w203 suspension?

[Guest mekenics]

Hi all,

went to meet chriz to pick up the carlsson springs today lunch.

since both us driving same car, we did a compare of the stock suspension

below is the findings:

chiriz car: 6mth w203 c180 sports edition with 18's 225/40 all round

front gap- 3.5 (finger space btwn tire & wheel arc)

rear gap - 4

me car: 27mth w203 c200 elegance also 18's 225/40 fronts 235/40 rears

front gap- 3

rear gap - 2.5

b/4 this: measured a pre FL c200 advangarde on stock 16's 205/55 all round

front gap- 2.5

rear gap - 2.25

all measurements are approx values using my fingers as a rough guide...

my questions are:

1>how come chriz's setup is back higher than front? usually its front higher than back ya?

2>what exactly is my setup? elegance / advangarde? could the springs have "set- down" a little bit more compared to a newer car? age plays a part...

anyone with the part nos of the stock items would be a great help. x-ref with my shocks & springs when i change will reveal the mystery. My only knowledge is that advangarde come with a setup 10-15mm lower that elegance.

Thanks for reading!

[Guest jenvid]

For info.

My C200 preFL Avantgarde @4yrs old, front 2, rear 0 on 16/225/50 tyres

Avantgarde springs lower the car by 15mm.

I assume your arc is the car body.

remember when new was smthg like 2/2

[Guest kepiting1sg]

Hi all,

went to meet chriz to pick up the carlsson springs today lunch.

since both us driving same car, we did a compare of the stock suspension

below is the findings:

chiriz car: 6mth w203 c180 sports edition with 18's 225/40 all round

front gap- 3.5 (finger space btwn tire & wheel arc)

rear gap - 4

me car: 27mth w203 c200 elegance also 18's 225/40 fronts 235/40 rears

front gap- 3

rear gap - 2.5

b/4 this: measured a pre FL c200 advangarde on stock 16's 205/55 all round

front gap- 2.5

rear gap - 2.25

all measurements are approx values using my fingers as a rough guide...

my questions are:

1>how come chriz's setup is back higher than front? usually its front higher than back ya?

2>what exactly is my setup? elegance / advangarde? could the springs have "set- down" a little bit more compared to a newer car? age plays a part...

anyone with the part nos of the stock items would be a great help. x-ref with my shocks & springs when i change will reveal the mystery. My only knowledge is that advangarde come with a setup 10-15mm lower that elegance.

Thanks for reading!

Nabeh!

How much ICE you have in your boot?

Go and add up the weights of your subwoofers, amplifiers, fabrications, etc.,

My W203 backside also cums down because of the ICE.

Not only the ICE bring down your car chng but also increase the fuel consumption too.

This one thing you probably didn't realised when you took my ICE posion.......wakakakakak! ;D ;D ;D

[Guest mekenics]

"How much ICE you have in your boot?

Go and add up the weights of your subwoofers, amplifiers, fabrications, etc.,

My W203 backside also cums down because of the ICE.

Not only the ICE bring down your car chng but also increase the fuel consumption too."

:laugh:

unker u go measure yours & post the results pls!

I agree me boot is iced up but i kept the weight down as my rear carpet covering the spare tyre is still stock, only major wood(s) are sub box & rear deck piece.

given its 30kg or there abouts with the amps & subs included, I dun think tis is the only factor causing the 1.5 finger gap diff btwn the 2 rides.

all other forum readers pls do a measurement & post also

1.age of ride/suspension if changed

2.tyre & rim size

3.whats in your boot

[Guest kepiting1sg]

"How much ICE you have in your boot?

Go and add up the weights of your subwoofers, amplifiers, fabrications, etc.,

My W203 backside also cums down because of the ICE.

Not only the ICE bring down your car chng but also increase the fuel consumption too."

:laugh:

unker u go measure yours & post the results pls!

I agree me boot is iced up but i kept the weight down as my rear carpet covering the spare tyre is still stock, only major wood(s) are sub box & rear deck piece.

given its 30kg or there abouts with the amps & subs included, I dun think tis is the only factor causing the 1.5 finger gap diff btwn the 2 rides.

all other forum readers pls do a measurement & post also

1.age of ride/suspension if changed

2.tyre & rim size

3.whats in your boot

35K km on the odometer & stock suspension.

Tyre & rim size should make no diff. cos overall diameter still near to stock.

I think just your subs and sub boxes will be near to 20 kg. 3/4" MDF Board??

My ride car chng at the most 1 finger gap.

2 very heavy subs & big sub boxes, 3 amplifiers, 1 very heavy processor/cd transport, I heavy 50 farad Capacitor Band & nick nacks. My estimate load behind will be around my weight of 80kg. Not to mention my fuel tank is always near full. ;D

[Guest mekenics]

ah... @235/40/18 rears my overall height of the wheel assy is 8mm higher

(0.5 finger) diff.

