w124 alignment nightmare - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

DieselJim · #1 07-07-2012, 10:43 AM

Got under my 1992 300d to see how things looked under there. The alignment tech at the chain tire store had done some nice damage. The shoulder farthest from the wheel on the inside eccentric bolt plate on the frame has been almost completely shaved off. Lesson finally learned the hard way. Take the car to where they know how to do the alignment. Any one have a thought? Will that have to be cut off and a new plate welded on or just weld a piece of metal to replace the shaved shoulder?

Gilly · #2 07-07-2012, 10:54 AM

Or one it's figured out why he ground that off, the alignment tech could just use a bar to set the caster & camber and just tighten the bolt up. Easier to do with the eccentric but not really a show-stopper. If there is a little lip left he probably can use the eccentrics, just don't loosen the nut as much.

DieselJim · #3 07-07-2012, 11:17 AM

Glad its not a show stopper. Front end needs a rebuild and I don't think the tech knew what they were doing. I thought those plates were pretty critical to how the eccentric bolts worked.

Gilly · #4 07-07-2012, 02:57 PM

Well, yes and no. Critical to how the eccentrics work, yes. Critical to getting the car in alignment? No. When the bolts are in the proper spot (which move because of slotted holes that the bolts pass through) they can just tighten the bolts and they will stay in place. Yes it is easier to turn the eccentrics, then tighten the bolts, but any tech should be able to shove the bolts back and forth with a prybar with the bolts loosened up a little. If there is a little of the shoulders left the eccentrics will probably still move the bolts around. If this doesn't work and the tech insists on having to use the eccentrics, yes then he could just weld on a few pieces of bar stock where the old shoulders were, can be as pretty or ugly as he wants it to be, would not have to withstand a lot of force. Once the bolts are tightened it doesn't matter.

97 SL320 · #5 07-07-2012, 09:49 PM

I kind of doubt someone would go out of their way to make their job more difficult. Are you sure the lip was there pre alignment? The lip may have been removed to get that last little bit of adjustment.

As others stated the lip is there to assist alignment, the eccentrics are generally too sloppy to provide any post alignment holding power.

Gilly · #6 07-07-2012, 10:07 PM

I agree that's why they did it. If he was going to do something like this it would have made more sense to grind down the edge of the eccentrics, not the chassis of the car.