190D ride height changed after front struts replacement

[ah-kay]

Replaced the front struts and now the car seems to ride 2" higher. The gap between the tire and fender seems to increase from 2" to 4". Why? I replaced them with Gabriels struts. I know it is not Bilsteins but it should not affect the height by that much. Did I do something wrong?

The OEM struts had a bump stop material but it does not it come with the new strut. Do I need to remove it for the new strut? Otherwise the car drives well.

Thanks for your help.

[DieselPaul]

Your old struts were totally toast. My 300D rode so low on the blown out gabriels that if you turned while braking the wheels would rub the fender. Bilstein HDs and I too am riding 2" higher.

[boneheaddoctor]

Originally Posted by ah-kay

Replaced the front struts and now the car seems to ride 2" higher. The gap between the tire and fender seems to increase from 2" to 4". Why? I replaced them with Gabriels struts. I know it is not Bilsteins but it should not affect the height by that much. Did I do something wrong?

The OEM struts had a bump stop material but it does not it come with the new strut. Do I need to remove it for the new strut? Otherwise the car drives well.

Thanks for your help.

Bump stops do not affect ride height....what those are is a soft way to limit the maximum compression or limit travel at the point of maximum compression.

Before parts physically bottom out and damage can occur as a result.

[Air&Road]

Did you take off Sport struts by chance?

[ah-kay]

I disposed the old struts already but it is a 190D. I doubt they were Sport struts. I have read in some forums that new struts may increase the ride height due to new gas pressurized struts but I do not know by how much.

[jt20]

Hopefully you replaced the upper strut mounts.

That will have an effect.

[Orv]

My experience on other cars is that new struts are usually extra stiff and settle down a bit after a couple weeks of driving.