w116 1979 300sd.

Finally drove my car to the alignment shop after replacing the upper control arms, ball joints, tie rods, control arm bushings and these are the results that I got back:

Camber Before: Left 0 deg/Right 1/2 deg Positive
Camber After: Left 0 deg/Right 0 deg

Caster Before: Left 10 1/2 deg Positive/Right 10 1/2 deg Positive
Caster After: Left 10 deg Positive/ Right 10 1/2 deg Positive

Toe: 1/16" Toe In

"Camber and Caster are Adjusted to the Maximum"

The tech said that when he would adjust the Camber the Caster would get thrown out of spec and vise versa.

It was a non computerized alignment.

I then drove it on the streets and freeway and Car pulls to right.

What else could have been missed.
This alignment shop has been around for many many years and felt more comfortable taking it to this shop than Brk Mastrs.

The tech told me thats all that he could do and gave me the final numbers on paper.

Are these numbers acceptable?

How to align a W116.

The MB dealer is the only place that has ever been able to do a proper alignment on a W116. The entire system is adjustable, as opposed to newer car where only half of it can be adjusted (Saab is notorious for this designed fault)

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Nosce Te Ipsum "Know thyself"

This is good info....Very good info...thanks

The 126 FSM notes that camber changes affect caster and vice versa. It also gives an approximation of what the effect is. From memory, 1 to 1 with 1 setting, 1 to 1.5 the other but I forget which.

I don't have a day to spend going to, at & from the dealer getting my SDs aligned and live albeit reluctantly with what Firestone will provide. I bought a lifetime alignment so at least don't continue to pay for crappy work other than having to set another appointment. One store is within walking distance, another 5 minutes drive away. The car drives nice with new suspension.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

Did they use the spreader bar? If not, the stock specs are a starting point and you have to wing it from there.

Depending on how you drive, those front end numbers sound like they're in the ballpark. Did you get any numbers from the rear?

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

No spreader.
No numbers for the rear.

Swap wheels to eliminate the possibility.

x2

I have this issue with the winter wheels and tires on my w123. Swap out the fronts and it's gone.

My wrench mostly works on BMW and Mercedes and he sees it from time to time.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22