ninsei

or a whole new, stiffer front sway bar?

Glyn M Ruck

I'm sure somebody local could point you in the direction of Polyurethane bushes. They can be quite firm & require lubrication to stop them squeaking.

You could consider AMG sways. Someone on the CLK 63 etc forum might have a set lying around. Those guys never stop modifying.

Rudeney

Anti-sway bars are all about the diameter - the thicker they are, the stiffer and more precise the handling will be. I believe stock on the CLK550 is 21mm, and the AMG is 24mm. There are aftermarket bars that go larger.

Frank Rizzo

I put the H&R sways on my car - front and rear. It completely transformed the handling with no real ride quality decrease. Best Mod I've done on the car. Pretty simple to do, with basic hand tools in the driveway.

Glyn M Ruck

The H&R sways are highly regarded by the chaps on the W204 forum with similar reports of minimal effects on ride comfort.

Sway bars are always a compromise which is why the likes of McLaren have chucked them off but they can afford to on a really expensive car with active suspension to compensate.

ninsei

H&R sway bars seem good, though pricey. ok, so both front and rear install is easy? as in no other stuff to remove (dont have to remove control arms right?)?

Glyn M Ruck

Right.

Sway replacement is relatively easy. If you have factory BiX with auto leveling you are going to have to get the right size clamp for the RHS of the front sway. Disconnect the sensor arm. Mark the clamp calibration on the old sway & transfer it to the new one, fit & tighten the new BiX sensor clamp & reconnect to the sensor arm.

Otherwise you will have to recalibrate BiX with a Star & lightbox.

Rudeney

The front is very easy to change, the rear not so much. IIRC, you have to remove some additional rear suspension parts for that job.

Glyn M Ruck

See pdf's

Rudeney

That rear doesn't look so bad. For some reason, i though you have to remove a control arm or other parts.