W126 axle shaft attitude
 

I'm trying to understand the rear axle and trailing arm checks in the MB shop manual. The check calls for setting the rear axle assembly on a jig. I don't have the means to do that. It appears that the neutral position of the axles is level. Can anyone confirm that level axles is a spec?

My SDL has always sat high. I took measurements of the axles and they tip down from the center about 4.8 degrees. I'm guessing there is negative camber in the wheels but I haven't measured it to be sure. It's not as severe as a 108 with a bad compensator spring.

Are there basic suspension and rear axle measurements that don't involve setting the rear axle in a jig? Other thoughts?

Thanks,
Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

As you know, I've been doing quite a bit of measurements myself on the SDL and am quite interested in this.

I jacked the diff to the point where the axles are dead level and the body was sitting approximately 25.5" off the pavement as measured at the fenderwells.

However, in this condition, there is still quite a bit of negative camber. The top of the tire is approximately 1/2 inch displaced inward as compared to the bottom of the tire.

The only way to eliminate the negative camber is to raise the body all the way up to 27.75 inches or so. This appears to be too high for a W126 and the drive shafts are definitely inclined downward significantly.

So, clearly, M/B desires the W126 to have negative camber in all conditons, as far as I can determine.

It would be excellent to know the nominal specs for the height of the body at the fenderwells.