Kevwood

I'm wondering if any of you Black Series owners have (for any reason) removed your front strut tower bar? I've recently bought a set of bars (front and rear) and was wondering about the hardware that secures the bracket to the front strut tower, ie, is it a bolt from underneath that passes up through the tower and is held in place by a clip or shallow nut?

I know I have to drill out three holes on each tower but I'm not 100% sure on the mounting. There seems to be no mounting hardware (bracket to strut tower) available for the front bar.

The bars are being shipped to me in Dubai later this month, so I have a little time to prepare. Any info or better yet pictures would be very appreciated.

Cheers.

ZephyrAMG

Be careful drilling bro...

Kevwood

I'll have the strut out when I'm doing it The bar will be installed along with the new springs, dampers, sways and brakes.

DFW01E55

This should answer your Q.

Kevwood

Thanks for the pic, once I get the bars to Dubai I'll be able to get a better look at what I need in regards to the mounting hardware. I don't suppose you have a pic from under/inside the wheel well showing those 3 mounting bolts from the underside do you?

M-bENZ

dont u have to remove the inner fenders to see those mounting bolts ?

Andy

Kevwood

Maybe, I'll know after I get a strut out - I just got home and took a look underneath, the bracket can't be installed with the strut in place.

RBYCC

Doesn't your strut mount have the three point mounting ( three studs 120 degrees apart ) ?

Typical of most Mercs...
You shouldn't have to remove the strut to install the brace.

Just remove the three nuts, place the strut mount over the stud and reinstall the nuts.

At the most you may have to slot the holes in the brace if they don't align perfectly

Kevwood

Nope, the non-blackies (including the DTM too) don't have the three strut tower studs, this is blackie specific. What I'm going to have to do is remove the strut to access the underside of the tower, then drill the three holes and secure it down with shallow head bolts.

Thanks for your comments though, I appreciate the time everyone takes to offer up opinions.

DFW01E55

Sorry, no.

Kevwood

Just a quick THANK YOU to all the comments, suggestions and emails I have been getting from members on this forum in regards to my question. Very appreciated guys! I'll be sure to post up a DIY thread and pics when this is all done.

Kev.

LZH

i actually looked up into the front wheel well and you don't have to pull the liner to snap a good pic. I did and I'll post it up tomorrow...

Klinh

I can already see based on the pic on post #4, the strut bearing plate are different then the regular Clk 500. On the Clk500, there's a metal bracket bolted down on top of the strut, I don't see that on the Black Series. Maybe the strut brace bar cover it.

Kevwood

Judging from the pictures it may be that the blackie strut design is different than the other CLK's and it mounts onto the tower with the three bolts. It will be very interesting to see the picture LHZ snapped.

The strut bar bracket isn't covering the top hat like we have Klinh, I've seen a few different angles of it (other pics) and there simply isn't one. Hence, I think it's possibly a design change.

We'll see!

LZH

As promised...

Kevwood

Thanks for the pic, I now see that the front suspension mounting is completely different than the non-blackie CLK's.

Kevwood

LZH, wonder if I could ask you for a favor in regards to posting another pic or two for me? Could you snap a pic of the rear bar (whole trunk picture) and a second pic (more of a close up) of where the bar secures in the mid section?

Thanks in advance!

user 76208202

Was looking under the hood today and saw the CLK doesn't come with a strut bar. Should i upgrade to the BS front sturt bar? or will i need rear+ front? Is this worth the $ as far as what you get or would i be better off just getting sway bars