Hello all -
i am putting rack and pinion in my MB (w123 sedan) and i have a small concern with my turning radius (im paranoid) - could some one please measure from the frame (there is a few small holes, a square one inparticular on the bottom of the frame in front of the tire) to the CENTER of the tire at full turn rest.
i have my own measurements from before the work - but that also is from another conversion were the drag link was dropped...id like to compare it to oem

that way i can at least compare it to my situation and change anything if need be....

thanks a lot everyone!

Jake

take a picture of what you want measured.

The only problem with me helping you is that I do not have stock wheels at all.

__________________
Current Stable:
1994 S500 v140, 210k miles, white with grey.

Former Mercedes in the Stable:
1983 300CD Turbo diesel 515k mi sold (rumor has it, that it has 750k miles on it now)
1984 300CD Turbo Diesel 150 k mi sold
1982 300D Turbo Diesel 225 sold
1987 300D Turbo Diesel 255k mi sold
1988 300 CE AMG Hammer 15k mi sold
1986 "300E" Amg Hammer 88k mi sold (it was really a 200, not even an E (124.020)
1992 500E 156k mi sold
etc.

Thanks Austin...I was begining to wonder if any one would help me out here...Heres the photo.

Thanks
Jake

Attached Thumbnails

 

OK! I am going to email you my phone number. Call me tomorrow evening, I can do it then.

I want some more details.

I have a few sets of wheels
15x7 snow tires right now, I dont know the offset

17x8 ET35 BBS wheels

I can find the offset, then give you a measurement from the snow wheels. Do you want that?

Should I have the car resting on the ground or do you want me to put it in the air, then measure? I do not have lowered suspension like you though.

Let me know.

__________________
Current Stable:
1994 S500 v140, 210k miles, white with grey.

Former Mercedes in the Stable:
1983 300CD Turbo diesel 515k mi sold (rumor has it, that it has 750k miles on it now)
1984 300CD Turbo Diesel 150 k mi sold
1982 300D Turbo Diesel 225 sold
1987 300D Turbo Diesel 255k mi sold
1988 300 CE AMG Hammer 15k mi sold
1986 "300E" Amg Hammer 88k mi sold (it was really a 200, not even an E (124.020)
1992 500E 156k mi sold
etc.

I lifted my 300CD 1 inch off the ground at the front.

7Jx15H2 ET25 are my wheels

225/60/15 are my tires.

From the square hole to the left front tire at full left turn lock is

21.2000 inches

From the square hole to the left front tire at full right turn lock is

5.0960 inches.

I have 24" calipers so if you need something else let me know.

I took my left front wheel off so you could have the dimensions to the wheels such that you can make calculations going to your wheels so you get a correct measurement.

if you need anything else call me in the next fifteen minutes, or it can wait until tomorrow I presume.

__________________
Current Stable:
1994 S500 v140, 210k miles, white with grey.

Former Mercedes in the Stable:
1983 300CD Turbo diesel 515k mi sold (rumor has it, that it has 750k miles on it now)
1984 300CD Turbo Diesel 150 k mi sold
1982 300D Turbo Diesel 225 sold
1987 300D Turbo Diesel 255k mi sold
1988 300 CE AMG Hammer 15k mi sold
1986 "300E" Amg Hammer 88k mi sold (it was really a 200, not even an E (124.020)
1992 500E 156k mi sold
etc.

woah!

21 inches....

is that to the middle of the tire...or what? man - i have no steering connected to my car at all and to get a reading of 21 inches that sucker is at suicide turn...i see that you said youll email your number - ill go check for it...it will probably be easier to talk about this one...

thanks alot

Jake

you can call me now.

Yeah, 21 inches, I have a coupe though, I dont think that makes a diff.

__________________
Current Stable:
1994 S500 v140, 210k miles, white with grey.

Former Mercedes in the Stable:
1983 300CD Turbo diesel 515k mi sold (rumor has it, that it has 750k miles on it now)
1984 300CD Turbo Diesel 150 k mi sold
1982 300D Turbo Diesel 225 sold
1987 300D Turbo Diesel 255k mi sold
1988 300 CE AMG Hammer 15k mi sold
1986 "300E" Amg Hammer 88k mi sold (it was really a 200, not even an E (124.020)
1992 500E 156k mi sold
etc.

