Fenders rolled!?! Rubbing with 18's??
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From: Cleveland, OH
1999 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel
Fenders rolled!?! Rubbing with 18's??
Hey all, a few questions -
I have a set of 18x8 and 18x9 amg mono 2's. I'd like to go with a H&R/Bilstein sport suspension setup. A few questions.
First off - 1999 E300 Turbodiesel
1. What size spring pads are appropriate? I have 235/40-18 and 265/35-18rears.
2. My big concern - I dont want to have any rubbing going on, will I , or how do I avoid it? I'd really like to avoid costly modifications as far as fender rolling etc, if at all possible.
Thanks,
Dave
I have a set of 18x8 and 18x9 amg mono 2's. I'd like to go with a H&R/Bilstein sport suspension setup. A few questions.
First off - 1999 E300 Turbodiesel
1. What size spring pads are appropriate? I have 235/40-18 and 265/35-18rears.
2. My big concern - I dont want to have any rubbing going on, will I , or how do I avoid it? I'd really like to avoid costly modifications as far as fender rolling etc, if at all possible.
Thanks,
Dave
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2024 GLE63s / 2016 GLE63s (traded) / 2016 E63s / 2002 E55
The 235/40/18 & 265/35/18 should be no problem. Fender rolling is highly recommended for 245/40/18 and 275/35/18 in rear.
Spring pads heights are different for each car. You have decide if you want lower. The stock pads may be fine because the H&R/Bilstein setup will lower all by themselves.
Chassis tuning is a step-by-step adventure. You add your wheels and upgrade your suspension and then test. If you have any rubbing then you 'have' to roll the fender lips.
Spring pads heights are different for each car. You have decide if you want lower. The stock pads may be fine because the H&R/Bilstein setup will lower all by themselves.
Chassis tuning is a step-by-step adventure. You add your wheels and upgrade your suspension and then test. If you have any rubbing then you 'have' to roll the fender lips.
Thread Starter
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From: Cleveland, OH
1999 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel
Thanks for the reply kev. I spoke with Gaston at Autoclass, and he recommended a #1 front and #2 rear. He claims thats generally what they always put in E classes with 18's. How do you think that would work out? I dont have time to be playing with switching configurations etc, I just want to have the stuff installed and go. Do you think this is a safe setup with my tires? he seemed to think that nothing would rub at all with the 235/40 and 265/35's....
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There is no general rule for E-Class spring pads thickness like I have read on this board - they vary. On my 98 E430 I had 5 bump front and 4 bump rear. My 2002 E55 has 3 bump all around. I would stick with your OEM sizes since the H&R springs will lower the car.
Thread Starter
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From: Cleveland, OH
1999 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel
strange
Thats strange, they really must vary...my friend's '98 E320 has 4 bumps all the way around. he switched to a #1 front and #2 rear, and was happy, but eventually switched out the #2's for #1's all the way around. I ordered (earlier today) with my springs/shocks a set of #1's and #2's for the rear. I hope this will be ok, do you think it presents a possible problem? Maybe I should cancel the pad part of my suspension order, and just see how it looks with the stock pads? I'm not worried it will look too low, I just don't want it rubbing...?
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I believe the stock pads may suffice when you use the H&R's. JamE55 just upgraded his suspension to Kleemann and used the OEM pads for his E55. He is satisfied with the new height.
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Thread Starter
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From: Cleveland, OH
1999 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel
E320, thanks for your thorough and informative reply.
Kev - Sounds good on the stock pads. What i'll do is figure out whats on there when they take the stock springs out, and go down from there. Maybe using the stock pads is cool in the E55. E55's are 3/4 in lower than a stock setup to start off with, so they probably come with closer to the correct pad size is my guess.
Anyone with a '96-'99 who has done this suspension mod, please speak up on your pad sizes. I think I may be the only one with an E300 thats been modified... 20 years from now someone will go, hey, that looks like that old E55(now in a junkyard) I had 20 years ago!:p
Kev - Sounds good on the stock pads. What i'll do is figure out whats on there when they take the stock springs out, and go down from there. Maybe using the stock pads is cool in the E55. E55's are 3/4 in lower than a stock setup to start off with, so they probably come with closer to the correct pad size is my guess.
Anyone with a '96-'99 who has done this suspension mod, please speak up on your pad sizes. I think I may be the only one with an E300 thats been modified... 20 years from now someone will go, hey, that looks like that old E55(now in a junkyard) I had 20 years ago!:p
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Cleveland, OH
1999 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel
I've already ordered the H&R's and Bilsteins. My main concern is not how low I can go....What I want to find out is what is too low and will create rubbing problems? Will I run into these types of problems with a #1 front and #2 rear?
