Installed HD Shocks - Going back to comfort
 

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.

I have always thought that the MB engineers designed the original equipment to give the best performance, considering trade-offs like comfort vs feel of the road. So I would go back to whatever was spec'd for the vehicle.

Had a 300ZX turbo with the adjustable suspension. Sport setting just made it ride rougher, no difference in handling.

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

Are you giving those gently used shocks away? :D

Ill be selling them. Just short of a givaway

After buying and destroying multiple sets of Bilstein comfort, HD and monotube shocks on MBs, Volvos and BMWs I discovered KYB monotube shocks and I'm never going back. Bilstein built quality is lacking.

Im confused by this statement. Can you clarify?

Damn you speech to text. I fixed it, thanks.

I've yet to find any issues with Bilstein build quality or longevity. Also, Bilstein is an OEM to Mercedes for 1980's and 1990's vintage dampers. KYB is not.

If you read dozens of forum threads over many years, you'll find almost universal commendation of Bilstein (and Sachs/Boge, also OEM)... and with KYB, not so much.

Duke is correct btw, dampers will not reduce roll significantly unless the old ones are completely dead. Sway bars and springs will reduce roll. And yes, new dampers can sometimes increase ride height slightly due to increased gas pressure on the new dampers vs old.

:boat:

1999 E320 - I am used to a more taut ride with less roll and comfort in my
previous vehicles. The trick is to find the proper balance and combination of
parts. With the E320 I particularly did not like the body roll while driving on
Seattle freeway ramps and streets.

It took a year of parts swapping but I settled on lowering the body by 1" and
fitting it with shocks with beefier compression and rebound dampening rates,
ergo Bilstein HD/Sport.

Just perfect for me and I don't mind the occasional rumble when transiting
rough pavements, railroad tracks, etc. The improvement in handling made it
all worthwhile for me. I almost get a slot car feeling when accelerating the
on-ramps with very little roll. It makes me smile as the car in the rear view
mirror seemingly vanishes and left far behind.

Are the shocks the same between your 300E and my 380sl?

I've always been a bit disappointed with my comforts and want something stiffer. If they're compatible, I'd do a trade. Mine are lightly used as well.

As said above, the shocks will not affect the roll, but they DO affect cornering and they also affect how much the body wallows when going over humps and through dips.

I run HD's on my SDL and I'd rather kill myself than run anything softer. With all the hills, turns, dips, and crappy roads I drive on, the comforts would be bottoming out all the time, especially with passengers.

Keep in mind that ANY shock absorber or strut will be on the stiff for the first few thousand miles. I've got 10K on the HD's in the SDL and that car just glides on the highway like flying in an airplane.

After a year and half I'm used to the new HD's I installed when I got the 300SE and they do get better over time. Almost all passengers compliment me about how firm and smooth the car feels.
With a 19mm rear sway, fresh front suspension and with most rattles and squeaks addressed it makes for a nice, firm and quiet driving experience. But it can be a little harsh on a bad road and we have to many of those in Los Angeles.

I Put a new set of comforts on. I think the difference is staggering. I am not some geezer-minded driver either. I am impressed with the lack of roll in the factory tune. I thought I could improve on something that was thoroughly engineered. All the Porches and sport package BMW's I have owned always handled great and absorbed impact with very little harshness. The 300SEL is slightly less sporty but still light years better than a caddy of the same vintage. I'm pleased again.

HD's are in the trunk awaiting an ebay listing.

Now to figure out why it pulls to the left