lowering with stock springs?

[C280Rookie]

Hi everyone,
Excuse me for a dumb question but has anyone tried lowering with using stock springs? And I don't mean cutting springs. I am curious if this can be done. I want to know if I just change pads, I can lower the car, and if so, by around how much is the max I can go.
Thanks for your inputs.
BTW, I am using 17s on my C280, if that's any help.
:)

[Renn 208]

The short answer: yes it can be done, by how much depends on what pads your car is currently running

Using the search button above with the search terms of "spring pads" will lead you to threads like this:

http://www.club202.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6523&highlight=spring+pads

as well as many other useful threads covering this subject. Good luck with your project.

[C280Rookie]

Thanks Renn.
I will try and see if it's worth doing this, while I am saving for some sport springs.

[Renn 208]

If you'll be changing out the pads yourself, it might be worth the effort to lower via pads while you wait for springs.

However, if you're at all considering having someone else do the work for you, just wait until you get the springs, then play with both pad and springs at the same time. As it is the same level of effort to change out pads vs springs, you don't want to waste money on labor that will be performed twice.

Another item to consider would be the milage of your current shocks. If you have more than say, 60K miles on the shocks, it may also be time to start saving up for replacements.

I'm just suggesting that if you'll be paying for labor, it may not be cost effective to go through each step one at a time.

[C280Rookie]

Originally posted by Renn 208
If you'll be changing out the pads yourself, it might be worth the effort to lower via pads while you wait for springs.

However, if you're at all considering having someone else do the work for you, just wait until you get the springs, then play with both pad and springs at the same time. As it is the same level of effort to change out pads vs springs, you don't want to waste money on labor that will be performed twice.

Another item to consider would be the milage of your current shocks. If you have more than say, 60K miles on the shocks, it may also be time to start saving up for replacements.

I'm just suggesting that if you'll be paying for labor, it may not be cost effective to go through each step one at a time.

You do have a point there.
My car has done 130K, and so far, still going okay (after a new MAS, OVP, coils!). I probably will save up for some springs and shocks and have it all done together.
Incidentally, my car still feels okay, so I guess no immediate signs of spring/shock replacement. Except when I am driving, I notice a faint squeek. like a cricket sound somewhere. Is this a sign of springs nearing replacement?

[Will_w202]

MB OEM springs (Bilstein) are good for minimum 100k, and I mean minimum. Any MB tech will tell you this. My original C230 base suspension with 84k still dampens fine, and keeps up very well with the 17x7.5 AMGs I have. I sometimes wish I had a reason to replace them with something more performance-oriented, but they are doing too good a job to change them yet.

[C280Rookie]

Originally posted by Will_w202
MB OEM springs (Bilstein) are good for minimum 100k, and I mean minimum. Any MB tech will tell you this. My original C230 base suspension with 84k still dampens fine, and keeps up very well with the 17x7.5 AMGs I have. I sometimes wish I had a reason to replace them with something more performance-oriented, but they are doing too good a job to change them yet.

Hi Will
Glad to hear that my stock shocks are still good.
Did you run those AMG 17s with stock spring height? How was the gap? Do you happen to have some pics of that setup? I just want to have an idea how it would look like.
Thanks