Updated Sway bar, Bilstein Sports. Comparisons
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Updated Sway bar, Bilstein Sports. Comparisons
Last photos before the AMG Gen I kit,, 400E big brakes, Eibach springs and possibly 18" AMG Monoblock II's...
Sportline sway bar (snagged it off a 300TE) is thicker in the middle (26.5mm vs 27.5mm), and definitely thicker on the outside's (18mm vs 22mm). A nice cheap upgrade...
The new sway bar bushings to fit in the middle were a little tricky. I left them in boiling hot water for about 10minutes to soften them, then gently used a rubber mallet tapping each side until it got over the curve. You do not want to do this dry otherwise you could risk stretching the rubber and not getting a tight fit.
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Shorter shaft on the sports:
Sportline sway bar (snagged it off a 300TE) is thicker in the middle (26.5mm vs 27.5mm), and definitely thicker on the outside's (18mm vs 22mm). A nice cheap upgrade...
The new sway bar bushings to fit in the middle were a little tricky. I left them in boiling hot water for about 10minutes to soften them, then gently used a rubber mallet tapping each side until it got over the curve. You do not want to do this dry otherwise you could risk stretching the rubber and not getting a tight fit.
---
Shorter shaft on the sports:
Last edited by ps2cho; Apr 10, 2010 at 10:29 PM.
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I just took a quick test drive and I can definitely say the car has a lot less body roll (I gotta say I bet half of it was the worn bushings...They were "almost" cracked and there was gaps between it and the sway bar. Not a tight fitting)
The car also seems more firm on braking too..less nose dive. I'm very happy with my decision to get the sports. If anybody wants a set of pretty much new Front Bilstein Comforts shoot me a PM! They have probably no more than 2000mi on them. I bought them new and put them on in the beginning of October. My daily commutes are 20mi...so I've put pretty much no miles on em.
The car also seems more firm on braking too..less nose dive. I'm very happy with my decision to get the sports. If anybody wants a set of pretty much new Front Bilstein Comforts shoot me a PM! They have probably no more than 2000mi on them. I bought them new and put them on in the beginning of October. My daily commutes are 20mi...so I've put pretty much no miles on em.
Last edited by ps2cho; Apr 10, 2010 at 11:41 PM.
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1990 300ce 24v I6
How do the sports feel? Is it rough and jittery over bad pavement, or is it still pleasant to drive? I know its hard to have your cake and eat it to, but I really love how smooth and easy these cars cruise... But I'd prefer if they were a bit tighter and fun >_< Conundrum lol
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124 320ce amg widebody twin turbo, the nail
is the 300 te front bar the same as the limmo bar? i saw a te in the scrappers and didnt bother getting the bar off it cause i thought it wasnt any different...
i thought the limmo bar/cabrio bar was bigger than the te bar?
confused
i thought the limmo bar/cabrio bar was bigger than the te bar?
confused
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The limo bar is 28.5mm vs 27.5mm inner and 19mm vs 18mm outer mid diameter. So yes it is bigger than the sportline.
http://www.w124performance.com/image...4_swaybars.pdf
http://www.w124performance.com/image...4_swaybars.pdf
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Just the front bar for now. A Limo bar as stated in the PDF is a European-only option for the long wheel base models.
I will drive the car a little harder today on my commutes to get a better feel as to the stiffness. From the short drive last night, it still feels very comfortable.
I will drive the car a little harder today on my commutes to get a better feel as to the stiffness. From the short drive last night, it still feels very comfortable.
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1990 300ce 24v I6
Just the front bar for now. A Limo bar as stated in the PDF is a European-only option for the long wheel base models.
I will drive the car a little harder today on my commutes to get a better feel as to the stiffness. From the short drive last night, it still feels very comfortable.
I will drive the car a little harder today on my commutes to get a better feel as to the stiffness. From the short drive last night, it still feels very comfortable.
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1994 E220 Coupe
The long wheelbase version is the 6 door version? I always thought they were custom made ones, as taxis usually use these.
Also, ps2cho, wouldn't you need to do the rear swaybar as well or it'll understeer too much with just a thicker front bar?
Also, ps2cho, wouldn't you need to do the rear swaybar as well or it'll understeer too much with just a thicker front bar?
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Thanks for clarification Saijin.
Well the rear is a little more work to get at...Possibly in the future...Maybe I'll update to the rear 400E brakes and while doing it I'll get the rear bar. I don't corner hard that often so I'm not worried right now.
