I just checked my spring pads for 98 E430. The front has 5 bumps and the rear has 4 bumps. Any idea what size they are? Is the purpose of the different sizes merely to adjust suspension height? What other sizes are available?

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• 1998 MERCEDES-BENZ E430
  
• OBSIDIAN BLACK/BLACK
  
• XENON H.I.D.
  
• DEBADGED E430
  
• AMG CHROMED TIP DUAL EXHAUST
  
• CARLSSON 1/6 CHROME (PLUS 1) WHEELS
  

Kevin-
I don't have a table of 210 spring pads in front of me but, I do have one for the 124.
1 bump = 8mm
2 = 13mm
3 = 18mm
4 = 23mm

There is no 5 bump for the 124.
The purpose of the pads is to adjust ride height. Not all springs are exactly the same so the pad thickness provides the adjustment. The pad also provides some mechanical dampening to reduce noise.
Mercedes also uses different springs. Those marked with red are short springs and those marked with blue are long. The appropriate pad is matched with the spring to yield a ride height that meets spec.
If you wanted to lower your 430 you could simply go with a thinner spring pad. Possibly 1 bump in the rear and 2 bumps in the front. The pads are pretty cheap...the labor would be the most expensive part of the operation.


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Bill Wood - Webmaster
MercedesShop.com, LLC




[This message has been edited by Webmaster (edited 11-14-1999).]

Let me get this correct! In order to lower a MBZ all you need to do is change the spring pads and not the spring? The need for new aftermarket "lowering springs" is moot unless some radical slamming or stiffer ride is desired! So companies like Eibach which make sport springs actually do not lower MBZ because they use the word "PAD" in the column for "average drop front & rear" for their MBZ products. Although their sport springs are probably needed for the sportier/stiffer ride.

It is my understanding from the blurb below that the customer must adjust the height by using his own MBZ OEM pads he gets from the dealer. I found this Eibach information for MBZ at Discount Tire Direct:

(Pad) Mercedes vehicles lowering amount may vary .5""-2"" depending on options and equipment. These heights may be adjusted through Mercedes pad system. Please consult your authorized Mercedes dealer if additional ride height adjustment is needed.

Hi Kevin!
Eibach's info is a little misleading. Their springs are significantly shorter than stock and if the stock pads are retained (i.e., the pads with which the car was originally equipped, since all pads are OEM) the car will be lowered (~1.5"-2" W124). Some may choose to replace the pads with shorter ones at the time of spring installation, lowering the car that much more, but only to a maximum of 15mm (23-8=15), assuming the car is equipped with the thickest spring pads. It seems that yours is, so the question is if the labour $$ for switching pads - which is the same as that for switching springs - is worth it, given that there will be no discernible performance increase, and only a 15mm drop. Incidentally, I had the thickest pads on my 124, switched to the 1 bump pads when installing Eibachs, and had to replace the pads afterward since the car was lowered beyond the alignment adjustment allowance (my mechanic gave me a pity-discount on the second installation). The ride has suffered somewhat, but isn't too bad - combined with Bilstein HD shocks it is a fine compromise for the great handling. Check out the Sportline kit offered by PartsShop for what I expect is a more comfortable package.
Regards,
Nick

[This message has been edited by Nick Jamal (edited 11-15-1999).]

Is there a way I can find out which pads are on my w124 at this time? Does it come from the factory with the thickest pad?

Thanks...


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Jay Huang
1987 300E

You can tell which pad you have by counting the number of "bumps" on the pad. 1=thinnest and 4=thickest.

It comes from the factory with whichever pad produces the proper ride height. Mercedes has a specific ride height spec for the US market, for example. Since springs are not exactly the same, the pad is used as a "shim" if you will, to produce the proper ride height.

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Bill Wood - Webmaster
MercedesShop.com, LLC

I recently replaced my OEM springs. So far the height is still too high. There is about a 2 inch gap. I'm thinking about switching out the spring pads and I'm wondering which pad I should use to get a .5 inch gap.

I have a 1999 230 C class. Does anyone have any recommendations on what pads I should use to get about .5 inch gap between the tires and the fenders?

