rear noise on 500E - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

placo1 · #16 03-28-2003, 01:10 AM

Guido,

You need to take me for a spin in your car when the new suspension is installed. I've had Koni's in the past on a 190 and they can be very stiff in the highest setting.

Also, any idea of approximate hours required to change on all the front/rear suspension bushings. I want to do this hopefully in the next year and wanted to get an idea on cost.

Thanks.

Jim's500E · #17 03-28-2003, 08:59 AM

Well Michael..I hear ya' but have to disagree...when yous hit a granite curb and blows one or spin off the track at close to 100 and fold over your sidewalls...that doesn't mean they tend to wear out prematurely. Jagano?

Since Stu as infinitely more expertise than most of us...I lean towards his opinion and based on just your high mileage TE and my 500E....the hydro-struts ARE a durable item...even w/o the reg. maint; as evident on my car before I took ownership.

As for tracking any MB...any normal OE parts durability goes out the window. Just try and get a part warrantied after you tell them it failed on a track.

If anyone is serious about tracking ANY normal street car then a full blown suspension upgrade is a must...and I'll argue that with anyone all day long. And when I say normal...I don't mean Porsches, Ferraris, Vettes, etc.

Michael · #18 03-28-2003, 09:17 AM

James,

I don't deny the curb incident, but neither did I count the shock that was replaced as a result. And as to my "agricultural work" at LRP, I came grinding to a halt on the side opposite my current blown strut. One strut failed on mt at around 60k miles, and the car had never seen a road course or autocross. Not so the current blown strut, which I'll admit has quite a few track events on it. What's unbelievable to me, though, is the fact that I ran at LRP all day yesterday, and the car ran like a champ! Well, for a road car....

Jim's500E · #19 03-28-2003, 09:44 AM

Indeed...but I really don't think it matters what side your car stopped spinning on...as soon as you are sideways...it has to stress the whole suspension... which is designed to go STRAIGHT. LRP needed new sod in that area anyway. Right?

Hey, accidents happen...I hit a curb too at my first track event at NHIS with the 16V and broke a stock spring and shock...whalla ! reason for upgraded 600lb. race springs and adjustable shocks.

You, of all people, need a suspension that'll handle what you give it on a track. I'm actually quite amazed that your car is faring pretty well with the way you drive...and that's not a dig !!

Michael · #20 03-28-2003, 10:01 AM

Jim,

What I don't quite get (perhaps given my thick skull) is that no side-to-side motion would really stress a shock, would it? I mean, they have rubber bushings top & bottom that I'd think would absorb any deflection. Also, FWIW I had my car aligned shortly before that track event, and after trashing LRP's sod I decided to get my alignment re-checked. Amazingly, it was spot-on to the earlier specs, so nothing appears to have been bent or damaged. Unbelievable considering that little shunt.

Oh, and the reason my 500 does well on the track is because I'm SLOW!