[W126 Coupe] with regards to the tire/wheel discussion please add ride comfort question

[Doug Gavin]

Dick Spellman wrote:


> Doug Gavin wrote:

>

>>Dick Spellman wrote:

>>

>>  

>>

>>>Hi Gary:

>>>

>>>That's quite correct.  You lose the Mercedes ride when you lower with 

>>>HD vs. Comfort and couple this with a change from a 60 to say a 40 or 

>>>35 sidewall.  It's noticeable even at 50 sidewall with Mercedes 

>>>factory springs.  The ride becomes harsh and you feel every depression 

>>>as a jolt rather than a quiet lift typical of a Mercedes.

>>>

>>>That's the trade off, no two ways about it.  I love the ride comfort 

>>>in my sedans and enjoy the looks while in the coupe with the 18 inch 

>>>Lorrinser rims, lowered ride (Comfort Springs) and Lorrinser body 

>>>kit.  It's a question of the look vs. the feel at the end of the day.  

>>>I have trouble expecting too much in performance from the SEC in terms 

>>>of performance.  I expect more power at the wheels from an LS6 such as 

>>>was the case in this Trans Am we had here for a year or two with the 

>>>WS6 package.  Handles like crap anything above 80 with the body 

>>>flexing but, it had plenty of get up and go.  We dumped it when the 

>>>fuel pumps and other issues cropped up at 43k miles.  Now if we could 

>>>all 'easily' migrate our chassis's to the power plant Satish has 

>>>fitted that would be a different story.

>>>

>>>Dick

>>>

>>>Gary wrote:

>>>

>>>    

>>>

>>>>got a question...was wondering...with the advent of these big wheels 

>>>>resulting in tires with less sidewall...my questions is;  is not 

>>>>having more sidewall make for a smoother ride than those skinny 

>>>>sidewalls.  it seems like the car is almost riding on the 

>>>>rims/wheels...seems like there's not enough cushion.  

>>>>

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>>>>

>>>>      

>>>>

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>>>The MB Coupes Website!

>>>W126 SEC Mailing List

>>>Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>>>

>>>    

>>>

>>In regard to Gary and Dick's e mail exchange regarding ride comfort of 

>>the MB.  I own a 90 SEC with 72K miles, one former owner, all services 

>>performed as required through MB dealer. I have owned the coupe for 5 

>>months and have not owned any other MBs but have ridden in a few sedans 

>>over the years but not on a regular basis so I'm not real familiar with 

>>the appropriate ride or handling experience to the degree as the 

>>majority of you so my question may be elementary.

>>

>>  My question is; Are coupes inherently a stiffer ride than sedans and 

>>do the rest of you "feel" the road both front and rear in regard to road 

>>seams, small bumps etc as I feel? I run my Pilots at 35 lbs and run on 

>>stock  15 " wheels. I read allot about the rear stabilizers on this site 

>>and wonder if they need to be replaced. I suspect they are original. In 

>>a nut shell, the ride feels like other cars I've experienced  with too 

>>much air in the tires. The car is very tight with not even one rattle or 

>>vibration what so ever, handles like a dream in corners, straight line 

>>and all other respects it's just that hard tire ride that makes me 

>>wonder. Thanks

>>

>>Doug

>>The MB Coupes Website!

>>W126 SEC Mailing List

>>Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>>

>>  

>>

> Hi Doug:

>

> You might try lowering the air pressure on all 4 tires to 32 or even 

> 30 to see if that helps.  I run the sedans at 30/32 with all season 

> tires.  The one coupe I've driven extensively was and is my 83 SEC.  

> When I first purchased it, the ride had been completely reconditioned 

> by an independent MB shop.  I have their service report for $2500.  I 

> drove this car stock for 6 months or so and the ride comfort was just 

> smooth.  Certainly as smooth as the sedans I maintain.  So, short 

> answer is the coupe should offer the same luxury ride as the sedans 

> IMHO.  Now, I've since lowered the coupe with H&R Comfort, added 

> factory approved 18 inch Lorrinser wheels (fit the R107 and 126 

> chassis) and aside from rolling the rear fender lip it's been trouble 

> free.  The ride is however, noticeably harder than the factory set-up 

> I had when first purchased.

>

> To renew a ride requires the following and there may be some overlap 

> on parts that also influence handling but, my intention is to simply 

> outline parts that effect the feel of the road...

> Rear sub-frame rubber mounts

> Rear differential rubber frame/mounts

> Front (dog-bone) rubber sub-frame mounts

> Front sway bar bushings and the rubber mounts up inside the firewalls 

> in the engine bay (a real PIA to get to)

> Springs and rubber pads (nibs)

> Shocks and new rubber bumpers (where the shock meets the chassis)

> Upper control arms come with the attached ball joint and new rubber 

> bushings

> Engine mounts and the transmission rubber mount

>

> That's about it on ride.  Now if you ever had just the shock absorbers 

> replaced and the mechanic did not adhere to the precise torque 

> requirement of the first nut that is compressed on top of the shock 

> piston where it passes through the chassis you could easily experience 

> a harsh ride and feel every bump even with new shocks.  It's my 

> understanding that this is a common mistake when the shocks are 

> replaced.  So, best to pay attention and meet the torque spec in the 

> manual to get the best possible ride when doing the shocks.  Mercedes 

> specifically states the correct torque on the first upper shock nut 

> used to secure the shock piston to the chassis.  Starting with a steel 

> plate new lower rubber bushing then up through the chassis followed by 

> yet another new rubber bushing, steel plate then the correct torqued 

> nut and finally the second nut to lock the whole set-up in place.

>

> Dick

>

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>

>The MB Coupes Website!

>W126 SEC Mailing List

>Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>

Thank you Dick Spellman for your in-depth response to my question about 
ride harshness. It obviously took a lot of  your time and I appreciate 
all of the information. It may be as simple as lowering the tire air 
pressure to soften the ride to my liking. Otherwise I'll look into the 
other aspects. Thanks again.

Doug