Mercedes® Bilstein Heavy Duty Shock, Front, SLK230, 1998-2000

For the performance minded driver, Bilstein shocks deliver absolute mastery of the road surface. Bilstein's instantaneously self-adjust to changing road surface. Performance does not incline from age, use or heat - requiring no compensating manual adjustments. While everyone else makes a McPherson strut or cartridge, they mount the narrow piston rod at the top where it must absorb the twin forces of the compression and rebound as well as the stress of tremendous side loads from cornering. Bilstein places the piston rod inside the strut tube, where itis completely protected from side load stress and contamination byroad matter. the thicker, stouter steel body of the shock dissipates side loads much more effectively. Bilstein's also operate at much cooler temperatures with their ultra-efficient monotube design, which allows a more rapid heat dissipation.