Shocks - Comfort/Standard vs. Heavy Duty - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Diseasel300 · #1 12-01-2016, 07:03 PM

I know there are differences between the Comfort and Heavy Duty shocks available for the W126, but I'm torn between which one I want in the 300SDL. I have no baseline for how the car is supposed to feel, the shocks in it now are basically doing nothing - the dog breathing is enough to set up the "ocean motion" at stop lights.

I want the car to be comfortable on the road, but I also want it to handle well without wallowing all over the place. The area I live in is very hilly and has a lot of twisting, winding roads (all of which the SDL will make you vomit if you try to go around).

If I lived in a city or in a normal area, I'd go Comfort/Standard without hesitation. I'm just concerned about the body roll and bottoming the car out on all the hills and dips around here, but at the same time, concerned that the HD shocks may make the ride too firm?

When I redid the shocks on the SL a few years ago, I used the HD shocks and it definitely firmed up the ride. On that car, I want it firm, not entirely sure how the HD will affect the W126 though.

Personal experience is greatly appreciated! I don't want a sports car, but I also don't want it wallowing around like a whale!

MongooseGA · #2 12-01-2016, 07:24 PM

Not my car, but my dad had the HD Bilsteins put in his 87 300SDL. Didn't feel overly firm at all, certainly not enough that I'd have ever commented about it.

Granted, the last time I drove that car I was also driving my air cooled 911 and a Lexus SC with coil overs, so maybe my perspective was skewed. Even so, he seemed happy with them and he's a stickler for that stuff. I'll be replacing the shocks in my W126 and 123 with HDs when the time comes.

dkveuro · #3 12-01-2016, 07:29 PM

Have used speed sensitive shocks on many. Jaguar, Mercedes, Crown Vic etc. Found these very adaptable to road surface.

https://www.summitracing.com/search/product-line/monroe-sensa-trac-monotube-shock-absorbers/make/mercedes-benz

https://www.google.com/webhp?tab=nw&ei=RKNAWOXCLeaLjwT2gYb4Aw&ved=0EKkuCAYoAg#q=monroe+sensa+trac&newwindow=1&tbm=shop

.

gmog220d · #4 12-01-2016, 08:08 PM

I had some HDs in the '73 W115 and loved them. Not harsh at all. Just a bit firmer than the standards.

86-300sdl · #5 12-01-2016, 09:53 PM

My '86-300sdl has four year old 80,000 mile on Bilstien HD on the front, and Comforts on the rear. Usually just me in the car. No trunk baggage.

HD on the front and comfort on the rear was supposed to be a good all around cruising match. I do travel through some nearby mountains often and find the "set up for the curve" roll/lean is back. Maybe not a full on "wallow". Pretty comfy on the freeway though.

So now I'm thinking HD's all the way around. Probably this Spring.
Although I'm really not interested in hearing/feeling every rough road surface just so I can zip around the corner faster.

I'm curious what you may choose. But from what you've explained about your driving I'd go for the HD all the way around.

The German gentlemen at the Germanwerks shop who serviced the SDL AC said my shock set up was too soft (shaking their heads at me). Kind of ostentatiously obnoxious I thought. But I suppose the straight truth can hurt.

So there you go. Buy the HD's and let me know if I should.

Thanks!

Diseasel300 · #6 12-02-2016, 12:33 AM

I was already leaning towards the HD shocks, I just wanted to hear what other people had to say. My Honda has a fairly firm ride, but the SDL is like riding in a cloud, the complete opposite. Of course the shocks are also completely gone...I swear you could drive over an elephant and not notice it.

Considering that the "comfort" shocks were deemed "too soft", that's pretty well the final nail in that coffin. With all the twisty-turny roads and hills around here, the last thing I need is a ton of body roll and suspension bounce.

