only changing one sway
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Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
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'03 clk 500
only changing one sway
is it safe, practical, logical, etc. to change only the front sway bar?
I wanted to do a swap to blk series sways, but I couldn't figure out if it was a direct fitment. While I was browsing the boards though, I read that apparently the rear sway swap is really time consuming (and labor is expensive as hell) so I'd like to know if I could just pop in a H&R front sway and leave my 2003 CLK 500 OEM rear sway alone. Supposedly the front sway dials out understeer and the rears oversteer, so I guess a ridiculously thick front sway would burn off some of the CLK's legendary understeer.
Just a random side query: I'm planning on swapping my oem springs to Eibachs, (don't want to drop too much so I'm passing on H&Rs) is running stock shocks really that bad on slightly lowered springs? I understand euro spec cars have lower springs, and, to my knowledge, they run the same shocks as us so I'd imagine it's not too big of a deal.
I wanted to do a swap to blk series sways, but I couldn't figure out if it was a direct fitment. While I was browsing the boards though, I read that apparently the rear sway swap is really time consuming (and labor is expensive as hell) so I'd like to know if I could just pop in a H&R front sway and leave my 2003 CLK 500 OEM rear sway alone. Supposedly the front sway dials out understeer and the rears oversteer, so I guess a ridiculously thick front sway would burn off some of the CLK's legendary understeer.
Just a random side query: I'm planning on swapping my oem springs to Eibachs, (don't want to drop too much so I'm passing on H&Rs) is running stock shocks really that bad on slightly lowered springs? I understand euro spec cars have lower springs, and, to my knowledge, they run the same shocks as us so I'd imagine it's not too big of a deal.
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 380
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From: via Mulholland
2024 GLE63s
is it safe, practical, logical, etc. to change only the front sway bar?
I wanted to do a swap to blk series sways, but I couldn't figure out if it was a direct fitment. While I was browsing the boards though, I read that apparently the rear sway swap is really time consuming (and labor is expensive as hell) so I'd like to know if I could just pop in a H&R front sway and leave my 2003 CLK 500 OEM rear sway alone. Supposedly the front sway dials out understeer and the rears oversteer, so I guess a ridiculously thick front sway would burn off some of the CLK's legendary understeer.
Just a random side query: I'm planning on swapping my oem springs to Eibachs, (don't want to drop too much so I'm passing on H&Rs) is running stock shocks really that bad on slightly lowered springs? I understand euro spec cars have lower springs, and, to my knowledge, they run the same shocks as us so I'd imagine it's not too big of a deal.
I wanted to do a swap to blk series sways, but I couldn't figure out if it was a direct fitment. While I was browsing the boards though, I read that apparently the rear sway swap is really time consuming (and labor is expensive as hell) so I'd like to know if I could just pop in a H&R front sway and leave my 2003 CLK 500 OEM rear sway alone. Supposedly the front sway dials out understeer and the rears oversteer, so I guess a ridiculously thick front sway would burn off some of the CLK's legendary understeer.
Just a random side query: I'm planning on swapping my oem springs to Eibachs, (don't want to drop too much so I'm passing on H&Rs) is running stock shocks really that bad on slightly lowered springs? I understand euro spec cars have lower springs, and, to my knowledge, they run the same shocks as us so I'd imagine it's not too big of a deal.
I'm only doing the front myself. On my AWD VW CC I had the H&R rear bar only. On my R32 I had the rear only for a while before installing the front because you had to drop the entire subframe to get it in.
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From: Bay Area, CA
CLK55
Nothing wrong with upgrading just the front, I think plenty of people have done it before with other cars.
Running lowering springs on stock shocks wear out your shocks faster, so they might blow after a while.
Running lowering springs on stock shocks wear out your shocks faster, so they might blow after a while.
Last edited by togaclk55; Jan 31, 2012 at 10:52 PM.
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From: A Canadian in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
'05 C200K SS, '05 Kleemann CLK500K, '08 Hummer H3 & '92 Z34 5sp (track car in Canada)
Not to contradict the other members who have already answered but just because you can doesn't mean you should.
The OEM bars on the car work as a system to bring a balanced ride to the car, changing one out (that is also part of another system) changes the dynamics of the balance. I'm positive that doing so will not have any adverse effects for street driving but because I'm pretty heavy into suspension systems and a few years of building/modding track cars under my belt I'm not one to cut corners and IMO, changing one bar is doing just that.
Although its certainly not as extreme a situation, but would you put performance summer tires on the front of the car and keep all season tires on the rear? Or would you put aftermarket performance struts up front and leave OEM shocks in the rear?
Don't take what I'm saying personally, just take it as my opinion.
The OEM bars on the car work as a system to bring a balanced ride to the car, changing one out (that is also part of another system) changes the dynamics of the balance. I'm positive that doing so will not have any adverse effects for street driving but because I'm pretty heavy into suspension systems and a few years of building/modding track cars under my belt I'm not one to cut corners and IMO, changing one bar is doing just that.
Although its certainly not as extreme a situation, but would you put performance summer tires on the front of the car and keep all season tires on the rear? Or would you put aftermarket performance struts up front and leave OEM shocks in the rear?
Don't take what I'm saying personally, just take it as my opinion.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 380
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From: via Mulholland
2024 GLE63s
Lowering springs are not a good way to go IMHO. I always used coilovers on my other cars but in a moment of bad judgement, used the H&R sport springs on my CC. The ride was terrible and got worse over the next 10k miles. The stock shocks were not working within their range and contributed greatly to the problem. By the time I would have bought the Bilstein shocks for lowered cars to fix the ride and the cost of the springs and the install/alignment, I coulda had coilovers...so I went back to stock...and sold the car.
I'd rather buy a used set of coilovers than lowering springs...but the situation could be completely different on a Benz. Just my opinion.
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From: Atlanta Metro
2008 clk550 - Navigator - Frontier
I've had the h&r sport springs on my car for 2 yrs and about 16K miles. I have not had any issues at all with the ride, handling, or shocks. Recently changed the sway bars (h&r). I considered upgrading the shocks to bilsteins at the same time, but could not convince myself there was anything wrong with the stocks (43K miles on the car).
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From: A Canadian in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
'05 C200K SS, '05 Kleemann CLK500K, '08 Hummer H3 & '92 Z34 5sp (track car in Canada)
I did the H&R springs, sways and Koni shocks/struts all at the same time and love the ride of the car. Very comfortable for a daily driver then a few turns on each corner to tighten the Koni's and it handles like its on rails on the track.
I've had CO's on other cars and liked them for the adjustability but those were pretty much just weekend warriors/track cars. I didn't want to go that route this time, no regrets thus far.
I've had CO's on other cars and liked them for the adjustability but those were pretty much just weekend warriors/track cars. I didn't want to go that route this time, no regrets thus far.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 4,748
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From: A Canadian in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
'05 C200K SS, '05 Kleemann CLK500K, '08 Hummer H3 & '92 Z34 5sp (track car in Canada)
I don't want to have that option because I don't want to put myself in that hassle again.
I like the idea of just having to twist the tops of the Koni's and leave it at that. I guess I'm either getting lazy or more efficient in my mid-years
For everyone on this board that has coil overs, I'm not saying it was the wrong choice, coils are great and have a lot of excellent adjustability features to them. I'm just saying that because I'm a fanatic, I'd be adjusting and fine tuning all the time if I had them and I just don't have the time to do that anymore.I'm really happy with the current setup I have, it's great for daily and I'm no slouch through the corners on the track, great compromise IMO. Compromise... ouch, I am getting old!
Last edited by Kevwood; Feb 2, 2012 at 12:37 PM.
