New springs are higher
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 915
Likes: 185
Yikes:
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 1,013
Likes: 281
From: South Texas
2014 GLK350 base model (active) ; 2001 E320 base (retired); 2001 Wrangler soft-top
Hmmm. Were the original broken? How are you determining the new are 2 inches higher?
How I do it ... remove original, then put the original next to the new and place a level across both at the top.
Significant difference (?) Question the new before installing it. 2 inches is significant, if original are not damaged.
Installed correctly? Double check it
How I do it ... remove original, then put the original next to the new and place a level across both at the top.
Significant difference (?) Question the new before installing it. 2 inches is significant, if original are not damaged.
Installed correctly? Double check it
Last edited by calder-cay; Nov 17, 2024 at 05:21 PM.
Trending Topics
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 728
Likes: 271
2011 GLK 350 4Matic
There's no way they're going to settle anything close to 2". Why did you swap springs? I'd never, ever, ever swap springs unless one was broken or dangerously rusted. The chances of a change in ride height or dynamics is just too high (as you discovered). I just got done putting some new struts and shocks on, and swapped the front springs over to the new (Bilstein B4) struts, and ended up with a perfectly dialed-in stance (just like before the swap).
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
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
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 2,585
Likes: 343
2013 glk 350
One spring broke about 1/2 a turn down. Yes I regret the expense , time and result . It was fine before, just noise on big bumps. After the broken piece was removed it was ok. I put in shocks, mounts and springs . Oh well I learned.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,349
Likes: 694
2021 GLB250 FWD, 2023 GLA250 FWD, 2013 C250, 2015 GLK350, 2005 ML350SE, 2003 E320
A couple of things here.
First, you sound like you replaced everything. The old springs may have started to sag. The shocks are gas filled and if the old ones were down a bit the new ones will contribute. Then the spring bushings were almost certainly compressed after 10+ years. You might be only seeing an inch or so more height than when it was new.
Next, the original springs were matched to the dry weight of the components installed on your GLK. There are probably 5-6 spring stiffnesses (rates) identified by color bands painted on them. Aftermarket springs are often available in one or two sort of average versions. But after 10 years, only 1-2 of the original spring rates would probably be available, too.
You didn’t have much choice with a broken spring.
First, you sound like you replaced everything. The old springs may have started to sag. The shocks are gas filled and if the old ones were down a bit the new ones will contribute. Then the spring bushings were almost certainly compressed after 10+ years. You might be only seeing an inch or so more height than when it was new.
Next, the original springs were matched to the dry weight of the components installed on your GLK. There are probably 5-6 spring stiffnesses (rates) identified by color bands painted on them. Aftermarket springs are often available in one or two sort of average versions. But after 10 years, only 1-2 of the original spring rates would probably be available, too.
You didn’t have much choice with a broken spring.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 1,928
Likes: 524
From: New Hampsha
'17 GLS450, '14 GLK250, Grandpa's Roadster
I used Sachs springs to replace my two broken springs. I measured the old springs as best I could and decided they were the same free length as the new ones, and the wire diameter was the same as well as the number of coils and coil diameter. Those are the parameters that are critical to the spring rate. The alignment shop told me it was too high in the back but that was only about 2 miles after I replaced them. There are different thickness pads you can get. Did you use the old ones, or replace then? (Did you get new anti-corrosion shims for the bottom?)
The factory measurement for rear height is performed by measuring the angle of the rear half shafts with the ground. Essentially, they should be within a couple of degrees of level. I didn't have an alignment rack to put it on, but I parked it on the flatest and levelest part of my driveway and crawled under there on my back and measured them. My conclusion was I was at or maybe half a degree past (within) the spec. If you have a level that reads degrees, you can do the same thing. If your drive isn't level and you get different readings on each side, take the average. The correct value depends on option packages as well as up to vs. as of "model refinement package" (2012?). Values range from -0.78 degrees, +/- 0.6 degrees to +4.75 degrees +/- 1.0 degrees.
The factory measurement for rear height is performed by measuring the angle of the rear half shafts with the ground. Essentially, they should be within a couple of degrees of level. I didn't have an alignment rack to put it on, but I parked it on the flatest and levelest part of my driveway and crawled under there on my back and measured them. My conclusion was I was at or maybe half a degree past (within) the spec. If you have a level that reads degrees, you can do the same thing. If your drive isn't level and you get different readings on each side, take the average. The correct value depends on option packages as well as up to vs. as of "model refinement package" (2012?). Values range from -0.78 degrees, +/- 0.6 degrees to +4.75 degrees +/- 1.0 degrees.
Last edited by John CC; Nov 18, 2024 at 09:07 PM.
