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jack7preston
Date registered: Nov 2012
Location: NYC/Southampton
Vehicle(s): 87 LWB 2 door with rear barn door Kastenwagen, G55
| best spring/shock combo for the most comfortable ride?
Hi all.
I was wondering what would be the best spring/shock combo for the most comfortable ride for my LWB 2 door ge230?
the truck has nothing in it but 2 front seats and 2 door cards so its as light as a G can be.
im actually going to put it on a scale later today to get an exact #.
I will never be loading it with anything heavy other then 2-4 friends at the most and some light beach gear.
From what I was researching it looks like g500 OEM springs might be the way to go for a comfortable ride.
Also from what ive searched it looks as if this would also give me a 2 inch lift.
would just like to confirm this befoe spending money.
Thanks in advance for your help
cheers
Jack
Edited by jack7preston 8/7/2014 11:17 AM
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Brent
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: SW Colorado USA
Vehicle(s): '13 Wolfsburg GTI
Posts: 1754
| RE: best spring/shock combo for the most comfortable ride?
Well the lwb G500 is substantially heavier than the stripped 230. I suspect you will get some lift out of that set-up but I am not so sure about the soft ride. The BEST way to go is having custom springs made using the wieght of the vehicle and desired ride hieght as the parameters. Otherwise, I think any of the MB spring choices are going to leave it with the G's typically firm ride. You could check out the spring chart and go a light as possible but unfortunately this ends up being trial and error. I used to have 4-5 sets of G springs around. I ended up with the ORC blue springs on the lwb and a custom set on the swb. |
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Boy G
Expert
Date registered: Feb 2007
Location: Bushveld, South Africa
Vehicle(s): Diesel G's: 617A and 602
Posts: 1683
| Re: best spring/shock combo for the most comfortable ride?
Look up yellow on the spring charts with standard Sachs shocks. I believe it will fit your description.
I have used this combination myself. It works but is limited in load. |
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jack7preston
Date registered: Nov 2012
Location: NYC/Southampton
Vehicle(s): 87 LWB 2 door with rear barn door Kastenwagen, G55
| RE: best spring/shock combo for the most comfortable ride?
ok great thanks for the help guys!
how do you like the ORC setup,what kind of ride where you looking for?
as i said before im not really going to add much to the truck other then a ladder and roof rack.
Edited by jack7preston 8/11/2014 2:21 AM
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Luky
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Bratislava, Slovakia, EU
Vehicle(s): 300GE LWB auto, E320CDI 4M, VW Polo Classic 1.6
Posts: 1062
| Re: best spring/shock combo for the most comfortable ride?
My mate had the ORC springs on his `87 230GE SWB and he wasn`t very happy with them as they were too stiff. In my understanding the ORC springs are tested for the G500, which has a bit heavier front end. |
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Brent
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: SW Colorado USA
Vehicle(s): '13 Wolfsburg GTI
Posts: 1754
| RE: best spring/shock combo for the most comfortable ride?
I also found the ORC springs to be too stiff for my liking. Most of the springs in the MB line would be too stiff for my taste on an off road rig.
Have you considered using spring spacers with the stock springs to get a little tire clearance? |
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DiscoDino
Member
Date registered: Nov 2011
Location: UAE, Lebanon
Vehicle(s): '12 G500, '84 RRC 2dr, '91 D110 CSW, '83 D110 HCPU
Posts: 25
| RE: best spring/shock combo for the most comfortable ride?
try the Iron Man springs...quite firm yet comfortable at the same time... |
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jack7preston
Date registered: Nov 2012
Location: NYC/Southampton
Vehicle(s): 87 LWB 2 door with rear barn door Kastenwagen, G55
| RE: best spring/shock combo for the most comfortable ride?
Brent - 8/11/2014 8:10 AM
I also found the ORC springs to be too stiff for my liking. Most of the springs in the MB line would be too stiff for my taste on an off road rig.
Have you considered using spring spacers with the stock springs to get a little tire clearance?
i do have the 50mm spring spacers but they are not on the truck at the moment and to be honest im not sure i will ever use them.
reason being is that i just mounted the rims and tires on friday and i am quite pleased with the stance and feel of the truck now.
tires are DuraTrac LT275/70R18 on 18 inch 2003 G500 rims and there is almost no rubbing unless your under full lock or last inch to inch and a half turn on the steering wheel (something i never do anyway).
ive been driving the truck all weekend on road and light off road and i have yet to have the tires rub other than the one time i was testing the turning boundaries of the truck.
im not looking for more of a lift but a little extra is fin im just looking for the most comfortable ride and the springs i have now are harsh to say the least.
boy G im thinking of give that a try as im really not worried about loading anything heavier then 2-3 friends in my truck along with some beach gear.
jack |
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thairish
Date registered: Jun 2006
Location: hk/th
Vehicle(s): 461: 230ge/swb & g300cdi/lwb
| RE: best spring/shock combo for the most comfortable ride?
My 230GE came with red front and white rear springs.
Those are combined with the Sachs HD shocks, same as used on recent G300 Professionals.
Edited by thairish 8/11/2014 8:25 PM
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Brent
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: SW Colorado USA
Vehicle(s): '13 Wolfsburg GTI
Posts: 1754
| RE: best spring/shock combo for the most comfortable ride?
thairish - 8/11/2014 6:21 PM
My 230GE came with red front and white rear springs.
Those are combined with the Sachs HD shocks, same as used on recent G300 Professionals.
