Best shocks?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 77
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'06 clk55 : '18 Canyon Duramax: :91 325i : #33 So Cal Spec E30
Best shocks?
Did a search but didn't see much. What shocks have y'all put on your CLK and how did you feel about them?
We're looking to keep the handling and improve the ride, ideally.
We're looking to keep the handling and improve the ride, ideally.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 77
Likes: 1
'06 clk55 : '18 Canyon Duramax: :91 325i : #33 So Cal Spec E30
Not a lot of activity on this forum it seems. Has anyone found a vendor for the oem Sachs shocks? I see the rears (on Amazon, of all places) but no fronts.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 445
Likes: 11
From: Washington, DC Metro Area
Currently: 2019 E450 AWD, Previous: 2002 CLK55 Cab
The fact of the matter is that this is a big question. The answer varies depending on your application. If you are a guy who tracks his car then he prefers one brand and model vice a guy who just goes to the golf course, he prefers something completely different. So the way to get more responses and more informative answers, not that this thread is bad, is to think about your application and google for best reviewed race handling or comfort shocks for this vehicle and search these forums for specific experience here with the shock that looks best to you. Good luck.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 77
Likes: 1
'06 clk55 : '18 Canyon Duramax: :91 325i : #33 So Cal Spec E30
The fact of the matter is that this is a big question. The answer varies depending on your application. If you are a guy who tracks his car then he prefers one brand and model vice a guy who just goes to the golf course, he prefers something completely different. So the way to get more responses and more informative answers, not that this thread is bad, is to think about your application and google for best reviewed race handling or comfort shocks for this vehicle and search these forums for specific experience here with the shock that looks best to you. Good luck.
It seems Koni and Bilstein are the only suppliers out there. I hated the Koni FSDs I put on a Saab I had. Guess I'll just grab some Bilsteins and be done with it...
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Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 445
Likes: 11
From: Washington, DC Metro Area
Currently: 2019 E450 AWD, Previous: 2002 CLK55 Cab
This thread may help you a bit:
https://mbworld.org/forums/c32-amg-c...n-vs-koni.html
BTW I found it using the forum search tool above and using the search term "best shocks". Got 990 threads back in response, this one seemed the most on point from just scanning the titles in the search results. Not trying to bust your chops or anything on this point but I also searched, using the same forum search tool, "Bilstein shocks", 989 threads and "Koni shocks", 985 threads. Just saying . Frankly thanks as I will now look this research over to prep for an eventual shock replacement.
Last edited by City Rat; Mar 12, 2013 at 12:11 PM.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Jan 2013
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'06 clk55 : '18 Canyon Duramax: :91 325i : #33 So Cal Spec E30
Did you read that thread? It's not about the CLK. I got lots of "hits" too but none of them were about the CLK specifically. It's not the same car; the valving & part numbers will all be different, and the Konis everyone in that thread is hot for aren't available for the CLK55. "Just saying." I'm well aware of the general differences between Bilstein HD / Sport and Koni yellow / FSD as I've owned cars on all 4 so that's not what I'm asking at all. Even if a shock is excellent, if the valving is off for that specific car it's going to handle like crap. I pulled a good set of Bilsteins off my truck after less than 1k miles because it was clearly off, while the cheaper Monroes I put on after were fantastic.
The Koni website shows no products for the CLK55, while shox.com oddly does show availability of an FSD for it, as well as Koni "sports", which I assume are the old Koni Yellows. I'm leaning towards an OEM replacement as I don't want to fug up the ride / handling compromise.
The Koni website shows no products for the CLK55, while shox.com oddly does show availability of an FSD for it, as well as Koni "sports", which I assume are the old Koni Yellows. I'm leaning towards an OEM replacement as I don't want to fug up the ride / handling compromise.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 445
Likes: 11
From: Washington, DC Metro Area
Currently: 2019 E450 AWD, Previous: 2002 CLK55 Cab
Hey, yes of course I have not just read but re-read that thread and yes I get that it is not about the CLK. That said the thread is not entirely useless as it does have a number of posts regarding the experience of others with each of the brands of shocks. Sadly it does not surprise me that certain of these are not available for the CLK. That said I do see some value even in reading the experience of others who are running each product even though it might not be direct experience with running the product on a CLK. The take away point to this is that now this thread is linked up to that one and future posters will know of the existence of the other threads and have the benefit of your efforts. Peace.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 576
Likes: 28
From: chicago
Firemist O5 CLK55 Cab Silver 05 CLK55 Coupe Tanzanite 06 CLK500 Coupe
my eperience
is limited to the B8's I put on the rear of my clk55.
