ps2cho

So I was doing some reading and I don't really want to deal with big camber wear issues on the tires. Is this a given with lowered cars or is there a happy medium? I also read that the 124 springs are progressive, so that has dissuaded me from cutting mine.

I don't really need it slammed to the floor, I just want the wheel arches filled nicely.

I know you can get adjustable camber arms, but I'm not sure if I really want to spend that much money on doing all of that. I know different sets lower by a set amount so is there a set that will lower enough to get me where I want to be without having big wear issues? Will changing the bump pads help "fine tune" where I want it to sit?

What about alignments? I heard most places do not touch lowered cars when it comes to alignments.

My main concern is over my current ride height. When I changed to the bilstein comfort shocks it raised my height and the gap from the tire to wheel arch is about 4"...so if I got a 1.3" drop, will it now be 2.7" gap? Or does it work differently than this?

Any advice? Sorry for lots of noob questions...
Thanks

ps2cho

Anybody ever tried to use a regular spring compressor on the mercedes? The one I have can get one grip out of the two on the spring top + bottom. I wonder if that would be safe enough to use?

Looks like a mercedes spring compressor is $170...so combined with $260 for springs I'll be paying over $400...ouch!

ZedStyle

i bought one of those mercedes compressors. even with that, getting the springs in and out is a REAL pain man, it never goes smoothly at all. i can't imagine the complications in trying to use a regular compressor... i remember someone posting pics of one that got bent in the process, which you don't need!
buy the compressor, use it, and then sell it and get some money back.

pifcat2

I agree with Zed, the Benz style compressors are made for the heavy duty springs and highly recommended but not guaranteed to easily install them. Maybe the non-knock offs work better, idk. Placement of the plates so they don't bind to the upper mount or compress the spring enough to clear the mounts, the screw body binding on the bottom flange, the springs twisting because coils are not perpendicular are a few of the problems you may encounter. Most of the time they work fine. The safety aspect of them is the real value.

There was a "rental" thread here or another site...

CDP

The non-Knock off compressors work 100X better haha

JSe420

i should have taken more pictures when i did mine a couple weeks ago . The mercedes spring compressor does make it easier....much easier... The the front springs are really easy. The front took about 45 minutes to an hour (and that includes taking the wheels off and putting them back on). The back is much more of a pain. What I did in the rear was unbolt the shock absorber and the sway bar to have more room to get the spring out. You will need a good size pry bar also to help pull down. The rear probably took about 2 and half hours from start to finish. But unbolting the shocks and the sway bar definitely help. Hope this helps, good luck and post some pics

ps2cho

Do you guys know how progressive springs work? Do they compress stiffer at the bottom and less at the top?

What would be the implication of removing 1/2 a coil on the top and bottom? Would it act differently than removing 1 coil from the top?

I was kinda interested in seeing how the car would be by just cutting the springs first...I remember reading that AMG just cut stock springs on some of their models..so it can't be that bad, right? I'm not going crazy with it, I just want to get her sitting where it does not look like a 4x4.

I'm fine spending $280 on the springs, but once you factor in $180 for the compressor it gets more expensive...I don't want to rent one because I have my wagon to do in the future and I would like to fine tune everything to my liking, so owning one would be a more suitable long term option. I can also rent it out to trusted forum members over time as well.

neanderthal

Why not buy used springs and cut those?

ps2cho

Well that was my plan...There is a half price weekend @ junkyard at the end of the month I think so I'll get a set for like $20. There are always springs there. Maybe I'll get them off a V8 as they should be stiffer right?

pifcat2

yeah 100x.

why don't you loan your klann to ps2cho, you're both in SoCal?

JSe420

If you get them off a 420 you might not even want to cut them depending on how low you want it. The 420 springs would give you a little bit of a drop maybe even the drop you are looking for.

rivcal4life

If you get them off a 420, I would be afraid of them not sitting evenly. The rears should be close to identical in stiffness, but the fronts much heavier to support the weight of that big V8.

I have a knock off compressor that works absolutely perfectly, and I believe I've offered to help you with them before. The offer still stands

epowers777

What ever you do dont use a harbor frieght one. Its is really dangerious. Unhook your sway bar and put ur jack were the sway bar lip is with handle in front of hood. I put a ratchet strap threw the bottom of the coil and lower control arm and hooked it to the other lower control arm. Un Hook everything and carefully lower jack the spring will pop off. Same to put spring back in but I used a bar to pop it into place. You can do it safetly just use ur head. Got more ?? e mail me been outa the game remodeling the house. I might have pics. I have removed and installed my springs probably 4 times each side. Was having bushing issues.
If you can afford it get the mb compressor

YNVDIZW124

Maybe you can get my eibachs off my benz but i took it to the junk yard. It's at the pick your parts in wilmington. Maybe it's still there?

ps2cho

aw man you junked her?

YNVDIZW124

Yup, I just didn't wanna deal with selling it cheap and people getting tickets on it. I stripped the crap out of it and all that was left was seats and gauges. I also put my crappy fuel distributor and kept all the good parts. I just didn't want to deal with removing the springs and selling them.