ride height - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

tower · #1 02-04-2003, 05:31 PM

The rear of my 95E320 is starting to look like the preverbial volkswagon bug rear end. I can't seem to locate on the mercedes cd's what the heights are suppose to be (wheel centre to bottom edge of fender). Could anyone provide the section number or the measurements for me?

Thanks in advance

Ron

tower · #2 02-05-2003, 02:26 PM

Anyone?

haasman · #3 02-05-2003, 08:12 PM

tower

I do not have the CD set (some day) I have searched for this information as well.

I learned that technically, the angle of the suspension part is measured against the part it is mounted to. I do not have those measurements.

A lot of people have use the "center of the wheel to the under side of the fender lip" both for the front and rear.

I believe the a car on the lowered range would be *about* 7.5" front and rear. The higher measurement is *about* 8.5" front and rear.

I will look and see if I have anymore info.

Haasman

Antony · #4 02-06-2003, 12:45 PM

I'll take a look this evening in my CD's for your information; Posting again tomorrow with any information I find.

md21722 · #5 02-06-2003, 12:57 PM

Ride height is measured at the dealer by the deflection of the control arms and converted into mm. The Beissbarth alignment system at my dealer also reports this number. Ride height measurements in the alignemnt section of the shop manual (sec 40) are give in mm using one of these two methods. Therefore, they not very useful for someone without these tools.

The best that you or I can easily do is measure from the center of the star on the wheel to the underside of the fender lip. Many 124 cars are about 15-15.5" (front-rear). Lowering would get close to 14" in most cases. Early model 124s were about 10-12 mm higher than later models such as yours. So I would estimate that 14.5-15" front and 15-15.5" rear is about right. A fuel tank of fuel vs. empty is about 0.5" difference. Ride height from side to side may be ~0.25".

IF you carry a lot of weight or live in a northern climate, its possibly time for new springs, or at least new or thicker spring pads in the rear. IF your front end is too high as a result of some suspension work (for example) then that can make you rear too low.

haasman · #6 02-06-2003, 02:38 PM

I had posted above:

"I believe the a car on the lowered range would be *about* 7.5" front and rear. The higher measurement is *about* 8.5" front and rear."

In checking through my saved notes on the topic, this measurement was made by a member at the jack pads to the ground.

Sorry about the confusion.

Haasman

tower · #7 02-11-2003, 08:52 AM

haasman,md21722,anthony

Thanks for your answers. I just went out and measured mine, not even close, rear 13.75 drivers/13.25 passenger side, front 13.625 drivers/14.25 passenger. Something is up here.

I noted when the car was last on the hoist (for transmission fluid replacement) that the front springs had a pronounced "S" shape to them. It must be replacement part time.

Also am having a "wandering" problem at highway speeds so I fully expect suspension / tire r&r.

Thanks again

Ron

Oldwolf · #8 08-13-2009, 07:43 PM

I'm digging up this old thread!

Quote:

Originally Posted by md21722

The best that you or I can easily do is measure from the center of the star on the wheel to the underside of the fender lip. Many 124 cars are about 15-15.5" (front-rear). Lowering would get close to 14" in most cases. Early model 124s were about 10-12 mm higher than later models such as yours. So I would estimate that 14.5-15" front and 15-15.5" rear is about right. A fuel tank of fuel vs. empty is about 0.5" difference. Ride height from side to side may be ~0.25".

I saw a MB fly by that had a lot of space between the center line of the wheel and the fender. Made me think he was going to put a set of big chrome rims on it.

Then I got to thinking if my W124 was sitting too squat.

I measured from the center of the star to the fender and got:

Front: 14.25" (equal both sides)
Rear: 14.75" (equal both sides and little more than half a tan of fuel in it)

I've always thought cars that sit a little high look nice, but mine doesn't appear to be too far off the statement:

Quote:

So I would estimate that 14.5-15" front and 15-15.5" rear is about right.

Is the .25" to .5" that my car is sitting lower than normal indicative of any problems?

Thanks!