ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,188
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Mar 25, 2019 18:29:19 GMT
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So, this is an odd question, but I have my reasons. I'm flirtating with the idea of giving my Merc a mild drop. I won't be slamming it I hate to say, but an inch lower would look great. I was planning on chopping the springs all round which on Mercs seems to work very well. However, there is a fly in the ointment. The rear swing axle has one of the following setups depending on what's been done: - 2 springs on the trailing arms and a Nivomat-like Hydropneumatic Compensator self levelling damper that joins the two sides of the swing axle together
- As above, but with a spring fitted in place; generally as the Compensator is now hard to find, and generally pretty expensive (IIRC they are around £600-800 secondhand!
Mine is on a spring on the rear. So, the front is easy. Lop a coil or two off to get to the desired height. But what about the rear? Even with lowering springs, that compensator spring is going to influence things from what I've read and seen. I know you've had dealings here Mystery Machine and hkr91.
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Last Edit: Mar 25, 2019 22:48:05 GMT by ChasR
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hkr91
South East
Posts: 559
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Mar 27, 2019 20:53:15 GMT
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I'm interested in this too - I'm yet to attack mine so right now she's of standard height....
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brc76
RR Helper
Posts: 1,106
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Mar 28, 2019 14:14:54 GMT
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There is a link to the centre of the car above the axle that governs the self leveling. I'll see if I can find a picture.... If you lower w108s the rear gets a wee bit of camber, like a swing axle vw. As standard, there is a little +ve / neutral camber, a little lower in the back and there will be a little -ve camber. Lower it a more, more camber. It's the pointy uppy thing. I've not heard of anyone doing it, but in theory you could make a shortened version of that to reset the level point to the lowered position.
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Last Edit: Mar 28, 2019 14:33:04 GMT by brc76
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brc76
RR Helper
Posts: 1,106
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Mar 28, 2019 14:17:03 GMT
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Last Edit: Mar 28, 2019 14:21:50 GMT by brc76
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,188
Club RR Member Number: 170
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I thought the centre pin was more for locating the diff in place. If you shortened that, I can't see how the car would become lower. The car may have lesss camber change due to the diff becoming closer to the body of the car, but that's it. It may drop it slightly, but I'd have thought the springs on the trailing arms would have the most influence, given they are closer to the wheels themselves. Unless I am missing something . I know of one person who has taken off two coils from the normal springs and then another from the compensator spring to get a drop, but I'm looking to see what others have done as well before I go about doing mine. To avoid the crazy camber I was looking for a mild drop. Around 30-40cm tops . I still want to keep the car driveable. I could go to air but I can't quite justify it at this moment . So yes, I'm going in quite tame .
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Last Edit: Mar 31, 2019 8:56:25 GMT by ChasR
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hkr91
South East
Posts: 559
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Mar 31, 2019 15:34:29 GMT
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Last Edit: Mar 31, 2019 15:35:11 GMT by hkr91
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brc76
RR Helper
Posts: 1,106
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Mar 31, 2019 18:37:14 GMT
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I thought the centre pin was more for locating the diff in place. If you shortened that, I can't see how the car would become lower. The car may have lesss camber change due to the diff becoming closer to the body of the car, but that's it. That is exactly what I meant, that it would reduce the camber a bit, but if all you did was to shorten that center pin, you'd actually raise the car slightly
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Last Edit: Mar 31, 2019 18:37:49 GMT by brc76
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brc76
RR Helper
Posts: 1,106
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Mar 31, 2019 18:40:47 GMT
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Hydro pneumatic compensator. I've heard that they will reject lowering as much as they can. Willing to be proven wrong on that.
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Last Edit: Mar 31, 2019 18:41:06 GMT by brc76
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,188
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Hydro pneumatic compensator. I've heard that they will reject lowering as much as they can. Willing to be proven wrong on that. Pretty much that. Mine’s on a cool there.
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