JetS500

Has anyone had experience / are running on http://adjustableairride.com/?
Can anyone explain to me what it actually is? As far as I understand, its just a replacement of the lowering links to drop the car around an inch, or however much desired + using the factory ABC option am I correct?

I am looking to order as soon as I hear a good word about it
I drive an S500 and currently sittin on stock 17" rims so it'd look kind of awkward.. but taking things one step at a time.

Thanks for your input!
Sammy

classyS

other than lowering via STAR or electronic module, this is the cheapest way to lower car, im actually suprised im the first to chime in on this one lol u got my approval and welcome to the forums!!!

JetS500

Thanks man hahah. I wanna get an electric module but im tight on a budget. do you think its worth it getting a module instead of lowering links?

stevedel

I've had their links on my car for 2yrs commute 35mi a day and have never had any issues. The dealership didn't give me any grief about them either.

classyS

the best of all about the links JetS500, it takes minutes to install and adjust if needed.

classyS

lol not worth it if budget is tight right now and simply too alot of us dont want to sink $500+ just to lower a car, u should see how low steve's ride is, im running the 2 finger gap all around but of course to each their preference, first time around might need some adjustment with the links.. theyre the cheapest and number 1

but if u want to go REALLY cheap and technically the same way the links lower the car - https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...-drop-car.html

JetS500

well, now that I read the washer idea im willing to try it. but someone talked about a blown shock? i think, cant remember.. well point is, something went wrong. Washers = bad idea?

jackasswhy

ive been on washers for years...

classyS

JetS500 - even if u wanted to get a grasp of what it looks lowered, u can do washer trick then get links, thats what i did then sold links and went back to washers.. i figured i didnt need to be too low, i usually have a full car load so the 2 finger gap ends up being 1 finger gap lol

its the single easiest but most effective mod u can do, dont worry about blown shocks just worry about potholes and nasty speed bumps and of course dont rail turns like its a porsche!!

JetS500

I tend to handle curves pretty fast.... lol. Well Im thinking of trying the washer method. Ive read the other thread multiple times but cannot fully understand the procedure. Could anyone help me in doing so? like where to start? :/ much appreciated.

classyS

ok so 2 main things with using washers to lower car, youll only need to use washers on the front height sensors as the rears are already adjustable.

now with the fronts, the idea is to expand the arm by using washers to trick the height sensors to lower it. with the rear, u want to shorten arm to lower it - 3 arms altogether, 1 left, 1 right, 1 rear that controls both.

1) engine off, jack the car up safely and not too high, enough so the tires are still touching ground.

2) u need to access the nut in order to disconnect the arm to add washers in picture, placement is at #1 shown in picture below.

3) once the arm is disconnected and hanging, u want to add washers to the screw shown in picture at #2 (remember idea is to expand arm,) i believe max washers is 4 with having enough tread to safely keep nut secure.



washer placement:



4) with the rear, its straight forward.. u adjust nut to shorten the arm but not too much to lower height in the rear - picture shown below.



5) now once all is adjusted, youll want to drive around the block to let computer realize that the arms have been adjusted and lower itself.. i guess its the fine tuning in height preference that takes the longest in this whole process - initial locating and adjusting arms is less time consuming, youll have to mess with it though u might get it on the first try. now be safe and let us know how it goes, hope this all helps - big thanks to fkong777 & benzat17 for providing pictures - link to original thread:

https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...-drop-car.html

enjoy!

JetS500

Great. Thanks for the help classy, much appreciated. Where can I find the right size washers to do so though? And after all this would I need an alignment? I was thinking no, because they should be equal? (the fronts: equal washers on each side, obviously. and the rear is adjustable by the arm)

classyS

yeah equal washers on each side, it doesnt matter really about thickness of washers but more importantly having enough tread for the nut.

JetS500

Could you possibly guide me into the size of washers i should be looking for? im not sure how thick washers i should get, because i recall reading about having space for only 3-4 washers to produce about a 1 inch drop? how thick washers were the washers used to do so?

And correct me if im wrong, you meant the washers literally where youre pointing too, so they could fall off (1)? or on (2) underneath the head of the nut secured inbetween?

Doesn't hurt to make sure.

classyS

yeah 3-4 washers, depending on washers and but more if theres enough tread for the nut to secure, definitely in (2) between upper control arm and ride sensor arm, not between nut and above upper control arm..

classyS

right here:

JetS500

Oh, I forgot that its the upper control arm right above it. So I would take the end off (#2 in first picture) so it is hanging by the other end farther away from the control arm, and screw it back on until it is snug + a few spacers added? that simple?

as for the rear the main goal is to make the arm shorter.. how much would I have to adjust it? Scared as I am going to adjust it too much and cause problems / have it be to late to fix it. As far as i understand..it is located in the middle of the car.. is it not? I remember seeing something as to the rear, pivots; so it wouldnt make sense to have it on both..

Jus want to understand this whole process, as I haven't even taken a look at these parts for myself yet due to lack of time. Plan on doing so this weekend! Thanks for all the help guys!

classyS

yeah its that simple try doing 2 washers first then + more after u get an idea how low it gets, for the rear id say shorten it about the thickness of a tic-tac or a cigarette.. u cant get it too low hence the limit of tread space, the worst that would fully happen, after adjusting and driving down the block, computer senses its too low and fully raise back to normal.

JetS500

Heyyyy, i had jus finished all my studies and decided to take a quick look. My control arm looks way different, as to the one in the picture. the one in the picture looks more of a socket(?) like position.. but mine is jus a simple easy to tell control arm.. LOL? Don't know if that made sense or not
but do i disconnect it from the top of the control arm where #1 is pointing, to add the washers?

classyS

lol yeah it should look more straight because thats a bent one that benzat17 did to correct ride height, notice that the bend shortened the arm therefore it raised the car lol

the nut is right above the upper control arm, u can feel the nut in #1 and u want to add washers once the height sensor arm hangs down, then bolt the nut back on.

classyS

notice how the screw goes thru the upper control arm?? add washers where it shows (below upper control arm sandwiched between ride height arm) NOT above upper control arm sandwiched between nut and upper control arm. kinda of confusing but youll get it!!

JetS500

So unscrew the nut (#1) and put the washers (#2).. which means theyd be directly touching the control arm correct? Getting a bit antsy right now, although its late, I jus found 6 washers that look like the perfect size to try it. Each washer is a little thicker then my fingernail.

JetS500

Great! Debating whether I should do this right now or not. 10:30PM ..

classyS

lol yes thats how easy it is!

1) unscrew nut.

2) ride height arm will come loose, add washers and insert ride height arm thru hole.

3) screw nut.

literally takes 1minute, u can do all this in the dark biting onto a small flashlight thats what i did!!!

classyS

do it, i'll be up all night.. im in san antonio texas 12:36am here and i'll be up til 3am

just do the fronts to get idea.