TIPS for those who wanna lower their ride w/o changing spring!

so a mini conclusion for now:

up to 30kg load lowers rear by 1 finger

up to 80kg load lowers rear by 2 fingers

[Guest kepiting1sg]

ah... @235/40/18 rears my overall height of the wheel assy is 8mm higher

(0.5 finger) diff.

TIPS for those who wanna lower their ride w/o changing spring!

so a mini conclusion for now:

up to 30kg load lowers rear by 1 finger

up to 80kg load lowers rear by 2 fingers

Whahahahahha! That's a good one!

Dun forget to add a disclaimer for fuel consumption increase ;D

[Guest mekenics]

latest update:

purchased 2 front advangarde absorbers & rear spring pads (4dots/thickest)

gotta get to install them together with the lowered springs that i bought 1mth back. will post the pics & feedback of the ride when avail.

was told by w/shop suspension guru to also sort out the tires 1st before doing alignment after changing the suspension.So I changed my front tires; using F@lken FK452's now. FYI to those looking to upgrade to 18's:

Check the sidewall stiffness (press with thumb) of the tires before deciding.

I was comparing btwn the 452's & yoko A drive R1; found the former to be stiffer hence less side-wall flex when cornering compared to my original revspec2's.

Initial feel is a sharper more precise feel when steering.

will finish a proper scrub-in period (about 500km) before putting it to harsher driving conditions

my old respev2's lasted only 20-23k for 9mth+ with significant wear (almost botak)on the shoulder tip (cause my tire press only 200-210kpa a bit low la) was advised to keep at least 230 press.

[Guest CBlack]

hi Ph@tboy, i'm running falken 452 too with tyres pressure 230 all round.

[Guest kepiting1sg]

hi Ph@tboy, i'm running falken 452 too with tyres pressure 230 all round.

Hey guys!

Sorry arh!!!

Unker still lives in the stone age!

What is 230 or 210 kpa in lb/in2 hor?

[Guest mekenics]

dear stone-age unker,

230kpa = 33.5 psi (pounds per sq inch)approx!

only tire i know >200psi is aeroplane 1

[Guest kepiting1sg]

dear stone-age unker,

230kpa = 33.5 psi (pounds per sq inch)approx!

only tire i know >200psi is aeroplane 1

Good! Good!

Looks like stone age unker not out of fashion.

I used 32 psi i.e 220 kpa all round for my 17", so gam gam in bet. 210 & 230 kpa......wahahaha! ;D ;D ;D

[Guest mekenics]

finally, the suspension zhng-ing is so called complete! with the lower springs, rear 4-dots spring pads and a front shocks change, it now measures 2 finger fronts & 2-2.25 finger rear.

with the alignment done the total damage is slightly below $1.2k.

the springs & the advan shockers work pretty well together. Most bumps & potholes are still absorbed with minimum fuss. an acid test will again hv to be carried out when travellin up north soon. i will put the comfort drop by approx 20%

cornering, handling & braking has improved (more than 20% ;D). now the butt roll on the seats are more evident! will continue to update when pics arrive!

Cheers...

[Guest kepiting1sg]

>>>>>with the alignment done the total damage is slightly below $1.2k.<<<<<

I always has this phobia of lowering suspension and suffering premature wear

of tires due to wheel alignment.

Please keep us update on your tire wear too! Thank you! Thank you! ;D

[Guest mekenics]

tire wear should remain the same.... w203's stock suspension settings do not hv a adjustable camber/toe/caster! even the the 124's are claimed to hv a more adjustable settings when compared. more importantly is its done properly.

cant remember the exact figures but my camber is less than -1 degree all round. caster is as per factory settings & total toe is ZERO! :laugh:

[Guest kepiting1sg]

Aiyah! Air force Mekanics.......wahahahaha! ;D

What camber, castor, toe in toe out, I dunno such technical term leh....wahahhaa! ;D

There're thoughts of selling my ride but when bringing the posion to my mouth to hari kiri, find it hard to sip it leh!!!! Many FIENDS say JUMP! JUMP Unker! JUMP....hehehehe!......Maybe wait kenna 4D or get to know some rich Ibu Ibu in Indon......wakakakka! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[Guest mekenics]

rear: 3 fingers approx

[Guest mekenics]

front: 2fingers

[Guest kepiting1sg]

So no finger will be able to go in like a maiden.....wakakakaka! ;D ;D ;D

[Guest mekenics]

update aft malacca trip + 2weeks of driving (aprox 2-3k km)

no tell tale signs of uneven tire wear yet.

my car's front camber setting is about -1 degree.

keep to this value & ur tires will not be wearing on jus the insides.

the adjustable caster bolts is a must for lowered rides. (applies to w210,211& 203) otherwise ur steering wheel might not be straight or ur car will have a slight pull to left symptom. (affect 80-90% of RHD mercs)