[W126 Coupe] 500SEC Lowering

[Michael Ramay]

Interesting, years ago the discussions here said that the Eibach's were
stiffer than the H&Rs so I have H&Rs in all of my cars. Anybody have an
spring rate data?? I know the H&Rs and the stock SEC springs are 17.0 -
17.1mm in diameter (which I measured) but the stock springs seem to have a
thinner coating on them. It's been FAR too long since my strength of
materials classes so I don't remember the change in torsional stiffness for
a 0.58% difference in diameter.

Back to your regularly scheduled programming - as Gerry states, replace all
four springs at once or the handling goes wonky (technical term, there). Put
on some new shocks with the springs and the car will feel like it's new.

On Sat, Jan 29, 2011 at 9:56 AM, Gerry Van Zandt <gerryvz at me.com> wrote:


> Your springs depend on what you want to do with the car.....

>

> You have two choices with lowering springs for the C126:  Eibach or H&R

> springs.

>

> Eibach is going to give you a bit more comfort (softer)

>

> H&R is going to give you a bit better handling (harder)

>

> I have been running an Eibach Pro-Kit (all four springs) on my 560SEC since

> 2002, and have been happy with it.  It lowers the car about 1.5 inches

> (roughly the same as the H&R springs) from the stock position.  The ride

> could be firmed up a bit by combining the Eibach springs with Bilstein HD

> dampers, which is probably what I'll do when it comes time to replace the

> stock shocks.  But seeing as the SEC was originally intended as a

> luxury-oriented touring car, not a balls-out sports car, I chose to get the

> Eibachs to keep the car generally within character.

>

> Both Eibach and H&R are well-made and of good quality (made in Germany).

>  BTW, DO NOT just lower the front -- purchase a set of all four springs and

> lower the entire car.

>

> Good luck.

> Cheers,

> Gerry

>

>

>

> On Jan 29, 2011, at 11:15 AM, mbcoupes-request at mbcoupes.com wrote:

>

> > I have a 1984 500 SEC Euro and would like to lower the front. Any

> sugesstions on

> > springs I should use? Thanks D. Miller

>

> The MB Coupes Website!

> W126 SEC Mailing List

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

>

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