Today after getting the alignment done on my car, after rebuilding the front, the tires are not anywhere close to being in the center of the wheel well.
They are at the front.
It looks like if I shorten the guiderods, that will bring the wheels back, will that also adjust the alignment?

Or can I just make the adjustment and be ok.

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83 300SD Dark Silver Dark brown inside

The guide rods affect caster, so if you adjust them to move the wheels you will affect the alignment. But having the wheels at the front of the wheel wells sounds very odd. Can you post a photo?

ok,
If I did the right, here is a photo. See how far forward the tire is.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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83 300SD Dark Silver Dark brown inside

who did your alignment?

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1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

He had the same place align it that I had my car done I think, Carl's alignment and brake in Vancouver. I would take it back there talk, to Carl and ask him to explain what is going on. I don't see how they could be that far forward and not have a huge amount of tow-in. Can you post a profile shot of the wheel well?

Edit: I guess in theory if the guide rod was adjusted way long the tie rods might be able to be adjusted to compensate to remove the toe-in, but it seems like there would be major binding at the LCA bushing. Did you match your guide rods to the length they used to be when you installed the new guide rod mounts?

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

did he give you a print out when he aligned it?

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1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

In the 123 Chassies and Bodie Service Manual they say the Guide Rod Adjustment has an effect on both Caster, Camber and Toe In.
Adjustment of the eccentric cam on the LCA bolt has an effect on Caster and Camber but not so much on the Toe In.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I did not get a print out. I took it to les schwab.
The guide rods were matched to about where the old ones were when I installed it.
They are no where near there now. They are cranked way out pushing the wheel forward.

Did they use those rods instead of adjusting the LCA ecentric? or what else. Feel like I will have to give them more info, or cut my loss and go elsewhere.

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83 300SD Dark Silver Dark brown inside

It will not cost you anything to take the car back and ask them. Also, if you have a pic with the car before the alignment that shows where the wheels were before I would bring that along.
Also you said you rebuilt the front end but what exactly was rebuilt on it?

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

replaced on the front end were the following,
Upper and lower ball joints
LCA bushings
Guide rod bushings
Guide rod mount bushings
the bushing at the end of the guide rod
shocks
wheel bearings and races
most everything!

I do not have a photo of before. But my other car and parts car do not have this issue. The wheels on them are centered in the wheel well.

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83 300SD Dark Silver Dark brown inside

i'd take it the alignment shop and ask him. He probably didn't adjust it correctly. You should have taken it to the dealer, its the only place where it is done correctly. It cost me 125.00 for a 4 wheel alignment.

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1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

Four Wheel? I don't think there is an adjustment for the rear suspension. Everything has to be in top shape to be correct back there only.

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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

there is alittle bit of adjustment.

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1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

Do you know where? I curious. All the alignment shops I've been to both my '83 and old '84 could not be adjusted at all in the rear.

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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

This appears to be an attempt at one of those "toe only" alignments. The "alignment" guy is definitely familiar with the adjustment points and sequence for an MB.

According to the FSM, Camber (LCA eccentric) and Caster (guide rod) are adjusted first, with the wheels pointed straight ahead, as their adjustments are interrelated. Then toe (tie rods) is set with the steering box pinned at center and spreader bar tension applied.

Personally, I would ask for a refund and take it to either a dealer or someone with a laser alignment machine. The caster should be about 10 degrees and yours appears to be about 15+. The way it is set now, you probably have a lot of strain on your recently rebuilt front end and could see premature failure of components. This is not mentioning what safety factors are compromised.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )