NOT a FS thread
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 207
Likes: 3
From: Mid Atlantic
CLK BS
NOT a FS thread
Actually something about improving the BS:
It's a well known fact that the BS's rear suspension leaves a lot on the table. On hard acceleration, the stock rear end is quite soft and it likes to wiggle. I've had the rear move sideways when downshifting from 5 to 3 on the highway, simply trying to overtake a slower moving vehicle. Of course this is worsened on track. On a stock alignment car, the brake stability is low as well.
Until now there are two options: delrins or polyurethane bushings. Polyurethane tends to wear out quickly and sometimes it's hard to maintain a constant alignment. Delrins are rock hard and does make the car very stable on straight acceleartion, but there's no give and the ride is very bouncy. Also, both solutions create binding in the suspension, which is almost just as bad as the stock setup.
I've had to learn this the hard way, but with help from RRT, we've come up with a third solution: Ball Bearings. This really is the only ideal solution, if you must modify the stock setup. It solves the soft feeling from the rubber bushings but also prevents any binding in the suspension. RRT made some custom ball bearings in place of the rear suspension bushings and, when combined with Weistec's rear suspension arms, it has transformed the car. All this ain't cheap, but they say the BS was designed to go after the GT3s, and now I think it actually may have a chance.
BTW, the CLK DTM came from the factory with ball bearings in the rear suspension. It's unfortunate none were available for the BS...until now.
Disclaimer: I have no financial or any other interest with RRT. They are an excellent tuning / racing shop in Virginia and I'm just sharing the info.
My BS is NOT for sale
It's a well known fact that the BS's rear suspension leaves a lot on the table. On hard acceleration, the stock rear end is quite soft and it likes to wiggle. I've had the rear move sideways when downshifting from 5 to 3 on the highway, simply trying to overtake a slower moving vehicle. Of course this is worsened on track. On a stock alignment car, the brake stability is low as well.
Until now there are two options: delrins or polyurethane bushings. Polyurethane tends to wear out quickly and sometimes it's hard to maintain a constant alignment. Delrins are rock hard and does make the car very stable on straight acceleartion, but there's no give and the ride is very bouncy. Also, both solutions create binding in the suspension, which is almost just as bad as the stock setup.
I've had to learn this the hard way, but with help from RRT, we've come up with a third solution: Ball Bearings. This really is the only ideal solution, if you must modify the stock setup. It solves the soft feeling from the rubber bushings but also prevents any binding in the suspension. RRT made some custom ball bearings in place of the rear suspension bushings and, when combined with Weistec's rear suspension arms, it has transformed the car. All this ain't cheap, but they say the BS was designed to go after the GT3s, and now I think it actually may have a chance.
BTW, the CLK DTM came from the factory with ball bearings in the rear suspension. It's unfortunate none were available for the BS...until now.
Disclaimer: I have no financial or any other interest with RRT. They are an excellent tuning / racing shop in Virginia and I'm just sharing the info.
My BS is NOT for sale
Last edited by GeoGeo; Feb 27, 2016 at 12:18 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,567
Likes: 180
From: Indiana
'94 NSX,'99 NSX Z,'12 C63 Black Series (Prior: '07 E63, '08 CLK63 Black Series,'14 E63-S & 16 C63-S)
So the big questions are, how much is this, and are they available to the general public right now?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 207
Likes: 3
From: Mid Atlantic
CLK BS
The only downside is that you do need to have to good, reliable shop to do this for you. It's quite labor intensive, requires some tooling and are not for the amatures. Labor for the entire back end disassembly, re-install, total re-alignment was $1800. If you are lucky and have a good relationship with your local shop, it could save you some money.
Plus side: the increased agility and stability is really on another level. I'm literally re-learning how to drive the BS since the limit has been upped so much. If I could go back in time I'd do this as the very first mod.
The BS is so limited that any suspension work is pretty much custom. I don't know if RRT is making this available for general public--this kind of products don't make much business sense since buying them is only 40% of the end result--you still got to install them! But if you call them I think they should be able to make a set for you. Turn around time for me was two weeks (that included installation as well).
Last edited by GeoGeo; Apr 2, 2016 at 10:18 PM.