Well the rear is a little more work to get at...Possibly in the future...Maybe I'll update to the rear 400E brakes and while doing it I'll get the rear bar. I don't corner hard that often so I'm not worried right now.
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After driving for a few weeks, the rear end definitely feels kind of wobbly around corners...
How difficult compared to the front swaybar is doing the rear? Maybe I'll find a sportline rear swaybar and new bushings? I am doubtful on the "size" of the swaybar being the issue because the wagon uses the sportline sway bar at the front, but the 15mm regular rear bar. Maybe it is just worn bushings like the front had?
The car does not track or wonder on the freeway so I don't see rear control arms being problematic. My wagon has bad rear arms so I know the feeling of them. Anything else I should check back there?
It kinda feels like it is gliding in the rear when taking corners hard if that makes sense?
How difficult compared to the front swaybar is doing the rear? Maybe I'll find a sportline rear swaybar and new bushings? I am doubtful on the "size" of the swaybar being the issue because the wagon uses the sportline sway bar at the front, but the 15mm regular rear bar. Maybe it is just worn bushings like the front had?
The car does not track or wonder on the freeway so I don't see rear control arms being problematic. My wagon has bad rear arms so I know the feeling of them. Anything else I should check back there?
It kinda feels like it is gliding in the rear when taking corners hard if that makes sense?
Last edited by ps2cho; Apr 27, 2010 at 11:05 AM.
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1990 300ce 24v I6
I've got the same feeling too on my car right now. To me it feels like my car is a weight lifter that ONLY works out his arms and has little pencil legs. The car will get a bit loose on a hard corner, especially after deceleration and the weight shifts forward.
I think it is because the rear of the body can flex more than the front can and because of that, you can lift your wheels a bit more if you torsion the chassis by cornering/declerating.
I still can't get my mechanic here to tackle the rear install, but now that I have my subframe bushing kit he said that he would do it (time permitting). His concern is that, having to drop the subframe to remove the old bar and insert the new bar, that the bolt that goes into the bushing would be seized, etc and that the subframe bushings would get ruined during the install.
I'd suggest you get the kit and keep it on hand if you're going to do the rear just in case. I'll let you know what it came out to $$ wise and what he said if I can get to it before you do.
I think it is because the rear of the body can flex more than the front can and because of that, you can lift your wheels a bit more if you torsion the chassis by cornering/declerating.
I still can't get my mechanic here to tackle the rear install, but now that I have my subframe bushing kit he said that he would do it (time permitting). His concern is that, having to drop the subframe to remove the old bar and insert the new bar, that the bolt that goes into the bushing would be seized, etc and that the subframe bushings would get ruined during the install.
I'd suggest you get the kit and keep it on hand if you're going to do the rear just in case. I'll let you know what it came out to $$ wise and what he said if I can get to it before you do.
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1990 300ce 24v I6
Partially yes, at least on the coupe. Also, you have to disconnect the rear diff to more easily remove/reinsert the bar. Its a non-trivial process compared to the front.
http://www.w124performance.com/docs/...ar_install.pdf
http://www.w124performance.com/docs/...ar_install.pdf
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1994 E220 Coupe
On my other car, the car felt really unstable, and I changed bushings and it was transformed.
I think the main bushing that was worn was the rear trailing arm bushings, because they came from another car when I did a brake upgrade.
I think the main bushing that was worn was the rear trailing arm bushings, because they came from another car when I did a brake upgrade.
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From: New Zealand
1996 E320 Sportline Cabriolet x 2
After driving for a few weeks, the rear end definitely feels kind of wobbly around corners...
How difficult compared to the front swaybar is doing the rear? Maybe I'll find a sportline rear swaybar and new bushings? I am doubtful on the "size" of the swaybar being the issue because the wagon uses the sportline sway bar at the front, but the 15mm regular rear bar. Maybe it is just worn bushings like the front had?
The car does not track or wonder on the freeway so I don't see rear control arms being problematic. My wagon has bad rear arms so I know the feeling of them. Anything else I should check back there?
It kinda feels like it is gliding in the rear when taking corners hard if that makes sense?
How difficult compared to the front swaybar is doing the rear? Maybe I'll find a sportline rear swaybar and new bushings? I am doubtful on the "size" of the swaybar being the issue because the wagon uses the sportline sway bar at the front, but the 15mm regular rear bar. Maybe it is just worn bushings like the front had?
The car does not track or wonder on the freeway so I don't see rear control arms being problematic. My wagon has bad rear arms so I know the feeling of them. Anything else I should check back there?
It kinda feels like it is gliding in the rear when taking corners hard if that makes sense?
