Alignment Caster Problem? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ksing44 · #1 11-15-2004, 07:11 AM

I just had new tires installed and I had the alignment adjusted. The car drives straight down the road, but my problem is that I think the wheels are set back in the wheel wells. The wheels are not centered in the arch of the fender and I am pretty sure that they were more centered before the alignment. The printout indicates that the caster was adjusted to 10.7 on both wheels, which is within the published range of 9.92 to 10.92. Is there some other adjustment that centers the wheel in the fender, or is it the caster?

I am concerned because the new tires look very close to the back of the front wheel arch and I think I actually heard the tires rub somewhere when I was testing the handling of my new tires. I stayed with the already tested 205/55/16 tires to avoid any problems with rubbing and now I think I may have a problem anyway. I just wonder if my super duper Porsche mechanic may have messed something up.

I also noticed that my steering response seems very quick. At first I thought it was the new Bridgestone Turanza LSH tires, but now I wonder if it is something about the way the car is aligned.

I almost always have some little kind of issue after I visit the mechanic and it doesn’t seem to make any difference if I go to the Dealer, the Porsche racing guy, or the independent mechanic place with two guys from Germany. They aren’t usually big problems, but there is always something. Right now it is getting the alignment perfected. A week or two ago I had service at the dealer and they damaged the stereo volume knob when replacing the flasher switch. I also discovered a dent in the stainless steel doorsill in the rear passenger side door. I think they must have stood on the doorsill when they loaded the snow tires into the back seat. I have had really big greasy footprints on the carpets and scratches on the paint after a complimentary wash. They lost my keys and special key fob. After installing new brakes, the heat shields were bent so they were making all kinds of noise rubbing against the wheels. They scratched the dash when they removed and reinstalled the instrument cluster. They installed one of my snow tires backward on the rim. These are all minor things, but over time it gradually degrades the vehicle and I just wish I could find someone to take care of my car as well as I do. I am a victim, because I can’t do it myself. It just seems like I almost always end up with something a little worse than it was before I took it to be fixed. Sorry for complaining, but I am frustrated about the alignment and I really don’t have enough time and energy to chase down the mechanic and negotiate with him about what might have been done improperly.