Any body know of a direct replacement front spindle for the w126 body that has the axle located higher up on the body of the part ? Purpose - to lower the front of the car while retaining the full sprung travel of the wheel and thusly, the ride characteristics of the auto.

Regards

Run-em

no, I don't. I do know how to make nitroglycerin, but I don't think I should tell you. There are a myriad of alternatives to improve handling characteristics of your car that others here could advise you on, without altering the suspension geometry. Good luck and be safe.

__________________
'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.

Well, Pete, don't see how just lowering the front of the car will alter the geometry of the front suspension. All it does is move the wheel/brake assembly up higher in the wheel well. Does give you better aero, and IMHO a more modern appearance. Does not alter the tilt in/out of the wheel assembly. However, I am not suggesting a radical lowering...just an inch or so. Not trying to create a low rider here.

Regards,

Run-em

The nitroglycerin may be safer.

I'll probably get crucified but, you can probably cut the springs and achieve what you are looking for. When you cut the spring, the suspension will be a bit stiffer and the camber will be a bit more negative. But, I'd hazard a guess that you can get sufficient adjustment out of the LCA to bring the camber back into spec.

I'm going to do this to the SDL one of these days. I can't stand the look with three and one-half inches of space sitting above the front tires and below the wheel well arches.

Brian,
Installing a shorter/stiffer spring sounds more reasonable than trying to redesign the front suspension components. How are you going to determine is you have adequate camber and caster adjustment before you change the springs?

Also, I wouldn't be surprised is the gasser guys have done this already, they seem to like lowering cars.

Well, if you purchase shorter springs or you cut your own springs, you end up with the same result as far as caster/camber is concerned. This is presuming that your result in vehicle height is the same as the purchased item. The camber adjustment is still a necessity after the lowered springs are installed.

I'm making the assumption that a 1" drop in the height of the body will not result in too much change in camber whereby the adjustment is not available. AFAIK, the caster is not affected by the body height.

I was thinking that lowering just the front by 1-inch will affect the caster a little because it will change the angle at which the car sits by something like 1/4 or 1/2 degree. I agree that lowering both the front and back will not affect caster.

Brian, I have an amigo in Tijuana that can mod that SDL as low as you want to go. Plus, he uses all MB parts - 4 SLS pumps in tandem that will really make it chump, er, I mean jump.

__________________
'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.

Yes, I agree. If the angle of the spindle is relative to the pavement, a slight lowering of the vehicle will cause the caster to change very slightly. But, I'm not sure it would be meaningful.

Tell you what.........you let him mod "Blue" and we'll all take a look and see how he made out at the next GTG. Then, maybe, I'll consider it.

Chu don't need no steenkeeng GTG, mahn! Chico pimped my ride alreeedy! Da peektures are right here! He feexed da seets for my ahs!

Replaced MB Seats With Non-Benz SEATS?

__________________
'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.

Yea, you're probably right. Not enough of a change to make much difference.

.......ahh........yeah........that's really a "pimping" if I have ever seen one, LOL.