Diseasel300 · #7 12-02-2016, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkveuro

Have used speed sensitive shocks on many. Jaguar, Mercedes, Crown Vic etc. Found these very adaptable to road surface.

https://www.summitracing.com/search/product-line/monroe-sensa-trac-monotube-shock-absorbers/make/mercedes-benz

https://www.google.com/webhp?tab=nw&ei=RKNAWOXCLeaLjwT2gYb4Aw&ved=0EKkuCAYoAg#q=monroe+sensa+trac&newwindow=1&tbm=shop

.

I've used Monroe shocks and struts several times in the past myself, however they don't seem to hold up very long. Not sure if it's the climate or the road surfaces I drive on, but after about 30K miles, it's noticeable to the point of being irritating. The last 2 vehicles I've owned I used Bilsteins on and got 60K+ out of them. The Monroes are cheaper than the Bilsteins, but I'd rather pay a little extra and do the job half as often (I hate suspension work)

Hit Man X · #8 12-02-2016, 01:10 AM

I prefer HDs on these cars.

Junkman · #9 12-02-2016, 12:14 PM

I put HDs on both the 84 & 85 SDs. I would never want something softer. I have the front comforts that the PO had recently installed available for not much money if anyone is interested. Unfortunately, the PO only repaired 1/2 of a system at once - ie new front shocks while the rears were left trashed, new brake master when all rotors, pads & calipers were horrible.

I'll go get the bilstein numbers if anyone is interested.

Diseasel300 · #10 12-02-2016, 12:31 PM

I got lucky with the brake system on my SDL. It seems it was serviced very shortly before it was parked. Big thick pads, smooth rotors, firm pedal (though I still need to purge the brake fluid), and not so much as a wiggle when braking. Got very lucky in that department!

Regarding Bilstein numbers, does anyone have any way to decipher the numbers that Pelican uses? They seem to reference part numbers, but they don't match anything that Bilstein publishes, nor do they bother to state whether or not they're HD or Standard for anything other than the rears (and they list TWO different shocks for the HD rear!) Googling the part numbers that Pelican references in the item descriptions just leads you right back to their website. Sneaky...

Junkman · #11 12-02-2016, 12:46 PM

Diesel, call Pelican. It will be easier than trying to decipher.

Diseasel300 · #12 12-03-2016, 02:29 PM

Settled on the Bilstein B4 HD's. Ordered yesterday and should be here sometime next week. I won't get a chance to install them until close to Christmas, or after depending on available free time, but will report back with initial impressions once they're installed. I was wavering towards the "Comfort" shocks, but warded off by the consensus that they're TOO soft, so hopefully made the right decision.

jake12tech · #13 12-03-2016, 05:24 PM

Heavy duty if you're carrying some heavy loads in the car. Little harsher ride from my experience, but will last longer. Comfort shocks are softer ride. More MB oriented.

sixto · #14 12-03-2016, 06:37 PM

When I put comforts on a tired 126 ('81 SD, 2x '83 SDs, '87 SDL, '91 SE) I wonder why anyone would pay what these cars cost new for such a stiff ride, but I guess it's the pre-Lexus Teutonic appeal. The 140 fixed that. I have 420SEL springs on the rear of the '83 SD to cure sagging and it feels like it doesn't need shocks. Rides nicely with a full load. Pity thicker front sway bars aren't easy to find and are such a pain to replace.

Has anyone retrofitted SLS to a 126?

Sixto
'83 300SD

Bimmer-Bob · #15 12-04-2016, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diseasel300

Settled on the Bilstein B4 HD's. Ordered yesterday and should be here sometime next week. I won't get a chance to install them until close to Christmas, or after depending on available free time, but will report back with initial impressions once they're installed. I was wavering towards the "Comfort" shocks, but warded off by the consensus that they're TOO soft, so hopefully made the right decision.

I thought the B4s were the OE/Comfort dampers? HD should be B6 and Sport B8 per Bilstein's newer nomenclature, or so I thought. Anyone else know different?