I just had my 300e done as well, and as Larry stated, my car has never rode better -just an unbelievable improvement. My inde did the alignment, but i don't know if they used the spreader bar.

__________________
1993 300E
1999 E320 Estate

I had my W126 aligned at the local NTB shop last summer. I've always seen other MBs there and like the fact that a) they are friendly and knowledgable b) let me watch their work and answer my questions while their working c) they're the only shop I've seen recently that tightens lug bolts/nuts BY HAND and with a torque wrench instead of with the air wrench.

Having read about the spreader bar before having the alignment done, I asked the tech about it. He indicated that it simply makes the job somewhat easier by isolating the different adjustments but does take longer. He showed me the affects of the bar (which he hadn't been using but had in a corner) on the measurements on the rig's computer screen. When all was said and done, the results were identical with or without.

Total price: around $125 I believe although that included balencing all four tires as well.

jlc

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Jeff

'87 560SEL 267K (177K on motor) Blue/Blue
'98 Buick LeSebre 60K (wife's car)
'56 Imperial Sedan 124K
Past Cars:
'67 Dodge Monaco 130K (Sold)
'87 Chrysler 5th Ave 245K and going strong (sold)
'73 Plymouth Satillite 175K (sold)
'96 Chrysler LHS 80K (totaled)

The purpose of the spreader bar is to "load" the suspension.

If they don't use the spreader bar then the adjustment will have to be off.

Steve Brotherton (stevebfl) does not use a spreader bar, but then again he sits it the car to load the suspension, and he weighs about 250 lbs, if I remember correctly, which seems to approximate the affects of using a spreader bar.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

4-wheel alignment from my MB dealer in SB was $99, and it took a min. of 2-hrs. including lots of drive time.

He always gave me before & after specs, and also sets them up for the "Sportline" alignment specs.

:-) neil
1988 360TE AMG
1993 500E

if i am right the speader bar is to simulate the load on the front end of the car in motion. on a rear drive car the tires toe out under load. the specs in most books is for the car sitting still. when using the bar toe in has to be near zero. if running low profile tires the toe should be zero or the tires will show edge wear. using a bar makes it easier.
front drive cars are toed out and when under steady load the tires pull in to zero.
under hard acceleration front drive will toe in and make the car's steering feel stange.
sitting in the car helps get the camber reading correct from left and right sides. i sure hope this info is informative (and correct)

to Larry Bible, i have read a lot of treads that you have responded to. thank you for the great stuff.
your opinions and info have been right on. thank you.
from a 50 year old mechanic who has worked and talked to many a good mechanic. rich

__________________
88 300E White, sold 9-04
88 190E Black 2.3 sold
90 300CE White, Grey sold 12-24-04
92 400E White,Grey Sold 5-06
90 300CE 91K Signal Red,Black Sold 2007
1989 300CE Smoke silver,Tan Sold 1-08
1993 300E 3.2 M104 motor
1991 300CE White,Grey
1994 E420 beautiful car,gone to new home
1994 E320 Smoke an Parchment.Beautiful car

Is it expensive to repair frozen cam adusters?

Sears could not align my 1992 300D.

Right front is out of spec, but Sears technician said both cam adjusters are frozen.
He recommended me to see dealer.

The alignment was $89 (usually Sears charges $60, but mine was "difficult car" in their data base). However but they did not charge any $, because they could not align.

Below is their measurement (only out of spec items shown).

Front right.
Camber: -1.4 degrees
Caster: 10.7 degrees
Toe: 0.56 degrees

Front
Cross Camber : 1.0 degrees
Cross Caster: - 0.5 degrees
Total Toe: 0.71 degrees

I can't remember the name, but one of the well-known companies that makes alignment machines makes the equipment that Mercedes uses.

I wouldn't trust a Sears alignment technician to begin with, but if he's not using a spreader bar, as well as the correct alignment machine, I don't know how he could do it anyway.

