Sportline late style LCA's installed

[quicksilver500]

Gentlemen,

I just installed new sportline LCA's on the front and MAN WHAT A HUGE IMPROVEMENT! They really pull the whole front end together. It drives really really great and there was a huge improvement in ride quality over my 175kmi control arms...no stiffness or harshness at all. I am running HR springs with 4 bump up front and newish Sachs 500E shocks. I also installed new sway bar bushing at the same time. I am sure after an alignment tomorrow its going to be even better.

I just haven't read anyone putting them on so wanted to post my initial impressions. This was in preparation for the silver arrow brake install.

-Mike

 

[DW SD]

Hi Mike,
good report. Did you buy genuine parts or?
I have a similar front end setup w H&R springs except just ordered the lemfoerder standard LCAs. I'm aiming for all new rubber in my suspension. The rear is all done.

Doug

 

[quicksilver500]

Doug

These control arms are Benz only, I had to wait for them to come from Germany. I wrestled for a long time on whether to get the Febi standard arms but I just thought it would be worth it to go OEM on such a critical component. After all the first set lasted 175Kmi...The sports and the standards are the same pricing so I got the sports.

They packed them terribly the first time around and one control arm molested the other in shipment (bent an ear on one of the bushings). So I made them reorder (2 more weeks) and picked it up today. So it took 4 weeks to get it straight but well worth it. Personally I like the stock shocks with the HR, to me sports are too rough in the city.

If you are going to do new rubber I would also recommend new wheel bearings at the same time, the kits are like $50 each or something. Definitely worth it while everything is apart.

 

[borring]

Hmmm.. Same price for sport and standard, how much was the cost and where did you buy them?

 

[quicksilver500]

Dealer, list is ~$510 ea + tax. If you know someone with an wholesale account they could probably get them for under $400. Only difference is the bushing, ball joint is the same. So you can just buy the sport bushings and press those in if your ball joints are still good.

 

[gsxr]

Mike is correct, $510 USD list, or $365/ea from parts.com (plus shipping, etc). No idea what they would cost in Europe though:

http://www.parts.com/parts/index.cf...hText=1243303607&action=oePartSearch&siteid=2

I have these on my 1994 E500, btw.

 

[DW SD]

I installed my new lemfoerder LCAs along with Meyle HD strut top mounts. Wow! Noticeably smoother ride and eliminated some harshness when I'd hit a pronounced bump. It felt prior like my suspension was bottoming out sometimes.

I have new Bilstein sports with H&R springs with four bump spring pads.

I still need to do an alignment, but I carefully marked the eccentric locations and the car still drives straight.

Doug

 

[szvook]

I have new Bilstein sports with H&R springs with four bump spring pads.

So what's your take on the Bilstein sports?

 

[DW SD]

So what's your take on the Bilstein sports?

Hi Steve,
They offered a more controlled ride and feel than the HDs. I like them. My car is quite low 13.5" hub center to fender upfront. I think the fact that they are shorter than the HDs means they operate closer to the center of their operating range during normal driving with a lowered car.
We should compare driving experience since we are nearby to one another?

Most of my suspension is new. Idler, front LCAs, bilsteins, strut mounts, and in the rear: only my thrust links are not new, including new subframe bushings.

Doug

 

[szvook]

We should compare driving experience since we are nearby to one another?

Not a bad idea, but my schedule for the next two months is quite busy including the weekends. Let's revisit the idea in a few months.