I am putting H&R springs with Bilstein shocks on my 87 16 valve. With respect to the pads at the top of the springs:
1) Does the 16 valve already come equipped with the thinnest pad in the front and rear?
2) Is the thinnest pad in the front 13mm and the rear 8mm?
Thanks...

It has to do with the amout of notches on the outside ring. One is thin and the more notches, the thicker it is.

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Benzmac:
Donnie Drummonds
1992 500E (very soon I hope :)
1981 280GE SWB
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
SERVICE MANAGER FOR 14 BAY FACILITY
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 8 YRS
PARTNER IN MERCEDESSHOP.COM

Somewhere in this forum I seem to recall the following: The spring pads come in 4 flavors; 1-bump to 4-bump with each having 8mm (5/16")thickness differential. Couldn't tell you if the 1-bump pad starts right at 8mm (5/16") or not. I DO know that my "stock-suspension" 1986 2.3-16V has 3-bump pads up front.

I also read (and does your literature say) that the H&R sport springs will provide 1.3" of drop to the vehicle.

Please let us know the outcome as I am planning on performing the EXACT mod you are going to perform. It would be great if you could record the "before" and "after" fender height readings, as well as, which pads you use and tire/wheel details.

Thanks!

Brian

Thanks for the responses...
I will post the exact change in height when the modifications are complete...

Hi!

I'm also doing the same mod on my 87 16V. I'm putting H&R lowering springs on, with Koni shocks all the way around. I'll also report how much it dropped mine. I just checked and right now mine has 2-bump pads on the front and the back.

The Konis just came, and the springs are on the way. Can't wait to get rid of my worn out self-leveling system.

Cheers!

Daniel


Brian: Could you e-mail me some pics of your car? I'd love to see how the smoked lights look! Thanks!


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87 190E-16V Blk/Blk 5Spd.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dan16V:
Hi!

I'm also doing the same mod on my 87 16V. I'm putting H&R lowering springs on, with Koni shocks all the way around.


Brian: Could you e-mail me some pics of your car? I'd love to see how the smoked lights look! Thanks!


<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

You will have to excuse my opinion here but I have to express it.

The above two sentences reflect the same vision: expressed in these modifications..... "looks" not "performance"



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Steve Brotherton
Owner 24 bay BSC
Bosch Master, ASE master L1
26 years MB technician

True...most of the Mercedes owners lowering their vehicles are more interested in acquiring a "look" than performance. But these automobiles, for the most part, are put to use on the public roads, not a track...
Although I have owned a number of performance Mercedes including an E500, two 500E's, several SL500's, a 16 valve, and various other less sporty models, anyone interested PURELY in performance will choose the new M5, not an E55, an ///M3, not a C36, etc. My intention is NOT to put down Mercedes performance, but to exemplify Mercedes owners purchase for the ENTIRE "package" including safety, longevity, build quality, heritage, prestige (some more than others), and that "carved-from-granite" feel, not just performance. "LOOKS" also happen to be a very nice part of the Mercedes "package."
I'm sure this will provoke several heated responses, but if anyone traveling a long twisty road would prefer to drive the overweight SL500 rather than an ///M Roadster or better yet, the new Z8, I would be interested in the performance-related argument.

Dan16V:

Go to http://190revolution.homepage.com/readers/ and check out Carlos' ride. That's what my ride (Pearl Black) looks like with the smoked taillights. Haven't got the digital camera yet.

Brian

Hello all.

With regards to the spring pads for the 16V, here's how it works:

There are 3 sizes for the front: 2-4
and 4 sizes for the rear: 1-4

These sizes are determined by the number of bumps, nibs, or knurls (whatever you want to call them) on the rim of the pad.

What size is already on your car depends on the length of the springs that were installed. The bumper height has to be within a certain range from the ground, and although the difference in the spring pads won't cause you to exceed that range either way, there is an "optimal" height for which the suspension was designed. The prupose of the different height pads was to compensate for any variations in the factory spring height.

The translation is that the springs and the pads are similar to a matched set. And the only way to know which pads are on your car is to look.

Hope this helps!

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Cheers!

Yen-Hsen Liem
'93 500E black pearl/black leather; 89,000km
'93 500E bornit(blackberry)/black leather; 69,000km; european delivery
'88 560SL desert taupe/dark brown leather; 89,000km
'87 190E 2.3-16 black pearl/black leather; 55,000mi
'70 280SL white/red; 135,000mi (original)