Shocks and spring pads

[Buczko]

Hey,

When i bought my car it was allready lowered and with 3 piece MAE 18 wheels, looked great but i want it to be original. So i have found a set of brand new OEM springs.
I need help with what Shock absorbers i should use to match the original ish height, also what spring pads is should put for the new OEM springs.

Could anyone help me with that?
Photos of the springs bellow.

 

[doolar]

Rear shocks/rams are NLA unfortunately, front shocks are still available new unless it changed recently.

Spring pads varies depending on equipment etc, I did install new springs on my car, and 1 point rear and 2 point front turned out great, I would start there if doing it on another car.

 

[gsxr]

Use 2-pt spring pads with your red front springs, and 1-pt spring pad with the blue rear springs. You may find the rear ride height is pretty tall in stock form. Make sure to only tighten the rear LCA inner bolt with the suspension in "ready to drive" position, after installing the springs.

As doolar said, you can still get the OE front struts new... if your car is the later build with M14 pinch bolt, buy the early struts and drill the M12 hole to accept the M14 bolt. (The late struts are NLA.) If you want a stiffer ride, try Bilstein Sports (which will also require drilling the M12 hole if your car has an M14 bolt.)

Rear SLS hydrolegs are NLA but there's a forum member selling NOS ones on eBay for like ~£3k/pair.

 

[Buczko]

Rear shocks/rams are NLA unfortunately, front shocks are still available new unless it changed recently.

Spring pads varies depending on equipment etc, I did install new springs on my car, and 1 point rear and 2 point front turned out great, I would start there if doing it on another car.

Use 2-pt spring pads with your red front springs, and 1-pt spring pad with the blue rear springs. You may find the rear ride height is pretty tall in stock form. Make sure to only tighten the rear LCA inner bolt with the suspension in "ready to drive" position, after installing the springs.

As doolar said, you can still get the OE front struts new... if your car is the later build with M14 pinch bolt, buy the early struts and drill the M12 hole to accept the M14 bolt. (The late struts are NLA.) If you want a stiffer ride, try Bilstein Sports (which will also require drilling the M12 hole if your car has an M14 bolt.)

Rear SLS hydrolegs are NLA but there's a forum member selling NOS ones on eBay for like ~£3k/pair.

Thank you for your answers.

Then i will try 2pt front and 1pt back pads. Hope it will be nice.

My car is early made, from late 1991. So i assume it has the M12 bolt?
Is it a quick way to check it without taking apart the car?

also could you share with me parts number for the OEM and bilstein front struts?

I think my car is lowered just in the front for ¨german style look¨ so i hope i need just the front struts.
Just want to check everything and order right parts before the car goes to the mechanic.

 

[gsxr]

Yes, 1991 should have M12 bolt. The change to M14 bolt was in 1992 as of chassis B712319.

Search the forum for OE part numbers, this has been discussed many times. There's only one Bilstein Sport "Yellows" for the 124 chassis.

 

[mrindiafromuk]

Rear shocks/rams are NLA unfortunately, front shocks are still available new unless it changed recently.

Spring pads varies depending on equipment etc, I did install new springs on my car, and 1 point rear and 2 point front turned out great, I would start there if doing it on another car.

I just enquires in shocks. the front are available because there is a modification on the replacement it needs a fitting kit which is NLA. so sort of useless

 

[gsxr]

I just enquires in shocks. the front are available because there is a modification on the replacement it needs a fitting kit which is NLA. so sort of useless

Front struts for the 036 are available from the dealer.

The optional hardware kit (nuts & bolts) is NLA, but the individual components of the kit are still available - just takes more work to order, if needed. You can re-use the old hardware if undamaged / uncorroded.

 

[mrindiafromuk]

Front struts for the 036 are available from the dealer.

The optional hardware kit (nuts & bolts) is NLA, but the individual components of the kit are still available - just takes more work to order, if needed. You can re-use the old hardware if undamaged / uncorroded.

interesting on the hardware

 

[mrindiafromuk]

interesting on the hardware

Ok I enquires again and yes the parts are available but they are in Germany

 

[Buczko]

So was just talking to Mercedes here and the front shocks are available in Germany but ca 1300Euro per one. A little bit too much i guess.
Do you have any other options? I want my car to be on stock stiffnes, i am driving it mostly on the motorway back and fourth to my job sometimes. What are the non original options? Any parts numbers?

 

[gsxr]

So was just talking to Mercedes here and the front shocks are available in Germany but ca 1300Euro per one. A little bit too much i guess.

€1300 each? That's crazy. In USA they are $565 MSRP each, ~$410 from discount dealers, plus shipping:

https://parts.mbofcovington.com/oem-parts/mercedes-benz-shock-absorber-124320433064

Do you have any other options? I want my car to be on stock stiffnes, i am driving it mostly on the motorway back and fourth to my job sometimes. What are the non original options? Any parts numbers?

You could try stock (non-Sportline) dampers. Anything aftermarket would be an experiment to see how it feels.

 

[mrindiafromuk]

Just FYI have ordered both fronts to keep in stock. including the new fitting kit which is available if you buy it in parts (@gsxr Thanks for the note) for both front it cost me $958 plus the taxes

 

[Buczko]

Well, got the billsteins for ca 500$ both. Hope it will be OK.