Also, does anyone know if the spring pads on the front and rear are dot 4 or do they differ from the front and rear on my car.

TIA. mike

In a few weeks I'll be replacing my OE shock&spring with Bilstein and H&R on my 98 E430. Do I need to retain the pads? There isn't any clear instructions....

I just called a local M-B dealer, and they said that the 98 E430 don't have a different thickness spring pad for the front 2 struts.

Also I found out that the rear thinness spring pad is 5mm, and the part number is 210-325-0184.

[This message has been edited by Turbo][ (edited 08-18-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Turbo][ (edited 08-18-2000).]

Here the spring pad part numbers:

FRONT SPRING PADS
210 321 01 84 5mm
210 321 02 84 9 mm
210 321 03 84 13 mm
210 321 04 84 17 mm
210 321 05 84 21 mm

REAR SPRING PADS
210 325 01 84 5 mm
210 325 02 84 9 mm
210 325 03 84 13 mm
210 325 04 84 17 mm

I just replaced the rear spring pads in my car from Bump 3 to Bump 2 and feel and see a big difference. Car feels a lot flatter. It also looks a lot lower in back. It was a little too sprung up before.

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1988 Mercedes-Benz 260E (W124)
Debadged
Euro Headlights
1994/1995 Turn Signals and Taillights
16" x 7J 8-hole (Authentic MB)
Michelin Pilot HX MXM 205/55WR16

Ok, I have to get on the bandwagon too. I have a 126 and NEED new springs. I want to lower the car and add a more solid feel to it.

Does the 126 use the pads?
Whose springs?
Whose shocks?

Anyone done this to their 126?

I just finished doing a complete front end rebuild, and went with the following:

MB Sport-Line Shocks
MB Sport-Line control-arm bushings
MB Sport-Line SwayBars
H&R Springs (front & rear) spec'd for a wagon
Stock spring pads were:
1-bump (8mm) front; 2-bump (13mm) rear

Since I didn't want to adversely affect alignment range esp. camber we did the following:
2-bumb (13mm) front; 3-bumb (18mm) rear
All sits level front & rear.

Re-adjusted self-levelling so it is in NEUTRAL position, then had the wagon aligned to MB Sport-Line specifications.

Handling is significantly better than stock.
I was going to use Bilstein HD's, but it felt too stiff for city driving.

Hence, I used the MB Sport-Line shocks which are manufactured by Sachs.


Good luck,
:-) neil

My '91 300E sits too high: It has four-bump pads in the front and three in rear. It is stock except for front and rear Bilstein HDs.

I don't want to install different springs; I just want it to be lowered a bit.

It is a family car and often has four-five people in it and occasionally luggage as well. I do want it to be slightly higher in the rear to accommodate the occasional load described above.

What would you recommend?

Thank you in advance

__________________
'03 E320 Wagon-Sold
'95 E320 Wagon-Went to Ex
'93 190E 2.6-Wrecked
'91 300E-Went to Ex
'65 911 Coupe (#302580)

If I reduced the height by say one bump front and rear, what would the results be in terms of ride quality? More specifically, does the cars ride quality improve?

Right now it seems the front and rear do not take (absorb) the same bump evenly.

Thanks for your ideas here.

__________________
'03 E320 Wagon-Sold
'95 E320 Wagon-Went to Ex
'93 190E 2.6-Wrecked
'91 300E-Went to Ex
'65 911 Coupe (#302580)

Hi Everyone:

I recently installed 225/440/18 tires on all 4 tires on my 1992 MB 400E and replaced stock springs with H&R lowered springs (P/N: 29569-2) and the car looked great! However, the front tires are rubbing against the fender even with the slightest bump on the road. I currently have heavy-duty Bilstein shocks on both front and rear. Is there anybody who can offer solution to the rubbing problems I'm having? I have done some reading on the posted threads and one is changing the spring pad/bump? Can anyone recommend a shop who can provide solutions? I live in Santa Clara, CA. I would appreciate any response! Thank you.

artie400e