PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

t walgamuth · #30 03-24-2006, 05:20 AM

the bounce test doesn't work with bilstein shocks

long before they fail that or start leaking they will lose the abiliity to do their job correctly and you will have a bouncy ride.

when the ride gets bouncy it is time for new shocks.

also for the fellow who has aftermarket wheels... take one of your wheels and tire and weigh it. then take your spare with the original wheel and weigh that. if the one is say ten pounds heavier you will have noticably harsher ride. and the handling wont be as good on anything other than glassy smooth roads.

the principal is called unsprung weight. briefly, anything attached to the chassis is called sprung weght. anything that is attached to the suspension and will move in relation to the chassis is called un sprung weight. for good handling and ride you want less of the unsprung in relation to the sprung weight.

ie high performance cars will have aluminum in the wheels, perhaps brakes and perhaps suspension. think of porsche and ferrari and you will note aluminum brake calipers and suspension parts. excellent ride and excellent handling at the price of more expensive cost.

now think of a one ton pickup. very heavy axle heavy brake drums and very heavy dual steel wheels and big tires. very poor unsprung weight ratio...unless you put a big load in... then it will ride like a caddy. but it wasnt designed to ride well empty and price had to be kept low.

now take my old 53 caddy. the only aluminum in it was used for trim, but the chassis was so heavy that the steel wheels axles etc were light in comparison, so it rode very well, but of course with the massive weight overall cornering was not a plus.

well i guess that was not all that brief.

and bottom line is heavier wheels and tires increases unsprung weight and makes the ride harsher and the handling on rough surfaces worse.

tom w.