Total suspension refresh on my 15 yrs old E63
08-11-2022, 02:45 PM
#51
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Well it looks like tomorrow will be the day. Eddie wants to hold on to it a little longer, to recalibrate the suspension, and dial in the alignment.
But, he did say that everything has been done with the suspension refresh; brakes lines bleed, bolts torqued etc.
But, he did say that everything has been done with the suspension refresh; brakes lines bleed, bolts torqued etc.
08-11-2022, 07:41 PM
#53
I started with separating the rear Rotor rusted to the Hub!
Used my own Bush Install Tool for Subframe Bushings, Control Arm and F&R Diff Carrier Bushings.
I re-built my rear suspension by dropping the whole Subframe and used k-mac bushings for each arm and OEM bushings for the front subframe/Diff cross-support and rear Diff Mounts. You have to be sure to measure the exact placement of each bushing before you remove them and keep the OEM bevelled Washers that fit into the Carrier and, of course, new bolts/nuts all around!
I Supported the Subframe on each corner in order to torque down each upper Arm. Then Mock it up to the Carrier and check for clearance. I definitely had to adjust bushing placement in order to allow the Carrier to glide up and down smoothly with no binding at the bushings. In this pic you can NOT See the Diff as I had it out and swapped 3.06 Gears and an M-Factory LSD!! Sweet!!!! I also removed each Air Spring to be rebuilt by RMT.
Money Shot with UPD Rear Toe Arms (it’s inner brackets comes in two pieces so I welded them together instead and painted them), new Subframe Bushings, new rear differential bushings and front Diff Mount Plate Carrier Bushings, new rear torque arms w/new opposing bushings in the wheel carrier, K-Mac poly upper control arm bushings, new Hubs, new rear shocks, Rebuilt Bilstein AirSprings!!
Good luck on your Re-Build Yuille36!!!! Its really nice to have the original performance back, and then some!!!
Last edited by E63007; 02-04-2023 at 10:38 AM.
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nd-photo.nl (08-12-2022)
08-12-2022, 02:08 PM
#55
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My shop didn't go to that extent. They just dropped the rear subframe down a few inches to gain enough clearance to get at the bolts on that top forward most control arm.
08-13-2022, 08:12 AM
#57
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But for the record, the only front suspension items we didn't changed out were: Inner Tie Rods, Sway Bar Bushings, Steering Knuckle, and Wheel Hub.
And for the rears: Sway Bar Bushings, Knuckle, Wheel Hub, and Shocks, and Rear Subframe Bushings. We did however change out the rear air-springs last year.
I can tell you the car rides really nice now, the bumps are more compliable, no more squeaks or clunks. I'm really loving this new suspension, should have done it years ago.
08-14-2022, 08:46 AM
#59
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Well, the E63 is riding nice, bumps are more compliant thanks to a totally refreshed suspension. It is a night and day difference in my opinion, no more squeaks or clunks on speed bumps.
I love looking at the new components, as they're clean and new. I'm glad that I upgraded to steel braided brake lines. The only thing we need to do, is adjust the exhaust so that the exhaust tips don't vibrate against the carbon fiber rear diffuser.
There is a metal strap just behind the rear differential, that connects the left and right side of the exhaust together, this can be adjusted in or out to move the exhaust tips.
This is what we did the first time to eliminate the exhaust tips from vibrating against the diffuser. Will take care of that on Monday.
All the components used in the front suspension were Lemforder, except for the Arnott Air Struts. As for the rears everything was OE Mercedes, much more expensive.
I love looking at the new components, as they're clean and new. I'm glad that I upgraded to steel braided brake lines. The only thing we need to do, is adjust the exhaust so that the exhaust tips don't vibrate against the carbon fiber rear diffuser.
There is a metal strap just behind the rear differential, that connects the left and right side of the exhaust together, this can be adjusted in or out to move the exhaust tips.
This is what we did the first time to eliminate the exhaust tips from vibrating against the diffuser. Will take care of that on Monday.
All the components used in the front suspension were Lemforder, except for the Arnott Air Struts. As for the rears everything was OE Mercedes, much more expensive.
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08-16-2022, 09:50 AM
#61
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Well, the boys at Benz Elite Automotive adjusted my exhaust tips, so they wouldn't rub against the rear diffuser when the exhaust moves around while driving.
I will be taking the car back to them in October for my 6-month oil change, and also the X5M to replace the front brake lines for braided steel ones from Stop Tech along with an oil change.
