Hello all,

Basically, I put brand new shocks Bilstein Comforts when I purchased my car about 20K miles ago. I just recently lowered my car (thema springs, maybe yall have never heard, but they were from Germany and cheaper so I purchased these). I also have installed 17x8s on 245/45ZW17s (like my car could do 168, LOL).

Now I definitely have a SMOOTH riding car, and this is a major plus to me. But I have a GIANT problem. I am literally missing patches of rubber from the front tires from rubbing when going over bumps and this NEEDS to be addressed. It seems to me, unfortunately or not, that I will need to put firmer shocks.

I see there are Bilsten HD and Konis but not so sure which will be best. I really am not interested in a rice rocket ride (I've ridden in those that over any bump I hit my head on the roof -- not cool!) but I really need to get this tire rubbing in check before it causes a blowout -- not to mention damaging my tires each time they rub!

Mainly the rubbing occurs over big bumps or undulations, but it gets really bad when I push my car harder. For instance in turns, rather than going faster as theoretically I could with a lowered car, I need to slow WAY down or there is a horrifying SCRAPE and there goes some more tire. Also on the freeway, I can go 60 MPH almost no problems (maybe 1 rub per short trip) but if I increase to 80+ where I usually like to drive, the rubbing is MUCH worse!!! I can't imagine if a pack a few passengers inside...

My car is REALLY not that lowered, it's just it used to be so RAISED, so compared to how it was it is much improved, but it is not SLAMMED. There is a good finger, possibly 2 finger, gap in the front.

Could you please give me some recommendations re: shocks? I know many listers have big-rimmed and lowered cars, so I am hoping there is a decent audience for this question.

Also are the Koni adjustables really adjustable with a knob or the like while on the vehicle? I see this on their site but I thought I read somewhere that perhaps this was NOT the case.


Thank you all.


Larry Ferguson
86 MBZ 300SDL 163K mi

I have 235/45 in the front and 265/40 in the rear with H&R springs and Bilstein comfort shocks, and I haven't had any problems at all. Maybe the offset of your wheels is incorrect? Which wheel(s) is/are rubbing - is it front/back, left/right etc?

Matt.

Well the rims are 17x8 with offset 20, the lowest I could find (in fact most were 35+ for E-class). Mostly front right (missing patches of rubber) although front left also sometimes comes in contact. Rears are cambered in so far that they pose no problem but the alignment place said supposedly there is NO way to set camber on rear except ride height, so looks like they stay at 2.8 degrees or whatever they're at.

I LOVE the ride, it's so smooth now, but I cannot sacrifice safety with the danger of a blowout if it rubs beyond a certain point.

Thanks for your response.

Larry Ferguson
86 300SDL 163K

I too have a couple of degrees of camber in the rear. Renntech and KMac both make camber kits for these cars, not sure how much they are though. The only thing I could suggest would be verify the offset, I have similar size wheels and tires and lowered suspension and haven't had any problems - either your springs are way too soft or your offset is wrong causing the wheels to rub. Good luck.

Matt.

On the site for KMac (I believe Australia unless I'm mistaking) I think it was something like $385 US or similar. Quite a bit of change -- there were kits for many kinds of cars, many makes, and of course the MBZ was by far the most expensive one. Oh well. I think I will have to put something stiffer and hope that they will no longer rub. Thanks.

Larry Ferguson
86 300SDL 163K

I would go to a performance shop with a workshop, most good places like that should have the ability to make new offset bushes that should resolve the camber problem. Is it actually damaging the tires or not?

Matt.

My C280 has 18" with 225/40, slammed with no gap at all and no scrubbing.
I have a shop cut the stock spring and I am still using the stock shocks, the ride is not bad at all, I am very amazed.
It's probably the offset of the wheels are not right.

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Slammed '94 C280 with 18' AMG SLK rims