Wheel alignment DIY
.............................................
:EDIT: I have been working on this for years.
Technology and equipment cost keep changing.
As some members have noted, I am busy, and other projects frequently have a higher priority. :EDIT:

Links to other DIY alignment data
DIY Wheel Alignment Video's
DIY Wheel Alignment Video's



Everything Auto: DIY Wheel Alignment
http://www.extremehowto.com/xh/article.asp?article_id=60130

DIY 4 Wheel Alignment
http://www.elantragtclub.com/id554.html

DIY Alignment With A Few Basic Tools And The Know-How Shared Here, You'll Never Again Be At The Mercy Of An Alignment Shop
http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/chassis/hrdp_0411_wheel_alignment_guide/index.html

.............................................
LEGAL Disclaimer:
Warning, Danger.
As with all automotive work, there is risk of vehicle falling, rolling, or causing injury, observe proper safety precautions.
READ: BEFORE TRYING TO USE THIS DIY
This Do It Yourself ("DIY") is designed to provide you with general guidelines and theoretical information on how you may be able to adjust the alignment of a vehicle.
Before undertaking any DIY project, or using any particular product in a DIY project, you must still independently evaluate the suitability of any products, materials or advice for your particular project. The guidelines and advice provided in this DIY is not a substitute for design, engineering, testing or common sense.
I DO NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DIY IS COMPLETE OR APPROPRIATE FOR ANY PARTICULAR APPLICATION OR USE.
THE MATERIAL AND INFORMATION PROVIDED HEREIN IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" OR "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS, AND YOUR USE OF SUCH INFORMATION IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK.
I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGES YOU MAY SUFFER AS A RESULT OF USING THE INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES PROVIDED IN THIS DIY.

Many people think that wheel alignments can only be done by professional mechanics.
You can DIY wheel alignment at home, with the right tools, patience and practice.
Be sure to take a break if you get frustrated.
Understanding the alignment process will help you on any future diagnosis of suspension or steering problems.
************************************************
Wheel alignment may be out of adjustment if:
#1A. Irregular tire wear is apparent.
#2A. Vehicle is pulling to one side.
#3A. Road hazard damage occurred. = Curb or pothole impact, followed by sudden vehicle handling characteristic alteration.
#4A. The steering wheel is crooked while driving straight on a level road.

Vibration is NOT a direct alignment issue, though irregular tire wear can cause tire balance and/or shifted belt issues, and road hazard damage = curb or pothole impact can wreck wheel rim and/or tire.

Setting up for alignment, or Pre-Wheel Alignment VEHICLE INSPECTION:
The inspection performed prior to checking and adjusting the wheel alignment angles is critical to the alignment procedure.
Failure to detect and repair problems before you attempt to align the vehicle will result in FALSE wheel alignment angle measurements = wasting your time and energy.

Check for:
#A. Correct tire pressure.
#B. Correct tire size.
#C. Safe tire condition = no bald areas, shifted belts, age cracking; good tread depth, and no road hazard damage.
#D. Wheel rim damage.
#E. Structural rust = not safe to lift or support the vehicle.
#F. Bad sway bar mounts + links, front and rear.
#G. Bad differential mount.
#H. Bad sub frame mounts.
#I. Bad wheel bearings = check the wheel/tire assemblies for excessive radial run out.
#J. Dragging or binding calipers.
#K. Play in the lower ball joints = support the lower control arm, carefully use a pry bar between the lower knuckle joint and lower control arm, you are trying to lift the knuckle with a rocking motion to detect ball joint play.
#L. Play in the upper ball joints = support the lower control arm, carefully use a pry bar between knuckle and upper control arm, you are trying to lift the upper control arm with a rocking motion to detect ball joint play.
#M. Tie rod ends, for excessive play, binding, wear or damage = large channel lock pliers and a pry bar are needed to compress and manipulate each joint.
#N. Suspension fasteners, broken or loose fasteners pose a clear danger.
#O. Suspension component bushings = look for signs of wear and/or deterioration.
#P. Ride height of the vehicle (specifications are listed in the service manual), if the ride height is not within specifications, check for excessive weight in the vehicle, one or more worn or broken coil springs, tire size, damaged trailing arms.
#Q. Full fuel tank, a tank that is less than full will change the ride height of the vehicle.
#R. Any items from the passenger compartment and trunk that are not factory equipment, and remove.
************************************************
The work area floor must be measured to make sure that the turntables and slip plates are level to each other; this is required because you will be using bubble gauges as measuring devices = false reading if all four wheels are not at the same level and on turntables or slip plates.
A pair of laser levels will speed the work of leveling the turntables.
IMPORTANT: All of the brakes must be locked otherwise the wheels will roll on the turntables/slip plates, giving incorrect measurements.
A piece of wood jammed between the front seat and the brake pedal will work.