I can't say enough good things about Benz Elite Automotive, if you live in northern Virginia and looking for a good reliable shop to work on your European car give them a call.
I will be taking the car back to them in October for my 6-month oil change, and also the X5M to replace the front brake lines for braided steel ones from Stop Tech along with an oil change.
I can't say enough good things about Benz Elite Automotive, if you live in northern Virginia and looking for a good reliable shop to work on your European car give them a call.
08-18-2022, 01:06 PM
#63
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In hindsight, if I had more time, I would have tried to source the parts from someone other than the dealership. I can tell you that the cost would be twice if not three times the cost if you bought everything from Mercedes.
I purchased rear control arm parts from an online source, who's name I shall not mention, and no it wasn't FCP Euro. Anyway, the description of the parts were labeled for an E63, but wasn't when compared side by side, definitely not as beefy as an AMG part should be. So I had no choice but to buy those parts from the dealer, and send the other parts back for a refund.
I won't be buying suspension parts from that online retailer anymore. I thought, I was saving some money, but with the headaches and subsequent trips to FedEx for returns, didn't save anything. In all, I spent more than expected, but now that I'm driving the car, and it's ride so nice now, the money is irrelevant.
Last edited by Yuille36; 08-18-2022 at 02:17 PM.
08-18-2022, 02:20 PM
#65
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Think of it this way, spend the money where it needs to be spent, and never worry about the suspension again.
Besides, anything worth doing, is worth doing it right. My suspension is good for another 10 years
Besides, anything worth doing, is worth doing it right. My suspension is good for another 10 years
Last edited by Yuille36; 08-18-2022 at 02:22 PM.
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nd-photo.nl (08-19-2022)
08-19-2022, 09:44 AM
#66
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I should have done a little more research, as I came across this from ECS Tuning. https://www.ecstuning.com/b-assemble...2113503106kt1/
It contains all 4 control arms for the rear suspension, except the lower spring control arm, but this would have saved me some coin, by not having to purchase these components from Mercedes.
It contains all 4 control arms for the rear suspension, except the lower spring control arm, but this would have saved me some coin, by not having to purchase these components from Mercedes.
08-25-2022, 09:14 AM
#67
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It has been several weeks since my suspension refresh, and I can tell you that my car feels completely different, the ride is more compliant, in its various settings. I'm completely in love with it yet again.
02-14-2023, 11:11 AM
#69
Yuille, you mention your ride being more compliant “in its various settings”? I noticed you swapped out for Arnott’s, which apparently has several iterations of its shocks? When I was redoing my front end, I was unaware that one of the front shocks I had had been swapped for an Arnott, so when I brought them into RMT for a rebuild, the guy there showed me that the OEM had that cartridge attached (as do the Arnott but they used the same blanks and discarded the use of that cartridge) which allows for the “Load & Rebound” settings you can adjust on the fly by the gearshift. As such, I was curious if yours are all fully functional up front? The OEM rears, as far as AirSprings, merely are set for stance and any independent Load & Rebound is governed by the separate rear shocks?
Last edited by E63007; 04-02-2023 at 07:55 AM.
02-14-2023, 01:08 PM
#70
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Yuille, you mention your ride being more compliant “in its various settings”? I noticed you swapped out for Arnott’s, which apparently has several iterations of its shocks? When I was redoing my front end, I was unaware that one of the front shocks I had had been swapped for an Arnott, so when I brought them into RMT for a rebuild, the guy there showed me that the OEM had that cartridge attached (as do the Arnott but they used the same blanks and discarded the use of that cartridge) which allows for the “Load & Rebound” settings you can adjust on the fly by the gearshift. As such, I was curious if yours are all fully functional up front as the OEM rears, as far as AirSprings, merely are set for stance and any independent Load & Rebound is governed by the separate rear shocks?
Why spend more money when you don't have to. I can tell you that my suspension rides great, and my suspension settings work for Comfort, Sport I and Sport II. I actually drove my E63 into to work today, I was wondering why the car was riding rough, until I looked down and realized it was in Sport II, so I change it to Comfort
When my car rides really rough, often times it's due to low tire pressure, so last weekend I had my tires refilled with Nitrogen. I typically do this every 3 months or so on both my E63 and X5M. Also, I have 19" wheels and a lowered suspension, that also contributes to the ride quality.