i had about 60k miles and the old ones were not toast but definitely tired
i think the massive torque really stresses these perhaps even more than the fronts.
anyway the difference was huge and the wheels seem to stay more planted on the road.
as to your saab results, apples to papayas
lame front wheel ladies ride.
my wife's 9-3 froze up on a really cold day but lasted 10 years
i wanted to dump it 5 years ago....
i had about 60k miles and the old ones were not toast but definitely tired
i think the massive torque really stresses these perhaps even more than the fronts.
anyway the difference was huge and the wheels seem to stay more planted on the road.
as to your saab results, apples to papayas
lame front wheel ladies ride.
my wife's 9-3 froze up on a really cold day but lasted 10 years
i wanted to dump it 5 years ago....
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 445
Likes: 11
From: Washington, DC Metro Area
Currently: 2019 E450 AWD, Previous: 2002 CLK55 Cab
is limited to the B8's I put on the rear of my clk55.
i had about 60k miles and the old ones were not toast but definitely tired
i think the massive torque really stresses these perhaps even more than the fronts.
anyway the difference was huge and the wheels seem to stay more planted on the road.
as to your saab results, apples to papayas
lame front wheel ladies ride.
my wife's 9-3 froze up on a really cold day but lasted 10 years
i wanted to dump it 5 years ago....
i had about 60k miles and the old ones were not toast but definitely tired
i think the massive torque really stresses these perhaps even more than the fronts.
anyway the difference was huge and the wheels seem to stay more planted on the road.
as to your saab results, apples to papayas
lame front wheel ladies ride.
my wife's 9-3 froze up on a really cold day but lasted 10 years
i wanted to dump it 5 years ago....
You mentioned Bilstein 8s in your post. Did you lower the suspension on your car or add sway bars etc? Per this:
http://cart.bilsteinus.com/search/mm.../drivetype=RWD
It looks like B6s are to be used when the car is not lowered but I got that just from the literature on the Bilstein site.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 576
Likes: 28
From: chicago
Firemist O5 CLK55 Cab Silver 05 CLK55 Coupe Tanzanite 06 CLK500 Coupe
my clk55 is a w209
I am hardly an authority on anything but from what I could glean the B8 is beefier than the B6.
These are simple mono-tube design and all I did was replace the rear shocks, nothing else. Ride height remained the same.
Easy DIY, certainly less than an hour for both sides. Make sure to torque them lower bolts really good!
These are simple mono-tube design and all I did was replace the rear shocks, nothing else. Ride height remained the same.
Easy DIY, certainly less than an hour for both sides. Make sure to torque them lower bolts really good!
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 576
Likes: 28
From: chicago
Firemist O5 CLK55 Cab Silver 05 CLK55 Coupe Tanzanite 06 CLK500 Coupe
They are stiff to be sure. Something else that I noticed with the old ones was un even tire wear which also seems to have abated. I plan to re-do the front struts some day but I think there is so little travel that they simply last longer.
Again, I do not hold myself out to be anything but an enthusiast and I have no problems with differing opinions....
Again, I do not hold myself out to be anything but an enthusiast and I have no problems with differing opinions....
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Outback Australia
AMG CLK55, 450 SEL (sorely missed), Holden Commodore SS, Nissan Navara (company car)
I went to the Bilstein B8 shocks and therefore lowered H&R springs. They have helped the car track much better but as roads in the Aussie Outback aren't that flash, the ride is too harsh for daily driving.
I have also found my front tyre wear has markedly improved, as previously stated by waveterrorist even though he has a w209 compared to my w208.
I have also found my front tyre wear has markedly improved, as previously stated by waveterrorist even though he has a w209 compared to my w208.