__________________
ASE Master Mechanic
https://whunter.carrd.co/

Prototype R&D/testing:
Thermal & Aerodynamic System Engineering (TASE) Senior vehicle instrumentation technician.
Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH).
Dynamometer.
Heat exchanger durability.
HV-A/C Climate Control.
Vehicle build.
Fleet Durability
Technical Quality Auditor.
Automotive Technical Writer

1985 300SD
1983 300D
2003 Volvo V70

https://www.boldegoist.com/

All those "tools" come in at $4,952.00, I could have the stealer align my car three times a year for a decade for that amount of money.


Not to mention all the free coffee and cookies I'd get out of all those visits....

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Major changes due to new equipment available at a cheap price.
I am getting this equipment to test cheap high quality home alignment.

http://www.strait-line.com/irwin/consumer/straitline/jhtml/index.jhtml?source=google_ET

Question,

What do the "sub frame" mounts exactly do on an MB and how do they relate to wheel allignment?

Thanks

__________________
Adriano

83 300SD 500,300 miles (Well seasoned work horse AKA "Put Put")
93 300D 245,000 miles (Moms Baby AKA "Sweat Pea")
87 300D 185,000 miles (Life giver, aka parts car for my 300SD)

Rear subframe mounts will affect the rear wheel alignment. This is where the rear subframe mounts to the body.

It is so much simplier on a VW Beetle.

__________________
'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

look at the picture, think of how angles would change with bad subframe bushings.

Attached Thumbnails

 

Still working on this DIY in my (laughter) spare time.

I had my W123 aligned yesterday at a small alignment shop. Used a "Hunter" alignment rack which was all computerized and charged me $35.00. And that was the price posted on the wall in the customer lounge. Well worth it, and the fine alignment even allowed for a slightly better time in my standard 15 second acceleration run. Good luck if your going to DIY your alignment. I have more worthwhile projects in mind.

__________________
Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!

Just had the 300SD aligned with the full setup (lasers and all) for 25 bucks. Normal charge for the shop is 40 dollars. IMO its worth taking it to the place (if you can trust them) for this simple job. Sure the average 34-40 is 1/2 a days work but an improperly done alignment can cost you a whole lot more in tires.

BTW this is the 2nd time any shop has ever touched my car. First to do the exhaust (REGRET THAT) and then this time to do the alignment. I know the guy personally and he is a good friend of the family (owner) so I trust him

Wow thats involved, I'd rather pay someone to do that and devote my time to other things. Thanks though.

__________________
2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Thanks for the info on the alignment. Sounds like I should just take it to someone.
I can't believe the cheap prices some of these people are getting for alignments.
$25??? $30??? I'm sure here in metro Atlanta, they're more like $80, and that's at a small general shop, not even a MB mechanic.
I called one independent MB shop, they wanted $140.

Whunter, Where is the DIY?

__________________

Remember the "spare time" comment...Roy is usually quite busy.

__________________
RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

99 W210 E300 Turbo Diesel, chipped, DPF/Converter Delete. Still needs EGR Delete, 232K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

Gone and still missed...1982 w123 300D, 1991 w124 300D

by everyone's posts it appears there used to be a DIY. I couldn't find it.

"quite busy" - this thread was exhumed 2 years posthumous! Its practically a skeleton.

__________________

Hey.. just out of curiosity since I have a used Hunter wheel alignment rack now, what is the degree of caster and camber for the 123 chassis?