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#1
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85 300d Alignment
For a few months I have looked around chicago to find someone who can properly do an alignment on my 300d. I was told I have to find someone who has the MB alignment Bar, and have found none.
Should I give up and goto the Dealer? EEEEK! Anyhow- the other day my car was steering itself so much that I will not even consider driving in snow. Please don't snow (oh wrong forum). Anyhow- anyone have an idea of somewhere in the Chicagoland area I can get a good alignment job done... ? (i've spent so long looking that my new tires are showing camber problems- outer edges of both fronts are worn) Tx!
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OBK #32 1985 300D Turbo (15 gal Greasecar kit installed) (258,900+mi.) Thanks- Tachometer Fixed. Middle Vents Fixed. Transmission- 1000% better shifting. Vac leaks- Fixed, Brakes replaced, Steering Box replaced, .... Information Rules. |
#2
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My advice is to find a competent front end shop and be happy. That's what I have been doing on my 300D for the past 15 years. My car steers fine and the tires do not wear unevenly.
What's the difference between a perfect alignment and a good alignment, anyway? One pothole? |
#3
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Not all shops can adjust these things, but any with a laser aligner should work. My nearest Sears.
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83 SD 84 CD |
#4
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Sounds like you need a lot more than an alignment if its driving that poorly. Jack up the front and tug and pull on the wheels, see if you can't find any slop.
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1999 SL500 1969 280SE 2023 Ram 1500 2007 Tiara 3200 |
#5
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I just brought it by Sears- today.
They won't touch it, said they cannot. Said I need to find the MB tool. Hatterasguy- thanks, made a note of that. I'm on it. There are indy mechanics around here that are good with diesels, but none I have found have the magic tool. Um... yup.
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OBK #32 1985 300D Turbo (15 gal Greasecar kit installed) (258,900+mi.) Thanks- Tachometer Fixed. Middle Vents Fixed. Transmission- 1000% better shifting. Vac leaks- Fixed, Brakes replaced, Steering Box replaced, .... Information Rules. |
#6
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There is nothing "diesel" about a W123 front end.
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#7
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"There is nothing "diesel" about a W123 front end."
That's true. What I ment was that out of the indy mechanics I know, that DO know what their talking about... I had a bunch (3-4) of indy "certified MB mechanics" tell me I needed a new transmission and they said that my cars vac system had nothing to do with it... I fixed the vac problem myself, and thus the transmission. So, I'm not going to trust them with anything. Thats what I kinda ment. I should left the word diesel out...
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OBK #32 1985 300D Turbo (15 gal Greasecar kit installed) (258,900+mi.) Thanks- Tachometer Fixed. Middle Vents Fixed. Transmission- 1000% better shifting. Vac leaks- Fixed, Brakes replaced, Steering Box replaced, .... Information Rules. |
#8
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Quote:
Good luck.
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83 SD 84 CD |
#9
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"My local Firestone did the 123, no problem."
Give your local Firestone a call. I know that the MB Indie near me uses Firestone to do alignments on W123s.
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========== Kenny '83 300D 363333 Miles '83 300D 284000 Miles |
#10
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When I checked on prices a while back the dealer was cheaper than the normal tire places.
One tire place said they couldn't do it due to the age of the vehicle. Seems the kids who work there didn't like getting their hands dirty. I was also told aligning such an old vehicle requires more time than a modern car so the price was $20 higher. They were going to need a special person on staff to do the alignment. Yeah.
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JWJ 1983 MB 300D - > 430,000 miles - Deep Blue - Bilstein Comforts - 0-60 in 24 seconds - 27MPG 1985 MB 300TD (wagon) - > 275,000 miles - Manila Beige - Thule rack - 0-60 in 18 seconds - 22 - 25MPG Biodiesel, Mobil Delvac 1, and Viton fuel lines! |
#11
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sounds like they already had a few "speschul" people on staff that day... I just replaced my tie rods, center link and steering dampener, then bought lifetime alignment on my W123 at Firestone.
Quote:
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1985 MB 300D/T Fell off the WVO bandwagon when people started trying to charge $2.50 a gallon for dirty vegetable oil. |
#12
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I just had my alignment done by a dealer. Not a great experience - use the search function and you can see for yourself. Brake check says they can do it - and you get lifetime alignment and balance for $100 plus $15 per service.
The dealer ship says they used a spreader bar, but they mainly used a laser and mirror lift system. I think I will go to BC next time. Or an indy- not back to the dealer!
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Current Mercedes 1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed Gone and fondly remembered: 1980 orient red 240D 4-speed Gone and NOT fondly remembered: 1982 Chna Blue 300TD Other car in the stable: 2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT |
#13
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local dealers
I have posted this a few times .... to find a place - like a Ford, Chevy, etc dealer who has a computerized laser alignment tool. The database of these machines normally have specs of domestic & foreign cars including MBs. I bring mine to our Ford dealer all the time for $52.
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the sooner you start... the sooner you'll get done If it ain't broke, don't fix it.. Its always simpler to tell the truth... 2007 Honda Accord EX 2007 Honda Accord SE V6 96 C220 97 Explorer - Found Another Home 2000 Honda Accord V6 - Found Another Home 85 300D - Found Another Home 84 300D - Found Another Home 80 300TD - Found Another Home Previous cars: 96 Caravan 87 Camry 84 Cressida 82 Vanagon 80 Fiesta 78 Nova Ford Cortina Opel Kadet 68 Kombi Contessa |
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