Lowering your car yourself....
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 903
Likes: 1
From: Orlando, Florida
2000 F-150 XLT Sport Crew Cab
Lowering your car yourself....
Has anyone here lowered your own car? If so, would you mind giving me a few tips and directions...Ive lowered cars before, but never a mercedes.....Any help would be great!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,445
Likes: 3
From: WOT somewhere in the Bay Area
1951 Caterpiller D6
If you are lucky, the spring pads installed from the factory will be the thick variety. It is fairly simple to replace them with thinner versions from the factory. However, the max this will get you is about a half to three quarters of an inch. The pads are numbered so you can easily tell which ones you have. Lower numbers are thinner. I know it's easy but unfortunately, I'm not entirely sure how to do it. I have a friend with an auto shop so all of my heavy lifting is done there.
The alternative is to replace spings. Unless you are very competent, well equipped and brave, this is definately something I'd have a shop perform for me.
The alternative is to replace spings. Unless you are very competent, well equipped and brave, this is definately something I'd have a shop perform for me.
Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
From: SF Bay Area
E430
Just did this on my own about a month ago.
Not entirely too difificult, just time consuming and takes specialized tools (the spring compressor). Oh, and some strength wouldn't hurt.
As for the process, it's pretty straightforward. The rears are a pain compared with the fronts. The rears took me about 1 hour each, while both fronts took me 1 hour.
I rented the spring compressor from performance products for about 80 bucks.
After install, get an alignment. My car needed the camber bolts on both sides to bring the camber angle from -1.5 to -1.0. Rears are stuck at -1.8 until I install the K-Mac kit. As for spring pads, I ended up with #5 front, #2 rear. About 26in. fender to ground all the way around.
All in all, satisfying. I've done other suspension installs as well as brakes and whatnot, so it wasn't too bad.
I didn't have any instructions, but the bolts you need to take off are pretty obvious. (sways, shocks, inner conntrol arm bushings- for the rear)
Good luck!
-travis
'98 E430
Eibach pro-system
Not entirely too difificult, just time consuming and takes specialized tools (the spring compressor). Oh, and some strength wouldn't hurt.
As for the process, it's pretty straightforward. The rears are a pain compared with the fronts. The rears took me about 1 hour each, while both fronts took me 1 hour.
I rented the spring compressor from performance products for about 80 bucks.
After install, get an alignment. My car needed the camber bolts on both sides to bring the camber angle from -1.5 to -1.0. Rears are stuck at -1.8 until I install the K-Mac kit. As for spring pads, I ended up with #5 front, #2 rear. About 26in. fender to ground all the way around.
All in all, satisfying. I've done other suspension installs as well as brakes and whatnot, so it wasn't too bad.
I didn't have any instructions, but the bolts you need to take off are pretty obvious. (sways, shocks, inner conntrol arm bushings- for the rear)
Good luck!
-travis
'98 E430
Eibach pro-system
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 5,546
Likes: 6
From: SFV, SoCal
2022 CLS450 AMG 4Matic
fatchance, I'm sure you did but just have to ask anyway. Did you happen to check your control arm bushings for wear when you lowered your benz? Mine were pretty bad, granted my car has over 100k miles on it, so I replaced them. By the way, have any pics. of your ride you can post?
Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
From: SF Bay Area
E430
Hiya,
My car has 53K, control arm bushings were fine. I could see the need to change them @ 100K though.
I also changed wheels/tires when I did the suspension. It was a night and day difference. Went from the stock 16in. to a staggered 18 setup.
BTW, I got 53K out of the factory Michelins. Not bad for a first set of tires! LOL.
I have been meaning to take some pics of the car. I'll try to do this sometime in the next few days. It's been raining off and on over the last few days...
cheers,
-travis
My car has 53K, control arm bushings were fine. I could see the need to change them @ 100K though.
I also changed wheels/tires when I did the suspension. It was a night and day difference. Went from the stock 16in. to a staggered 18 setup.
BTW, I got 53K out of the factory Michelins. Not bad for a first set of tires! LOL.
I have been meaning to take some pics of the car. I'll try to do this sometime in the next few days. It's been raining off and on over the last few days...
cheers,
-travis
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 5,546
Likes: 6
From: SFV, SoCal
2022 CLS450 AMG 4Matic
Same here, night and day difference when I put my 19X8.5 Carlsson 1/6 Evo's. 53k out of the first set of tires is not bad at all. What kind of new rims did you apply?