Take your car to either a dealer or an independent shop that specializes in Mercedes and has the right tools.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

ktlimq,

I have never disassembled a 124 front end, but I have the 123's. I can't imagine how a cam adjuster can be "frozen." I would be very leary of the shop that told me that.

olpos,

Thanks for the comment. It was very timely. I just went through an attack on a timing chain thread that turned into an oil thread. Your thanks and encouragement are very timely. Us ol' bolt twisters need to stick together.

Suginami,

How goes it? Long time no talk to. I go to Kansas City now about once a month, so if you are going there, drop me an email to see if I happen to be in town.

Have a great day,

LARRY BIBLE, i saw that other tread but did not want to reply.
it had gone stupid. this is not to put down the other people who responded to it. it just had spun into dumb.

kt, i have seen frozen adjusters on mercedes and old mustangs.
just never had to change many.
some pop right out .
it would not hurt to try and change your own but spring tension may be to hard to deal with. careful use of a floor jack and pushing a new lubed one right behind the the old one may work.
when the old one is comming out that is the time to judge tension.hard to explain, but the hole should not stay empty at any time. look at where the the old eccentric was and put the new one back the same way.
good luck rich

__________________
88 300E White, sold 9-04
88 190E Black 2.3 sold
90 300CE White, Grey sold 12-24-04
92 400E White,Grey Sold 5-06
90 300CE 91K Signal Red,Black Sold 2007
1989 300CE Smoke silver,Tan Sold 1-08
1993 300E 3.2 M104 motor
1991 300CE White,Grey
1994 E420 beautiful car,gone to new home
1994 E320 Smoke an Parchment.Beautiful car

Doing great. The twins are 5 months old now and getting bigger. They are just about sleeping through the night, so we aren't completely sleep deprived.

I've been to Kansas City once in four years on business when a trade show was held there. Otherwise, I have no reason to visit.

I'll be in Dallas again in March - probably the third week. If it works out, maybe we can meet halfway for dinner or something.

Otherwise, I'll be in Dallas again in June at the Wyndham Anatole for the same trade show.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Paul,

Great, keep me informed of the exact dates and I'll try to make it work.

Congratulations on the twins.

Have a great day,

I went to a local alignment shop.

He
freed frozen caster and camber bolts,
freed frozen tip (or tie?) rods,
aligned front end and
centered steering
at $75.

Amazingly, he did not use computerized system. So I did not get a nice print of list of angles.

I chose this shop because others said the cost could be $200~400 due to additional labour and/or parts due to frozen adjuster.

The new computerized equipment is nice, but it goes for about $30,000 and up.

I personally think that someone who knows what they are doing can do a better job with a piece of string and a thumb tack than an ignorant operator can do with expensive equipment. Now an ignorant operator with string and a thumb tack is a scary thought.

If it drives well and does not cause uneven tire wear, then he did a good job.

Good luck,

The best alignment I ever got was from an independent in Daytona Beach (Star or Stark).
He did it with basic equipment and would adjust the toe just right.
He told me that over 100 mph the wheels undergo a gyro effect and the alignment can compensate for that.
He is used to aligning Porsche 911, his specialty.
The only alignment person that ever impressed me.

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2008 S550
2010 GLK350
1997 E420 (retired)
2005 CLK500 (retired)

I would agree here. Usually I have my car aligned by a guy that uses strings and weights. He is really old fashioned, but he does a lot of mercedes.

I would like to try to dealer alignment next time and see how it goes.

You can be as accurate as you want to be, it usually just takes time. Having a good operator always makes a big difference.

__________________
Current Stable:
1994 S500 v140, 210k miles, white with grey.

Former Mercedes in the Stable:
1983 300CD Turbo diesel 515k mi sold (rumor has it, that it has 750k miles on it now)
1984 300CD Turbo Diesel 150 k mi sold
1982 300D Turbo Diesel 225 sold
1987 300D Turbo Diesel 255k mi sold
1988 300 CE AMG Hammer 15k mi sold
1986 "300E" Amg Hammer 88k mi sold (it was really a 200, not even an E (124.020)
1992 500E 156k mi sold
etc.