PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

ksing44 · #5 07-13-2003, 08:42 AM

I put this comment in another post, but it seems to fit here too. I wanted to add something related to my experiences with the Bilstein HDs. I am starting to think that the Bilstein HD shock may actually be the best shock to combine with the Eibach Pro kit springs. I always hear Sports if you drop and originally I was sorry that I listened to what I have been thinking was the wrong advice when I got the HDs. For one thing, the drop is actually less than an inch, after correcting for the asymmetrical drop in the rear with bigger spring pads in the back, so the whole thing about shorter stroke length is really not a big deal with the Eibachs. In addition, and I think more important to ride quality, is that the HDs actually help to support the car by pushing up to help the springs. I have seen this on friend’s cars that add the HD shocks to stock springs. Their cars actually increase in ride height. This added support for the springs, seems to contribute to the "progressive" part of the spring compression in a car with Eibach progressive springs. My car is really very comfortable during normal driving and yet when pushed hard into corners, the more extreme forces overcome the progressive component of the ride and my car handles like it is on rails. The HD shock has plenty of performance and durability to control the stiffer springs. I have also heard quite a few complaints about loss of ride quality from the Sports, so I am really starting to think that I will not be looking to get the Sports in the future.

I’m pretty sure Bilstein will say Sports for a dropped car, but many of us use "lowering" springs that really don’t lower the car very much. The car doesn’t end up "slammed", unless you start cutting coils or buy springs that were intended for using at the track. If you are slammed, then the Sports are definitely the right shock. With the minimal drop that many of us experience, I am quite confident that HDs are just fine and, as I said above, based on my experience the HDs may be the better choice.