H&R's on a C43 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Tump · #1 06-22-2003, 12:03 PM

Hi All! Especially, Denlasoul (who has helped me a lot so far):

I just put H&R 1.3f/1.4r sport lowering springs on my C43. I'm running AMG A203 400 1302 17x8.5 ET 34 5-Spoke, 2-piece alloy rims shod with Dunlop Sport FM901 Tires, 235/45ZR17, with OE 2 bump spring pads at all four corners.

The improvement in handleing is dramatic. The car stays stuck no matter what, and now ESP/ASR rarely kicks in. Also, the H&R's, being progressive, have rendered the ride much more compliant/plush over sharp bumps, etc.

However, because the front wheels and tires are about 1 inch wider than OE, I experience rubbing over deep depressions in the road and large bumps at high speeds from the driver's side front wheel on the inside lip of the right front fender only. I found that the passenger side front fender lip came pre-rolled or bent-in from AMG and that the driver's side fender, which apparently had been replaced with a later date OE MB part, had a regular inside lip that was bent out at the standard 20-30 degree angle. I took the car to a body shop and they "rolled" and/or flattened that lip. The rubbing has almost completely disappeared, but still occurs over sharp depressions and wide bumps at very high speeds.

This seems to tell me that a totally stock C43 with OE front fenders can be dropped 2 inches and safely run 1 inch wider front rims with no rubbing, but that newer MB fenders are not pre-rolled as those originally affixed to AMG cars.

To completely solve the rubbing problem, I'm thinking of installing 5 bump, 21 mm pads up front (replacing the 9 mm 2 bump pads) and 4 bump, 17 mm pads on the rear springs. This should also allow me to bring the rear wheel camber closer to spec. Right now, the rear camber is very negative (looks like a BMW, handles great, but my mechanic says my rear tires will wear out way to fast). All other alignment spec's are perfectly stock.

I would greatly appreciate any advice and/or opinions on what the best solution to this problem is -- should I change the spring pads as described? have the left fender rolled more? buy narrower tires? worry about making the rear camber more positive over the current set-up? or do whatever your collective experience suggests?

Thanks