As for the rain, I know, we got the tail end of your storm in LA over the weekend into Monday but yesterday and today have been nice. PM me your e-mail address and I'll send you some pics. of my ride. As soon as you have some of yours, I'd like to check them out.
Later,
Jimmy
As for the rain, I know, we got the tail end of your storm in LA over the weekend into Monday but yesterday and today have been nice. PM me your e-mail address and I'll send you some pics. of my ride. As soon as you have some of yours, I'd like to check them out.
Later,
Jimmy
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 5,546
Likes: 6
From: SFV, SoCal
2022 CLS450 AMG 4Matic
nguyensteve, I wish that there was a club or something to try and get together once in a while but I don't know of any. If I had the time I would try and put one together as I am in LA and only a couple of hours from you. Maybe a few of us from this area could get together at the upcoming show in Huntington Beach on May 3rd. It's called Wheel Power Fest. 3. You can find the listing in the General Forums under Events & Gatherings. I am going to call the number and see if I can get some info. from them. I am in LA and also met one more guy on here that wants to hang. Keep in touch if you find anything out. Later...
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
8 Oddball Mercedes Ideas That Actually Made it to Production
Verdad Gallardo
Dubai Tuner Gives the Mercedes G-Class An Entirely New Look
Verdad Gallardo
Six Gift Ideas Your AMG Loving Dad or Grad Will Cherish
7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,891
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
2002 C230 : 2007 C230
Re: Lowering your car yourself....
Originally posted by Benz
Has anyone here lowered your own car? If so, would you mind giving me a few tips and directions...Ive lowered cars before, but never a mercedes.....Any help would be great!
Has anyone here lowered your own car? If so, would you mind giving me a few tips and directions...Ive lowered cars before, but never a mercedes.....Any help would be great!
Complete spring swap in under an hour.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,891
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
2002 C230 : 2007 C230
Originally posted by jimmydagreek
Hey KWIK:
Is this yours or did you rent it? Where would I find this equip.?
Thanks...
Hey KWIK:
Is this yours or did you rent it? Where would I find this equip.?
Thanks...
The most common place to buy them is PerformanceProducts.com but a googe search will turn up other choices.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,891
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
2002 C230 : 2007 C230
Originally posted by apb
Would you consider renting your tool? I would rather give you the money that performance products.
Would you consider renting your tool? I would rather give you the money that performance products.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Re: Jimmy
Originally posted by nguyensteve
Jimmy,
I see that locate in South Cal.
I am in San Diego, Is there a Mercedes club or a place for us mercedes to hang out and talk about MBenz?
Steve
Jimmy,
I see that locate in South Cal.
I am in San Diego, Is there a Mercedes club or a place for us mercedes to hang out and talk about MBenz?
Steve
Those guys meet every Tues in SD in the Clairemont area.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 5,546
Likes: 6
From: SFV, SoCal
2022 CLS450 AMG 4Matic
Thanks for the info. I will check them out it's just a bit far for me to meet them weekly as I live in LA. I was trying to find something more LA based or as far as Orange County as nguyensteve in SD was looking also.
Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 194
Likes: 1
From: Houston
08 S550, 10 GLK350, 05 Clk500
Kwik,
I suppose one option is to make payment through paypal if you want to make sure to be able to collect.
Not sure the logistics. I suppose shipping should be about $15 each way through UPS. With respect to qualifications, you may want to limit it to members of this site for over a year with at least 30-50 postings, that way you know you are dealing with someone serious.
I suppose one option is to make payment through paypal if you want to make sure to be able to collect.
Not sure the logistics. I suppose shipping should be about $15 each way through UPS. With respect to qualifications, you may want to limit it to members of this site for over a year with at least 30-50 postings, that way you know you are dealing with someone serious.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,891
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
2002 C230 : 2007 C230
Originally posted by apb
Kwik,
I suppose one option is to make payment through paypal if you want to make sure to be able to collect.
Not sure the logistics. I suppose shipping should be about $15 each way through UPS. With respect to qualifications, you may want to limit it to members of this site for over a year with at least 30-50 postings, that way you know you are dealing with someone serious.
Kwik,
I suppose one option is to make payment through paypal if you want to make sure to be able to collect.
Not sure the logistics. I suppose shipping should be about $15 each way through UPS. With respect to qualifications, you may want to limit it to members of this site for over a year with at least 30-50 postings, that way you know you are dealing with someone serious.
