1994 E420 Rear end inside tire wear - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

DRICHFL · #1 03-09-2011, 02:18 PM

I have read countless forums about rear end tire wear on Mercedes and not it has been going on with my E420. I have looked into purchasing SPC rear end camber kits as well as the K-Mac camber kits. Both kits are not cheap, as a result I purchase to new Camber Strut Arm with new bushing included which was more reasonable to me.

I remove the Camber Strut arm from the vehicle and discovered that my camber bushing looks and appears to be in good shape. All the other bushing on the tie link, pushing link, pulling link and sway bar all look good. What could be causing this rear inside tire wear? Even if the camber bushing appear good could they still be the problem. I plan to replace them since I purchase two new ones for the rear.

Any suggesting to solve this issue.

JohnM. · #2 03-09-2011, 03:27 PM

If your car is not lowered, i.e., stock....you should not have any camber wear issues. Who did your alignment?

DRICHFL · #3 03-09-2011, 04:18 PM

After replacing my front tie rods, I discovered that the shops that I would take the car to get align were just taking my money. The adjustment on the tie rods were so tight I had to take both inner and outer tie rods off and put it on a press to unlosen it. I now do my own alignments. I was having tire wear back then. They would just rotate my tires, keep the car for a few hours and say it was align. It still gets me upset because now I'm sure these tire places are playing games.

I know how tire wear happens but I don't know why my camber would be off if the bushings appear to be in good shape. I have never lower the car. The spring may need to be replace. Once I get everything back together I will check the camber and hieght of the car rear.

JohnM. · #4 03-09-2011, 04:35 PM

That is some serious camber wear pictured. I didn't even have that many issues with a lowered car and no rear camber arms (I now have the SPC arms and tires wear perfect).

That is unfortunate that shops were taking advantage of you. What tools do you have to align the car yourself? Getting toe set it pretty easy with no special tools. But setting camber properly is a real b!tch without an alignment machine. If your arms are in good shape, alignment can be the only thing to blame, I think. Unless your car was hit on that wheel previously or something, IDK.

DRICHFL · #5 03-09-2011, 07:01 PM

They sale camber gauges on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BALL-JOINT-TIE-ROD-STRUT-ALIGNMENT-CAMBER-gauge-NEW-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem1e6203b33fQQitemZ130493428543QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccesso ries

I use the string to align my cars. I have no tire wear and the car drives straight. All my other vehicle have been fine with aligning them this way, but the E420 has me puzzle with the tire wear. I am 1 degree negative on the rear and the stock bushing look great. I guess once it has tension put on the bushing it must give a little.

I could not get the new camber arm install because I don't have a new tension pin/sleeve to put on the new camber arm, so I put the old camber arm back on. My next step is to purchase the SPC camber kit.

DRICHFL · #6 03-09-2011, 07:05 PM

Can someone give me the factory height on the rear of these cars. From the top center of my rear wheel well fender to the ground is 26 1/2 inches.

What is the proper way to calculate the height if I'm doing it wrong?

JohnM. · #7 03-09-2011, 08:12 PM

Something isn't right with the suspension arms or subframe on that side. Have you taken a pry bar to each and every connection and bushing to check for play, nothing should move even in the slightest? You really gotta pry hard.

If your car is not lowered you do not need the SPC or KMAC camber bushings. When the W124 is lowered the wheels in the rear go nearly -3 degrees negative. The camber bushings only bring this down to 1.5 degree or so. I have approx -1.5 on my car and the tires wear evenly and I don't rotate.

DRICHFL · #8 03-10-2011, 11:03 AM

Still puzzle about the rear end inside wear. Now that I think back I carried a lot of weight in the trunk of the car and I didn't pay much attention to the tires just proper air pressure. The car trunk would be pack to the max with stuff as I drove up and down the state. I would drive the car thousands of miles per month and one day I notice the inside wear due to vibration and loud noise from the rear. I don't recall having any inside wear before that.

Could having so much weight in the rear of the car cause that problem. I haven't been driving the car like that for atleast a year, I have just been putting thousands of miles on the Honda since its cheaper and better on gas. In addition, with all the weight in the Honda rear trunk I don't have that problem and I also know it is a different setup in the rear.

Another, idea would control arm bushing cause camber problem also.

93-300E · #9 07-28-2011, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnM.

Something isn't right with the suspension arms or subframe on that side. Have you taken a pry bar to each and every connection and bushing to check for play, nothing should move even in the slightest? You really gotta pry hard.

If your car is not lowered you do not need the SPC or KMAC camber bushings. When the W124 is lowered the wheels in the rear go nearly -3 degrees negative. The camber bushings only bring this down to 1.5 degree or so. I have approx -1.5 on my car and the tires wear evenly and I don't rotate.

Hi JohnM, which camber kit is on your car? is it DIY friendly? My car has an H&R / Bilstein HD and it was good on the stock suspension until a few days ago when my tires would rub when I am on sudden road depressions.

benzworldrefuge · #10 07-29-2011, 01:15 PM

Not sure if we are talking about the same thing when you talk about links. The wear you are showing can definitely be caused by a worn outer Lower Control Arm bushing. You have to take the plastic cover off the LCA to see the bushing. One symptom beside the worn tire could be a slight rear wheel steer when you go over a pot hole or anything that would make the wheel try to bounce. Just make sure both outers are good before going to anything else.

93-300E · #11 07-29-2011, 09:36 PM

I must be so sleepy I read back and saw that JohnM has SPC camber kit, also the OP may want to take a look at this thread

Rear camber on 95 E420

benzworldrefuge · #12 07-30-2011, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 93-300E

the OP may want to take a look at this thread

Rear camber on 95 E420

* and the outer LCA bushings (also mentioned in that thread)

DRICHFL · #13 12-04-2011, 11:39 AM

I guess I have no choice but to pay the money for the tool. Please can some one help me rent one or purchase one of these things less then a hundred bucks. A one time use item for me. Thanks.

hs_300e · #14 01-03-2012, 09:31 AM

Performance Products use to rent tools. You might give them a call.

KJZ78701 · #15 01-03-2012, 09:04 PM

I am curious to know where you set your rear toe and how you created a square box with your strings.

Inner tire wear, assuming good suspension pieces, is the result of camber AND toe. If you have zero toe and still have inner tire wear you have more camber than you need or are not driving hard enough.

Rotating tires often can mask alignment problems. If you are aligned well for your driving style, you should not need to rotate tires unless you want to go front to rear because your drive tires are wearing faster.