I think this is also the set-up used by Harald and others to achieve clearance for 35" tires back before we discovered some other choices. Those are some heavy duty springs for a 230 swb! |
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512bbi
Expert
Date registered: Jan 2007
Location: North western US and Europe
Vehicle(s): 05G55kge,Range rover classic,clk55amg,ML 430
Posts: 1313
| RE: best spring/shock combo for the most comfortable ride?
The best way is to know your weight on each axle.
Remember that stiff ride can be some times only one axle with stiffer than necessary springs and manufacturers do so in the rear for better control at full GVWR.
With your intentions of use, you might find out the truck will perform best with more spring rate at the front and not too much at the rear.
That will give you sharper turn in ,less body roll with the rack on top and more comfy ride overall.
Again to choose a good combo and a good match front to rear get the weights on both axles.
I believe in the MB springs and there are enough to choose from with out getting a rough ride
Nice looking truck.I love the two doors on a long wheel base
Mario |
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jack7preston
Date registered: Nov 2012
Location: NYC/Southampton
Vehicle(s): 87 LWB 2 door with rear barn door Kastenwagen, G55
| RE: best spring/shock combo for the most comfortable ride?
thanks for the help guys.
thanks for the complement Mario, yea i really love the look of the 2 door LWB.
im not quite sold on the color but we will see if it grows on me.
i would like to get the truck on a scale but im not sure where or how to do that here in NY.
its sounds as if the yellow ones may be a good starting point so i may go that route.
Edited by jack7preston 8/12/2014 11:02 PM
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nadd
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: UAE, Dubai
Vehicle(s): G500 2016 LHD, numerous Chevys
Posts: 1285
| Re: best spring/shock combo for the most comfortable ride?
From another person with early G500 experience - personally I find the ride stiff, so can only imagine it will be more so on the lighter 230. I think they firmed up the suspension for high speed stability but it was significantly softer on the early 463s (300GE/G300). |
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512bbi
Expert
Date registered: Jan 2007
Location: North western US and Europe
Vehicle(s): 05G55kge,Range rover classic,clk55amg,ML 430
Posts: 1313
| RE: best spring/shock combo for the most comfortable ride?
Jack
Just go to a truck shop on the highway where the big trucks with trailers go on scales.
Tell them what you need and you can place the truck on two scales at the same time and get a reading of front and rear weight.
I would not be surprised if your rear springs might be too stiff .
The photo suggests you got enough height as is at the front at least.
After you weight the truck you can mic the front spring diameter and with known weights front and rear it will be easy to sort out a ride that is controlled but comfy.
Maybe all you need is two springs.
Color is personal preference ,I think it looks great and if it was mine I would powder coat the rims black and make the whole combo pop....
Mario |
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Otiswesty
Administrator
Date registered: Jun 2007
Location: Portland, Oregon
Vehicle(s): 463.241, 461.213
Posts: 3004
| Re: best spring/shock combo for the most comfortable ride?
Personally, I really like the look of the stock silver Ashtaroth. The tire size that you have is ideal as well. I am surprised there is rubbing with a set of ET43 rims, the 463 has none. Maybe you would just consider a rear spring spacer to level out the ride. If you already have a set, it is a straightforward job for any tire and suspension shop to install the rears.
Have you felt a loss of power or braking with the larger tires? When I went to a 33" tire on my 460, I was really surprised how the braking was negatively affected. Harald has a good link for some brake upgrades for his 460 35" tire setup. http://www.4x4abc.com/G/35.html
The power loss on my 300GD was brutal as well with 33's
Edited by otiswesty 8/15/2014 12:39 AM
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jack7preston
Date registered: Nov 2012
Location: NYC/Southampton
Vehicle(s): 87 LWB 2 door with rear barn door Kastenwagen, G55
| Re: best spring/shock combo for the most comfortable ride?
otiswesty - 8/15/2014 12:38 AM
Personally, I really like the look of the stock silver Ashtaroth. The tire size that you have is ideal as well. I am surprised there is rubbing with a set of ET43 rims, the 463 has none. Maybe you would just consider a rear spring spacer to level out the ride. If you already have a set, it is a straightforward job for any tire and suspension shop to install the rears.
Have you felt a loss of power or braking with the larger tires? When I went to a 33" tire on my 460, I was really surprised how the braking was negatively affected. Harald has a good link for some brake upgrades for his 460 35" tire setup. http://www.4x4abc.com/G/35.html
The power loss on my 300GD was brutal as well with 33's
im actually on the fence on the rim color so i picked up some mat black plasti dip for an idea if what it will look like with out the permanency of powder coating.
was actually going to do it today but im a but under the weather so we will see if i can get to at least 1 wheel 
i need springs regardless of ride due to the fact i have a broken drivers side rear spring. its towards the very top so its not really affecting much right now as far has height is concerned.
i did notice a slight power loss with the wheels but really not enough to write home about and certainly nothing a few (200-300) RPM didnt quickly cure other then going up steep hills that is.
i was actually surprised at how little the difference in weight the factory rims and tires where to what i have on now. they are defiantly heaver but i would say by maybe 5-8 pounds.
im no expert by any means so take me picking them up by hand and weighing them with a grain of salt.
as far as breaking is concerned i really didnt notice much at all, i got the truck up to speed with a friend or to and stopped as hard as i could and it all felt the same.
but with out question i will be upgrading the brakes using Harolds formula.
512bbi thats a great idea and i will be taking your advice on that as soon as i get a chance.
i think that would be the best way to find out what springs i should be using.
i actually have a complete 1999 300d with 87K miles on it to do a complete motor and trans swap but have had a hard time finding a local competent diesel mec to do the swap so the 300d is now for sale and im currently looking to source a 1996 C36 motor for an easier direct motor trans plant.
Edited by jack7preston 8/15/2014 2:23 PM
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