Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Tech Help

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-20-2001, 02:19 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,562
Would appreciate any insight regarding this alignment fix scenario.

Wheel Works shop in SF, CA recommends installing (longer?) MB adjustment bolts to allow my vehicle to be set in specs. I've not heard of this before and am wondering if this is kosher and reasonable? My car drifts a little to the right currently (stock size 195/65/15 Pirelli P6000 Summer tires and stock wheels, non-Sportline suspension with no mods.

Price for bolts is $16.95 each they said needs 4 of them (two each side) and two hours labor @ $80/hr to install. Does this seem reasonable?

My computer print out reads:

FRONT:
Camber: Left(-0.9) Right(-.01) *Outside range -0.8 to -0.3
Caster: Left(9.5) Right(10.1) *Outside range 9.7 to 10.7
Toe: Left(0.19) Right(0.17) *in range 0.08 to 0.25
SAI: Left(14.6) Right (14.2) *no range parameters
Included Angle: Left(13.8) Right(14.0) *no range parameters
Turning Angle Diff Left(....) Right(....) *range-1.58 to -0.58

FRONT:
Cross Camber: (-0.7) *Outside range -0.3 to 0.3
Cross Caster: (-0.5) *Outside range -0.5 to 0.5
Total Toe: (0.36) *in range 0.17 to 0.50

REAR:
Camber: Left(-2.2) Right(-0.8) *no range parameters
Toe: left(0.16) Right(0.20) *in range -0.07 to 0.49

REAR:
Total Toe: (0.37) *in range 0.25 to 0.59
Thrust Angle: (-0.02) *in range -0.30 to 0.30

Do these readings indicate any significant suspension wear issues and is the proposed fix kosher, reasonable and priced reasonably? Also wondering if any wear issues and/or this fix may be covered under the Starmark warranty?

Thanks in advance for your insight.
-fad

Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-20-2001, 02:35 PM
Lebenz's Avatar
backwoods member
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: In the fog
Posts: 2,862
Sounds a little odd.

Since it’s a Starmark car, why not take it to a dealer, show them the print out and get their opin?

When I had my Starmark car they encouraged me to have anything I felt was at issue looked at.

Food for thought

…Tracy


Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-20-2001, 03:49 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,562
Steve B? Alignment Question. Your thoughts>?

Thanks for the thought Tracy.

I will take the print out to fact authorized service for their opinion as well.

Wonder if anyone can offer more info based upon the computer readings? Steve B.?

Thanks
-fad
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-20-2001, 03:54 PM
Moderator
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Gainesville FL
Posts: 6,844
The left front Camber is the problem. The cross caster is acceptable and would make the car go to the left if at all. The cross camber is wrong and it is making the car go to the right. The proper arrangment would be to achieve higher camber on the left than the right with .5 degrees being the acceptable maximum. This will require getting the left side up and maybe reducing the right side.

I don't know what they are talking about with the bolt kits. I have never seen a 124 body without cams on the front control arms. The 210 chassis does need bolt kits as there is no built in alignment (no cams). The hole the bolt goes through is oval (just like cars with cams). The bolt kits have washers with plugs built into the back that moves the bolt to one side of the oval or the other (pos or neg).

BTW the camber in the rear is also wrong but probably isn't the cause of the pulling. There should only be .5 deg difference side to side even though their isn't specs in aftermarket books. The reason for no specs is because the camber is gotten from a chart that bases camber on ride height. In the current thread about lowering cars there are some places to buy adjustable camber links. I think that I would fix the right side even though I don't know the height. Two degrees is too much.
__________________
Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-20-2001, 04:24 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,562
Thanks Steve for your generosity, time, and wisdom.

Based upon this information, I'll take it back to Wheel Works (since I already paid for a one year alignment) and ask them to set accordingly.

If I put all the information together correctly, the vehicle should be able to be adjusted within "correct MB" specs without the addition of a bolt kit.

A sincere thank you again for your goodwill and time, and have a great day!

-fad
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-20-2001, 05:24 PM
Moderator
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Gainesville FL
Posts: 6,844
I just reread what I wrote and realized that I said to adjust the right rear. I meant to say the left rear (the side that was -2.2 degrees.

BTW check to see if you do have cams where the control arm bolts to the frame. It is likely that all four cams will have to be adjusted as the movements necessary on the front cams to get camber right will decrease the cross caster. The cross caster needs to stay about the same or at least .5 degree. The problem is that as you make the right side lower in camber with the front cam the caster will decrease a small amount. The left side will gain in caster as the camber is increased. I have done it so many times I very seldom need to do a cam twice. Those unfamiliar with the operation may have to experiment.

BTW its possible that ideal conditions won't be able to be had which may require a compromise. I would be less concerned with the actual camber than the difference. Just remember to have a .5 deg cross camber with the high side on the left and have a .5 cross caster with the low side on the left.

__________________
Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
C230K Coupe alignment question GuruGuy Tech Help 12 06-05-2004 04:04 PM
w124 coupe armrest question usaustria Tech Help 1 10-06-2003 11:39 AM
Any W124 (E420) Horror Stories? rmasteller Featured Cars 55 12-11-2002 08:27 PM
FS: Prime 1994 E320 Coupe Starmark (Below Blue Book) -fad Mercedes-Benz Used Parts For Sale & Wanted 1 05-24-2001 05:36 PM



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:02 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page