Recommendation for rear springs 463

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Jdring
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There is quite a bit about springs and suspension upgrades on here.  Not surprising because I was just told a single spring for a 463 was £600 from MB !

I suppose there is better in the after market world.  So what are the current recommendations?

Mine is a  463 G350, 2012.  I don't need to firm it up. I like the current ride.  The reason is one spring has broken right at the base.  I think that is where they all go because that is where the mud and wet sits and they corrode there and break.  Obviously I will replace both rear springs and tidy up (de-rust) the spring plate/mount..

Should I do the shock absorber struts also?  Get adjustable ones?  Standard oil?

Good info in previous thread here: http://www.gwoa.co.uk/forum/springs 

And it seems the ORC brand is a long time favourite https://orc-shop.de/en/technics/suspension-kit/springs/?p=1 

It says they are +40mm, but I think under load they sit at the same level as current, so they must be progressive loading.  At 200 Euro each still not cheap but much less than MB methinks, and proven/quality?

 

 

 

 

Pistonhead
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Re: Recommendation for rear springs 463

Suplex coil springs - they do standard or H/d rears: https://www.suplex.de/produkte/?lang=en

Local motor factors should be able to supply.

JASONGDS
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Re: Recommendation for rear springs 463

Would not raise it , will mess up prop angles,cause vibration etc.

Koni shocks good, but really you will have to do all 4 or else they  will " fight " with the old ones. Sachs also very good, go for the HD versions,  can get at agood price. Germany  much cheaper for springs, use the Spidan Catalogue through  GKN to get the best replacement springs,  comprehensive range,  again good price in Germany.  About 120 euros for a pair? Also progressive 

mikemike39
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Re: Recommendation for rear springs 463

I cracked a rear spring on my G320CDI a couple of years ago.

My local MB dealer supplied and fitted a pair of new rear springs (I didn't think the spring compressor we have would be up to the job).   I'd have to dig out the paperwork but I remember the bill (inc vat) as 700 pounds or so

The "single spring" price sounds wrong to me

Mike

bigblock
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Re: Recommendation for rear springs 463

I broke quite a few rear springs on my GEL300 (it spent most of its time on rough forest tracks). I always bought replacement springs from MB to try and keep the correct spring rating. The rears were brown three stripe and cost about £275 each at the time.

If you ever look at the Mercedes G Wagon parts catalogue for springs you will see eight different colour codes each with three different subsets so thats 24 different spring rates. To make things more complicated the front and rear axles also have different spring rates, mine had yellow two stripes at the front.

The MB springs are progressive and have a compression range measured under a 2000N and 7000N load. For example Brown three stripe = 425mm to 175mm. The springs have a top and bottom which is marked so that you dont put them in the wrong way round and a good tip is to face the bottom tail (end of spring) in line with the axle towards the diff which stops them breaking at the base, I don't know why but it seems to work.

There is a lot of scope to alter the suspension with original MB or aftermarket springs and dampers but my thoughts were that Mercedes probably had a pretty good reason for selecting the original setup and changing those settings based on my limited knowledge was probably very unlikely to make it handle any better. If you ever watch old videos of a Mercedes test driver chucking a standard G 463 or 460 down the Shockel like it was a rally car then you would have quite a bit of confidence that Mercedes knew what they were doing in the suspension department.

JASONGDS
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Re: Recommendation for rear springs 463

Price sounds wrong to me also,, at least if you buy genuine you can just replace the one spring? You can check the state of the Shock absorber when you have removed it, top nut will need a lot of soaking in Oil, i expect your G is fitted with Bilsteins??

prwales
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Re: Recommendation for rear springs 463

When I first bought my w463 swb, the rear spring were sagging badly, too soft I thought so I fitted springs from a lwb, these were white, & were supplied from a recommendation in the Club magazine. These are still on the car & have covered maybe 40,000 miles, have a bit of surface that but otherwise still sound, I probably have the receipt if anyone's interested, they weren't expensive either

JASONGDS
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Re: Recommendation for rear springs 463

White is very strong, probably 18mm in diameter,  really lifts the back up  beneficial if you carry a lot in a sub  otherwise ride a bit harsh?

prwales
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Re: Recommendation for rear springs 463

A bit yes

Jdring
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Re: Recommendation for rear springs 463
Well, it's a bit of a lottery deciding on springs and shocks. In the end I got Bilstein rear springs (CST37) which don't lift or lower my G350, and Koni twin tube shock absorbers (Bilstein B6 in short supply and the Koni was adjustable!). I also put Bilstein shocks (CST33) on the front. All because one rear spring had an inch shear off the bottom and would fail an MOT, but was doing fine. Notice the difference? Not yet! But they look nice and shiney and are doing a good job.
JASONGDS
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Re: Recommendation for rear springs 463

What setting  did you put your Konis on?

Real drawback you have to remove to adjust,  tho at least koni give you lovely rubber covers for the nuts, which makes them much easier to remove in the future,  be very surprised if any G after 10 years didn't have a broken rear spring, not that you really notice.!

Jdring
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Re: Recommendation for rear springs 463
Yeah that a pointless design. Who is going to take those off to adjust. As a result you don't want too hard or too soft and go for mid way. Maybe I would have preferred softer and a bit more roll.
Jdring
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Re: Recommendation for rear springs 463

Follow up

I put SACHS coil springs onto my 460 230GE, with RIDEX Shocks. (60 and 80GBP each respectively)

The shocks look really good and match the look of original (e.g. plain black), but again the ride has been made noticeably bumpier and stiffer.  Not sure I like it.  Really thinking of putting the old springs back on which were fine.

If you prefer a softer sofa style ride, what springs would you go for!

JASONGDS
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Re: Recommendation for rear springs 463

Have a weak set of thin springs! Possibly experiment with a few 25kg bags in the back? Also check your tyres are not over inflated? Easy to swap springs if your shocks undo and you have a good trolley jack

Jdring
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Re: Recommendation for rear springs 463

JASONGDS wrote:

.....Also check your tyres are not over inflated? ............

I changed my springs back.  Better but still jiggly and hard. 

I eventually checked the tyres on this G and all were at 40+ PSI !!  I know from having slow punctures on my others that you can easily run at 15PSI+ and normally set to 26PSI.  I lowered these to 30 PSI all round and the difference is chalk and cheese.  I'll check them again in autumn as it cools.

Still glad I put my old springs on though - they were actually in really good nick (presumably not original from 1987).

JASONGDS
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Re: Recommendation for rear springs 463

Have noticed with LC with the Tyre Pressure Monitoring,  can go up from 2.1 bar to 2.4 after a run, 2.3 makes it much worse on tracks etc,