Shocks - Comfort/Standard vs. Heavy Duty - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Diseasel300 · #16 12-04-2016, 10:19 AM

Per Bilstein's catalog, the B4 is offered in both "Standard/Comfort" and "Heavy Duty" varieties. They also offer the B8 as a performance upgrade for this car. I chose to stay with the B4 line as I don't need "sporty" handling on an executive car.

Information from Bilstein:

Standard/Comfort Series:

Part Number: 24-011839
Series: B4 OE Replacement
Position: Front
Descriptor: Standard Suspension
Old Part Number: F4-B36-1183-H0

Part Number: 24-011846
Series: B4 OE Replacement
Position: Rear
Descriptor: Standard Suspension
Old Part Number: F4-B46-1184-H0

Heavy-Duty:

Part Number: 24-005012
Series: B4 OE Replacement
Position: Front
Descriptor: Heavy Duty Suspension
Old Part Number: F4-B36-0501-H0

Part Number: 24-005111
Series: B4 OE Replacement
Position: Rear
Descriptor: Heavy Duty Suspension
Old Part Number: F4-B46-0511-H0

Just some catalog info if anyone else needs it in the future.

The B8's they show as an upgrade:

Part Number: 24-015356
Series: B8 Performance Plus
Position: Front
Old Part Number: F4-B36-1535-H0

Part Number: 24-015363
Series: B8 Performance Plus
Position: Rear
Descriptor: For Vehicles Without Ride Height Control
Old Part Number: F4-B46-1536-H0

Bimmer-Bob · #17 12-04-2016, 09:58 PM

For some reason I missed that we were talking about a W126 - for some reason I was assuming W124. It's strange that they use the B4 nomenclature for both standard and heavy duty suspension, however. Typically, on other models I'm familiar with (including the W124 & several BMW models), the breakdown is thus:

B4 indicates the OE Replacement line (what I think used to be called Comfort) and is meant as a direct replacement at factory specs.

B6, what used to be called HD (now called "Performance") and offering firmer valving, but still meant for use with factory springs.

B8 was called Sport (now called "Performance Plus," apparently). These offer firmer valving as above but a shorter stroke, meant for use with lowering springs

Diseasel300 · #18 12-05-2016, 12:04 AM

I don't claim to know anything about suspension components. I can fix the engine, drivetrain, electronics, and body pieces, but when it comes to suspension I draw the line at replacing OE parts. The only thing I knew about the shocks for these cars was the option for Standard of HD, Bilstein's website supplied the part numbers I needed. We'll see how they ride once I get a chance to install them. Anything has to be better than rolling the high seas like it is now! I've been on boats that roll less!

Bimmer-Bob · #19 12-05-2016, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diseasel300

I don't claim to know anything about suspension components. I can fix the engine, drivetrain, electronics, and body pieces, but when it comes to suspension I draw the line at replacing OE parts. The only thing I knew about the shocks for these cars was the option for Standard of HD, Bilstein's website supplied the part numbers I needed. We'll see how they ride once I get a chance to install them. Anything has to be better than rolling the high seas like it is now! I've been on boats that roll less!

Was there a factory option for a "heavy duty suspension?" In that case, it makes sense for there to be two B4 "OE" options, since there is more than one factory spec.

Stretch · #20 12-05-2016, 11:05 AM

I was under the impression that the B4 was a general type based on the way in which it is made. Kind of lower technology version of the more advanced versions.

######

As for HD or no HD I think the results you can get are not completely due to the shocks.

I put HDs on my W123 after rebuilding the front and rear suspension and with new rubber it felt really jiggly to me.

Most of the "Good Ship Venus" wallowing you get from an old Mercedes seems to me to be due to worn out rubber suspension components. So when I redid the suspension on the W201 I purposefully chose the Sachs comforts shocks and got the refined (old man!) experience I wanted to get.

So I conclude:

1) If you have worn rubber parts and don't fancy a rebuild, the HD shocks might tighten things up for you a bit.

2) If you want a really sporty feel and don't want to fit bits of wood instead of road springs - replace the suspension rubbers and then fit HDs (and wear a neck brace or be younger than me!)

Diseasel300 · #21 12-31-2016, 09:31 PM

As promised, I'm following up. The Bilstein B4 HD's went on the SDL today and I'm not sure what makes people think they're too firm! The car already rode like a pail of pudding, but after fitting the new Bilsteins, the ride improved even further (I expected it to firm up, not smooth out). It's like riding in an airplane.

The ride height rose about 2", the wallowing is gone, the leans in the turns are greatly minimized, the nose-dive under braking is gone, the belly-dragging on dips and valleys has stopped, and the jiggle from the engine at idle has ceased.

The whole job took about 3 hours to do. Some unexpectedly stuck nuts on the rear shocks ate up close to 2 hours to remove, so I'd imagine the whole job would take under 2 hours start to finish without that kind of setback.

The rubber bumpers on the front shocks were truly sad. Passenger side was 100% missing, Driver's side was about 70% missing and the part remaining crumbled off when touched. New bumpers don't come with the new shocks, so I had ordered them separately. Glad I did!

In the end, the job was worth doing, money well spent. The ride is greatly improved, the car is much more enjoyable to drive, and I don't find anything about it "jiggly". There's some suspension rubber that's tired, but that's a job for another day.

Compared to doing the shocks in the R107 500SL, this job was a cakewalk.