may need a very slight tweek for one bolt or the bracket itself.

As everyone knows, Wes has done me a huge favor by ordering these bars for me, he is also sourcing out a few other parts as well, once everything is together we can get shipping and I can figure out exactly what needs to be done.

As I said before, now that I know this isn't a simple bolt on (yet), I'm more eager to figure it out


*Edit* Everything else is okay for the bar install, comparing pictures it will clear all other components.

Klinh

SUPER !!!!! Just pay the $13!!!

2MCHCAR

I always wondered where you got your info Wes. Thanks!