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From: Cleveland, OH
1999 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel
Kev, no idea. The wheels, springs, and shocks are in a UPS truck right now headed my way. I've never taken(or had it taken, rather) the suspension apart....I've heard that there are a variety of setups from the factory as far as springs/pads go, relative to the engine weights etc....so I'm not sure what E300's come with.
It doesn't sound like we have any forum members with E300's and wheels/susp.... Actually I think they only made like 1500 each year of 98 and 99, so thats likely. Its rare, but if I ever see one on the road, its always got some white hair in the drivers seat...
It doesn't sound like we have any forum members with E300's and wheels/susp.... Actually I think they only made like 1500 each year of 98 and 99, so thats likely. Its rare, but if I ever see one on the road, its always got some white hair in the drivers seat...
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The fronts are visable if you turn the wheels completely inward each side and look at the top of the spring. You will see a hard rubber piece with a number of bumps. Flashlight needed. To see the rear you may need to remove the wheel or may be visable from underneath (not sure).
I asked which ones you had because I believe the fronts pads maybe/usually are bigger (more bumps) than the rear to compensate for the engine weight. Knowing the bumps you have can determine the ones you need to get.
Example: If 5 bumps in front and 4 in rear you would upgrade with:
4 front/3 rear
or
3 front/2 rear
or
2 front/1 rear
I don't think (only speculating) you could go 'even' all the way around if you started with uneven front and back.
There are only 4 pads sizes for the rear while 5 pad sizes for the front. So no 5 bump pads exist for the rear.
I asked which ones you had because I believe the fronts pads maybe/usually are bigger (more bumps) than the rear to compensate for the engine weight. Knowing the bumps you have can determine the ones you need to get.
Example: If 5 bumps in front and 4 in rear you would upgrade with:
4 front/3 rear
or
3 front/2 rear
or
2 front/1 rear
I don't think (only speculating) you could go 'even' all the way around if you started with uneven front and back.
There are only 4 pads sizes for the rear while 5 pad sizes for the front. So no 5 bump pads exist for the rear.
Thread Starter
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Posts: 379
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From: Cleveland, OH
1999 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel
I've heard that the engine weight of the v8's does mandate a bigger pad in the front compared to the back. I've heard the opposite for the 320 6 cyls and my e300 is a 6-cyl as well. We'll just have to see whats under there when the wheels come off. My monoblock 2's, h&r's and bilsteins come next tuesday, i'm excited! Thanks for all the help people.
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From: The PJ's
an import
Lightman,
I think that Kev has the right idea. If you are really unsure, take an opportunity to look at what pads you are running as stock and this will give you an idea of how much of a change the drop will be. Rubbing shouldn't be a problem, it's just what type of look you want with the drop. The drop in suspension will change the camber to help the wheel clear the fender as well. Should look great.
Post pics.
I am doing the same as well. Just installed 235/40/18 (f) and 265/35/18 (r). H&R and Bilstien Sports are on the way. I'm going #2 and 3 during the install. This is a drop of 1 bump from stock. The gap in my wheelwell is about 2 inches, so with a 1.4" drop with the H&R and another 3mm/bump with the pad I should have a 1/2" gap left. Perfect. I saw a CLK with the same set-up but with #1 and 2; it looked sweet but too low for my daily driver with the wheels tucked into the wheelwell. My only concern is that the wheel will still travel into the wheelwell as you drive over a bump and this may be too close to call without rolling at least the lip.
I think that Kev has the right idea. If you are really unsure, take an opportunity to look at what pads you are running as stock and this will give you an idea of how much of a change the drop will be. Rubbing shouldn't be a problem, it's just what type of look you want with the drop. The drop in suspension will change the camber to help the wheel clear the fender as well. Should look great.
Post pics.I am doing the same as well. Just installed 235/40/18 (f) and 265/35/18 (r). H&R and Bilstien Sports are on the way. I'm going #2 and 3 during the install. This is a drop of 1 bump from stock. The gap in my wheelwell is about 2 inches, so with a 1.4" drop with the H&R and another 3mm/bump with the pad I should have a 1/2" gap left. Perfect. I saw a CLK with the same set-up but with #1 and 2; it looked sweet but too low for my daily driver with the wheels tucked into the wheelwell. My only concern is that the wheel will still travel into the wheelwell as you drive over a bump and this may be too close to call without rolling at least the lip.