Test 1983 300CD

right hand turn 90 degrees at 5mph 1.6 turns right, 2 feet from curb, rear right tire 6 inches from curb at the apex, then back to 2 feet from the curb perpendicular to start direction.

Lock to lock 3.3 turns.

left hand circle (counter clockwise) 24 foot-to-foot measurement with 10.5 adidas running shoes.

Any other info?

__________________
Current Stable:
1994 S500 v140, 210k miles, white with grey.

Former Mercedes in the Stable:
1983 300CD Turbo diesel 515k mi sold (rumor has it, that it has 750k miles on it now)
1984 300CD Turbo Diesel 150 k mi sold
1982 300D Turbo Diesel 225 sold
1987 300D Turbo Diesel 255k mi sold
1988 300 CE AMG Hammer 15k mi sold
1986 "300E" Amg Hammer 88k mi sold (it was really a 200, not even an E (124.020)
1992 500E 156k mi sold
etc.

Austin - thanks for taking the time to do this....

the only thing left to know for me is were the middle of the front tire (outer tire...making turn direction) is located when you turned the steering wheel 1.6 turns to make the 90* turn...that will let me know how far the roadwheel has to turn out away from the square hole frame reference to make the actual turn...i figure that ill be just fine for normal driving and evasive street manuvers - i wont be able to make u turns however....much like tobias stated in my original rack and pinion post...i ll have three pointers

and thats okay with me aslong as i can make a hard 90* right turn...ill take the crisp fast, no slop steer of the rack over the u turn...which i dont think ive ever done anyway in old blue.

if i really get in trouble one plan is to modify the rack to take on a m class style were the rack bends back a bit, then connects to the steering arm...shortening the pivot, increasing throw of the roadwheel with current travel of rack...

my car with the rack has 2.5 turns lock to lock...so your info of 3.3 although helpful (and fast it seems) is not too relevent to me other than knowing stock for your car, i feel my lock to lock was closer to 4.5, but i can not recall...to many cars, other things to worry about.

thanks alot and if you need something that i can do - let me know

Jake

on the 90 degree turn, for what or which wheel(s) do you want the measurement from?

I can do that tomorrow when I get home from work/classes, about 7pm your time.

__________________
Current Stable:
1994 S500 v140, 210k miles, white with grey.

Former Mercedes in the Stable:
1983 300CD Turbo diesel 515k mi sold (rumor has it, that it has 750k miles on it now)
1984 300CD Turbo Diesel 150 k mi sold
1982 300D Turbo Diesel 225 sold
1987 300D Turbo Diesel 255k mi sold
1988 300 CE AMG Hammer 15k mi sold
1986 "300E" Amg Hammer 88k mi sold (it was really a 200, not even an E (124.020)
1992 500E 156k mi sold
etc.

that was quick

- i would like the front pass side on the hard 90* right hand turn....

that will tell me the max push the outer roadwheel has to travel to make the turn.


so...
if you say that it takes 1.6 turns of the steering wheel to turn right, than while the car is sitting (or if you want to jack it up a bit) just turn your steering wheel the 1.6 and then take a measurement of how far the roadwheel is from the frame using that square hole reference.

thanks
Jake

Hey man,

I have trouble sleeping on sunday nights because I remember all the stuff I was supposed to do, like this.

Sorry. Wouldnt it be better for me to get a turning radius inside of a cul-de-sac because that should really be the minimum?

Let me know,

__________________
Current Stable:
1994 S500 v140, 210k miles, white with grey.

Former Mercedes in the Stable:
1983 300CD Turbo diesel 515k mi sold (rumor has it, that it has 750k miles on it now)
1984 300CD Turbo Diesel 150 k mi sold
1982 300D Turbo Diesel 225 sold
1987 300D Turbo Diesel 255k mi sold
1988 300 CE AMG Hammer 15k mi sold
1986 "300E" Amg Hammer 88k mi sold (it was really a 200, not even an E (124.020)
1992 500E 156k mi sold
etc.

Austin -

Ill take any help that you can give, the tightest turn you can make...stop - get out and measure please, and then turn your wheel that 1.6 and measure that. (the hard 90* right hand turn)

thanks
Jake