I need some assistance with the ride height of the SDL. I changed shocks this weekend and installed the Bilstein comforts. I am quite pleased with the improvement in ride quality. The shocks that were removed, although supposedly gas charged shocks, could be easily moved by hand. Clearly, they were doing nothing to slow the movement of the front end.

The problem that has now surfaced is the ride height in the front.

The fender is 28" off the pavement! The tire is 24" (205-65-15) and there is 4" of space above it. You could host a party in there.

Prior to the new shocks, the fender was at 27". Still seems a bit high, but not unreasonable. At 28", the vehicle looks ridiculous. The additional inch of height was caused by the resistance in the new gas filled shocks that actually work.

I am at a loss to explain why the ride height would be this tall. I would seriously doubt if the front springs are anything but original. The rubber seat at the top of the spring does not appear to be more than 5/8" or so.

I have installed the shocks with a steel washer and rubber bushing underneath the fender and with another steel washer and rubber bushing on top of the fender, in the engine compartment.

It would appear that the vehicle would need to be lowered by 2" to look "proper".

Any and all comments are requested. If anyone else (SDL only) can measure their fender height, this would also serve to provide some data for comparison.

Sounds like you were just used to the lowered ride height of your car from bad shocks. I can speak for my Crown Vic.. the old OEM shocks were worn out and the car sagged something terrible. I put in new Edelbrock IAS shocks and it looks like there is a jack under it holding it up.. the height increased a few inches.

Since you can compress (with difficulty) the Bilsteins by hand I fail to see how the gas pressure is providing you with a full inch more of ride height. Not that I am doubting you, just thinking maybe something else is happening? Incidentally, installing Bilstein HD's in my 300D didn't change the ride height at all.... RT

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RWT:

If the old shocks were basically doing nothing, and the new ones have a couple of hundred pounds of resistance to them, then this is going to increase the height, by effectively taking a couple of hundred pounds off the springs, correct? If not, then what else could cause this? The only change was the shocks (other than calipers and rotors, which clearly have no effect).

I checked 3 W126's and the dimensions from the pavement to the fender is in the range from 26-3/4" to 27-3/4". My front shocks are old, I think if I installed new shocks I probably will gain 1" in height.

Roman
87 300SDL 155K
86 300SDL 212K
86 420SEL 225K

Thanks Roman. Does the vehicle with the 27 3/4 height look a bit funny to you, or is it just me?

Brian, it looks fine. I did not paid any attention to it, but when I changed my back shocks I liked gained hieght.

Roman