Quote:
Originally Posted by ttownthomas
Well,
I installed HD shocks on my 1990 300SEL. I was hoping to firm up the suspension and reduce roll a little. Roll was barely affected in my estimation and there was an uncomfortable increase in felt harshness especially over expansion joints. That is in NC. I cant imagine what it would be like back in Detroit. Plus I think it raised the front end about 1/2 inch
I'm going to put some new comforts on it.
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Dampers (shock absorbers) are purely transient devices. The have no impact on roll other than damping the rate of roll in transient maneuvers. Steady state roll is purely a function of springs/roll center heights and anti-roll bars.
For road driving it's tough to beat the OE tune. My 190E 2.6 feels almost like an S-class cruising down the freeway and is a pretty good back road athlete.
I did find its limits when I ran it at the big Willow Springs 2.5 mile track about 20 years ago. Everything... springs, bars, and shocks were too soft, and it wallowed around in the 80 and 100 MPH sleepers and was tough to hold a steady line, but since I had two other competent track cars, I left it alone other than 6.5" wide 300E wheels with 205/60VR-16 Michelin XGTV tires.
For road driving it's tough to beat the OE shocks.
Duke