Hi Guys,
I tried to search and cant find a lot, but Rag Doll has a LOT of Negative Camber, I mean EXTREME. Has anyone had experience on what causes it? I talked to an Indy and he said the front springs get old and sag, causing negative camber. I dont see the sagging in the springs, so I could be wrong, but before I go and get her aligned, I'd like to know what I'm up against. She has new Tie Rods, Idler Bushings, and Drag Link, so the front end is tight, I need to get it into a shop, just dont want to go in and do an alignment only to have to do it again in 3 mos. But I guess I'll bite the bullet for now.....

I'd like to see waht your answers are to negative camber!
Thanks
Wes

__________________
91 350SD
14 F150 Eco
19 Fusion Hybrid
11 GT500

normal. a lot is not. could be some tired bushings or tired springs. if it drives right and isnt wearing the tires funny i would not worry about it. personally.

it will make it corner better!

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Negative camber is not normal.

The upper control arm bushings are a likely cause of your problem. I had the same problem until I replaced the upper control arms.

I had a lot of negative camber and my tires were wearing badly. I replaced the upper control arms (EASY!), and 80% is corrected. Now I need to rebuild the lower arms to correct the rest before I buy new tires.

__________________
'83 240D with 617.952 and 2.88
'01 VW Beetle TDI
'05 Jeep Liberty CRD
'89 Toyota 4x4, needs 2L-T
'78 280Z with L28ET - 12.86@110
Oil Burner Kartel #35

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1...oD/bioclip.jpg

Thanks for the replies. Looks like I'll be ordering upper control arms, then get her aligned. I can't wait to have a straight wheel again! Paint next!!


Dub

__________________
91 350SD
14 F150 Eco
19 Fusion Hybrid
11 GT500

don't forget the inner bushings adn the sway bar bushings you need with a new Upper control arm.....

4 of each of those bushings....

__________________
Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Got new tires, had the alignment checked.

The machine said front right camber was -0.4deg. Caster was 8.1 and toe was 0.17 for that side, while camber, caster and toe were -0.1, 8.2 and 0.23 deg respectively.

So everything was within spec except -0.1 deg too much camber on the right.

The car tracks true, tires wear fine, drives perfect and steering is tighter than any other w123 I've owned.

Should I be concerned with this camber and take it to the dealer to get set with a spreader bar???

Thanks!

__________________
Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (116k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
2008 ML320 CDI (199k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (267k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K), 1985 300D (233K), 1993 300D 2.5T (338k), 1993 300SD (291k)

If it drives the way you like and isn't wearing the tires funny I wouldn't worry about it.

__________________
Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.