What exactly is the purpose of the spring pad. Is it just to stop the spring from making noise. I'm lowering my car this weekend with Calsson springs and was thinking about not putting any spring pads. I want to know if it's gonna make a lot of noise and other effects it may have.
:ool thanks :ool

It will be noisy once a little moisture gets in there. Also, it will increase the wear of the spring seats and the ends of the spring. Pads will not significantly increase your car's height. If you want it a little lower, put some extra weight in the car. They were designed to serve a purpose. They will not do this if they sit in a box in the garage. Ask yourself this question. Does Carlsson recommending installing their springs w/o pads???

I agree. The spring pads shoud not be removed. There is a purpose to them. If you want the "lowered-look." Use a smaller thickness spring pad from a different model MB. Don't know the smallest thickness for your car but, for a w-126. I think it is 8mm front and 9.5mm for back. Both are from different model MBs. I know this problem is prevalent on BMWs. Consider yourself lucky that you can exchange to different spring pad thickness. Going without a spring pad at all isn't suggested. You just might not be able to see the pad but, if you really want to know then, get your mechanic to check it out for you. As far as I know, I never heard of no spring pad

Yes you have to use the spring pad. Without it, it would be metal against metal and the spring will not only make noise, it will move around and not sit properly.

Just besides all possible metal-to metal noise and excessive wear and what more...
The chassis of the car has a sort of cup to hold the spring in a spring pad. If you leave out the spring pad, the spring will be able to shove in the chassis' cup. The spring pad is L-shaped and the thickness that is mentioned for the different spring pads is the part of the L that is situated between the spring and the bottom (actually top) of the cup. The standing part of the L has the same thickness for all different pads and is situated between the first inch of the vertical spring and the vertical part of the cup.
If you leave that part of the rubber out, the spring will be able to move in its cup (holder)...you can imagine what that will do to the handling of the car, wear of the springs and noise of the metal.

greetingz from a 8mm padded Benz driver,

thanks
 

thanks for the advice everyone. I ended up getting the 5mm spring pads and my car is slammed.