My newly purchased 1984 500SL doesn't handle very well. Actually, it's O.K. on flat roads, but it's a real handfull on roads that are dished because of a lot of truck traffic. My first though was that an alignment would fix this up.
But, looking through the repair bills that I got along with the car, I discovered that a cracked front subframe was replaced and an alignment was attempted with the following comment
'VEHICLE DOES NOT SIT AS PER DESIGN , RENDERING SPEC'S ALMOST USELESS, TOE AND CAMBER ADJUSTED TO SPEC, CASTER WAS NOT ABLE TO GET INTO SPEC's. R/SIDE READING IS HIGHER AT 5.0 THAN THE LEFT SIDE WHICH SHOWS 3.1'

This vehicle has AMG wheels and body kit. Was there usually any suspension changes that would go along with the AMG package?
If not, what could 'vehicle does not sit as designed' mean. Weak springs?
I'm assuming that the dealer would have the proper spec's for the 500SL.

Any help is appreciated.

If it hasn't been done yet, you are probably due for a front end rebuild. All new bushings, springs and joints. Also new rear springs.

WHY DON'T YOU ASK YOUR SERVICE ADVISOR WHAT THAT MEANS. SINCE THATS WHAT A SERVICE ADVISOR IS THERE FOR.

Stop yelling MG - use lower case.

It sounds like this car has had modifications and may have been in a big accident. Also, wider/lower profile tires on wider wheels will contribute to "tramlining" - following ruts in the road. Back in '84 "AMG" was just an aftermarket company, and not all of their hardware was well engineered.

One should always shoot for equal camber and caster on each side, otherwise the car could pull, but if the chassis is tweaked from an accident, equal alignment settings on each side are often unobtainable.

Wish I could offer you more, but unfortunately, I think you've probably bought yourself a big headache, which is not uncommon for an 20 year old car. Is it too late to try to return it and get your money back?

Duke

I would take it to a good frame shop and get an opinion ,they can do wonders with their modren equiptment to bring what ever is out of whak back to factory specs. They can also advise you as what parts need replacing..........

William Rogers........

If there is really 2 degrees difference in caster the car should noticably pull to the side of lower caster.

Before you do anything to the suspension, find a set of good wheels and tires and try them out. The suspension on the early 107 was designed in 1968 for the 114/115 body and is really a POS for a performance car. In 86 the suspension was redeigned to bring the caster to over 9 degrees and a better tracking car was the result.

See how it does with the proper 205/70 14 tires/wheels it was designed for. The early 107 car will not like oversize tires and wheels and it really hates wheels with the wrong offset!

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

All suspesion and steering components are tight and in good condition. I was wondering if the springs had sagged although that wouldn't really explain the left to right caster difference would it.
I will probably take it to a good frame shop and see what they can determine. If they don't have spec's for the 500SL, would the 450SL be the same?

YA, THATS IT. REPLACE THE SPRINGS. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLES SAI (STEERING AXIS INCLINATION). ALSO, WHERE IS THE VEHICLES GEOMETRICAL CENTER LINE MEASURING OUT AT? THATS ALSO A POSSIBILITY, BUT I WOULD PUT MORE EMPHESIS ON THE SAI. REPORT BACK WITH CROSS CAMBER, CROSS CASTER & TOTAL TOE MEASUREMENTS & SPECS.