W123 tech specs req'd - wheelbase length - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Stretch · #16 07-25-2010, 03:19 PM

I've just had a look at my front wheels and the gaps look similar to yours MBeige... would you be willing to measure your wheel base? I'd be interested to find out if it was 2795mm.

Mine is 2810 at the moment.

Gilly · #17 07-25-2010, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBeige

You would want a higher caster - the straight measurement on mine when I had an alignment was around 8.3 deg. To give you a better picture, the wheel was closer to the front edge of the wheel well arch than previously, where the caster was 6.x degrees.

This is how mine is right now after alignment.

It might not be too obvious here, but if you compare mine (yellow/beige w123) to the others the positioning of my wheel is not as it was above (this was prior to the alignment). Other w123s beside me had better caster, their front wheels were more forward in the wheel well than mine.

In the picture, it also looks like the yellow/beige one has the wheels turned to the left a little, which is changing the gap, or at least the appearnce of the gap in the picture.

MBeige · #18 07-26-2010, 01:34 AM

Actually the wheels on my 300D (yellow) are straight when I took that photo. The gap is that bad with the caster around 6.x degrees instead of 8.x to 9.x as it should be.

Gilly · #19 07-26-2010, 10:09 PM

Now that you mention it, it looks like the car itself might be pointing a bit to the left compared with the other cars, does that make more sense?

MBeige · #20 07-26-2010, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilly

Now that you mention it, it looks like the car itself might be pointing a bit to the left compared with the other cars, does that make more sense?

I suppose it could be, but I know first hand how large the gap was and how it is now.

I've been observing the difference in wheel well gap between various W123's to know that the caster on mine was bad at that time and for a while. The space in front of the wheel is larger than it should be. And this was confirmed when I had an alignment done, which corrected the problem.

whunter · #21 07-27-2010, 03:10 AM

wheel alignment castor
http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&q=wheel%20alignment%20castor&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-us&q=wheel+alignment+castor&btnG=Search&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

A Short Course on Wheel Alignment
http://www.familycar.com/alignment.htm

Wheel alignment theory
http://openlibrary.org/books/OL12143348M/Wheel_alignment_theory
WHEEL ALIGNMENT THEORY/OPERATION
1995 Volvo 850
http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/tech/service/850/WheelAlignmentTheoryOperation.pdf

Tech Talk FAQ - Wheel Alignment Terms & Theory
http://www.d26.net/240sx/mirrors/Whiteline_WheelAlignmentTermsAndTheory.htm

Stretch · #22 08-07-2010, 02:22 PM

I've found the actual numerical data for the caster, toe-in, and camber for the following vehicles => R107, W123, and W126.

I've posted the data here:-

W123 Caster / castor settings for a sedan / saloon?

I'm still working on the answer to the wheel base question. My final source of information comes back from holiday in a few weeks!

Stretch · #23 09-02-2010, 05:17 AM

Update:-

My final and official source of information is back from holiday:-

Apparently so long as your threaded attachments (on the suspension) are in safety you don't have to worry about the wheel base dimension - use it as a guide. Apparently there is no official tolerance for this dimension - neither for the dimension between the front wheels...