<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-06-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000808064</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>C&amp;D TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CHP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001358623</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCSF Equities, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5200 TOWN CENTER CIRCLE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOCA RATON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33486</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001344696</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Sun Capital Securities Offshore Fund Ltd</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5200 TOWN CENTER CIRCLE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOCA RATON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33486</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001288467</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SUN CAPITAL SECURITIES FUND L P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5200 TOWN CENTER CIRCLE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOCA RATON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33486</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001358621</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Sun Capital Securities Advisors, LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5200 TOWN CENTER CIRCLE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOCA RATON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33486</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001358622</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Sun Capital Securities, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5200 TOWN CENTER CIRCLE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOCA RATON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33486</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001193052</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEDER MARC J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5200 TOWN CENTER CIRCLE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOCA RATON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33486</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001193057</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KROUSE RODGER R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5200 TOWN CENTER CIRCLE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOCA RATON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33486</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>172700</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.3795</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2956886</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>172700</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.3795</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2956886</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By SCSF Equities, LLC</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>153700</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.3543</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2803186</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>153700</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.3543</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2803186</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By SCSF Equities, LLC</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>191100</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.4019</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2612086</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>191100</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F9"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.4019</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2612086</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By SCSF Equities, LLC</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">SCSF Equities, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (&quot;SCSF Equities&quot;), is the direct beneficial owner of the shares reported in Table I.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The securities reported in Table I may be deemed to be beneficially owned by Sun Capital Securities Offshore Fund, Ltd., a Cayman Islands corporation (&quot;Sun Offshore Fund&quot;), Sun Capital Securities Fund, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (&quot;Sun Securities Fund&quot;), Sun Capital Securities Advisors, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (&quot;Sun Advisors&quot;), Sun Capital Securities, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (&quot;Sun Capital Securities&quot;), Marc J. Leder (&quot;Leder&quot;) and Rodger R. Krouse (&quot;Krouse&quot;). Leder and Krouse may each be deemed to control SCSF Equities, Sun Securities Fund and Sun Advisors, as Leder and Krouse each own 50% of the membership interests in Sun Capital Securities, which in turn is the general partner of Sun Advisors, which in turn is the general partner of Sun Securities Fund, which, together with the Sun Offshore Fund, owns 100% of the membership interests of SCSF Equities.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Leder and Krouse may each be deemed to control the Sun Offshore Fund by virtue of them being the only directors of the Sun Offshore Fund. Sun Offshore Fund, Sun Securities Fund, Sun Advisors, Sun Capital Securities, Leder and Krouse expressly disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares reported in Table I, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.  The filing of this form shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Person is, for Section 16 purposes or otherwise, the beneficial owner of such shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">SCSF Equities, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (&quot;SCSF Equities&quot;), is the direct beneficial owner of the shares reported in Table I.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The securities reported in Table I may be deemed to be beneficially owned by Sun Capital Securities Offshore Fund, Ltd., a Cayman Islands corporation (&quot;Sun Offshore Fund&quot;), Sun Capital Securities Fund, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (&quot;Sun Securities Fund&quot;), Sun Capital Securities Advisors, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (&quot;Sun Advisors&quot;), Sun Capital Securities, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (&quot;Sun Capital Securities&quot;), Marc J. Leder (&quot;Leder&quot;) and Rodger R. Krouse (&quot;Krouse&quot;). Leder and Krouse may each be deemed to control SCSF Equities, Sun Securities Fund and Sun Advisors, as Leder and Krouse each own 50% of the membership interests in Sun Capital Securities, which in turn is the general partner of Sun Advisors, which in turn is the general partner of Sun Securities Fund, which, together with the Sun Offshore Fund, owns 100% of the membership interests of SCSF Equities.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Leder and Krouse may each be deemed to control the Sun Offshore Fund by virtue of them being the only directors of the Sun Offshore Fund. Sun Offshore Fund, Sun Securities Fund, Sun Advisors, Sun Capital Securities, Leder and Krouse expressly disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares reported in Table I, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.  The filing of this form shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Person is, for Section 16 purposes or otherwise, the beneficial owner of such shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">SCSF Equities, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (&quot;SCSF Equities&quot;), is the direct beneficial owner of the shares reported in Table I.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">The securities reported in Table I may be deemed to be beneficially owned by Sun Capital Securities Offshore Fund, Ltd., a Cayman Islands corporation (&quot;Sun Offshore Fund&quot;), Sun Capital Securities Fund, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (&quot;Sun Securities Fund&quot;), Sun Capital Securities Advisors, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (&quot;Sun Advisors&quot;), Sun Capital Securities, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (&quot;Sun Capital Securities&quot;), Marc J. Leder (&quot;Leder&quot;) and Rodger R. Krouse (&quot;Krouse&quot;). Leder and Krouse may each be deemed to control SCSF Equities, Sun Securities Fund and Sun Advisors, as Leder and Krouse each own 50% of the membership interests in Sun Capital Securities, which in turn is the general partner of Sun Advisors, which in turn is the general partner of Sun Securities Fund, which, together with the Sun Offshore Fund, owns 100% of the membership interests of SCSF Equities.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">Leder and Krouse may each be deemed to control the Sun Offshore Fund by virtue of them being the only directors of the Sun Offshore Fund. Sun Offshore Fund, Sun Securities Fund, Sun Advisors, Sun Capital Securities, Leder and Krouse expressly disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares reported in Table I, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.  The filing of this form shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Person is, for Section 16 purposes or otherwise, the beneficial owner of such shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>SCSF Equities, LLC, by: /s/ Philip E. Brown, by power of attorney filed July 12, 2007</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Sun Capital Securities Offshore Fund, Ltd., by: /s/ Philip E. Brown, by power of attorney filed July 12, 2007</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Sun Capital Securities Fund, LP, by: Sun Capital Securities Advisors, LP, by: Sun Capital Securities, LLC by: /s/ Philip E. Brown, by power of attorney filed July 12, 2007</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Sun Capital Securities Advisors, LP, by: Sun Capital Securities, LLC by: /s/ Philip E. Brown, by power of attorney filed July 12, 2007</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Sun Capital Securities, LLC by: /s/ Philip E. Brown, by power of attorney filed July 12, 2007</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Marc Leder by: /s/ Philip E. Brown, by power of attorney filed July 12, 2007</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Rodger Krouse by: /s/ Philip E. Brown, by power of attorney filed July 12, 2007</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
