Well, I finally got my appointment at the dealership for my $50.00 alignment. I've got connections there.

So, they put the SD up on their computerized rack with sensors on all four wheels and the tech adjusts caster, camber, and toe until all six bars are in the green (three parameters on each side).

Takes about 45 minutes total.

I take it home and it's windy and rainy so I didn't think much of the fact that it was all over the road.

You think they know that they're doing??

ok Brian,

My independent alignment shop uses strings... .and nothing ever looked like that. Even before I replaced the bent spindle.

how'd you swing the $50?

__________________

Jealous of the price.

What should i be looking for in the pictures? They look fine

__________________
-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

I'm having trouble telling much from the photo, is it toeing out or is the wheel just turned?

the camber looks fine, if thats what your trying to ask.

__________________
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

Yep, fancy machine with all the technology...........and that's what you get.

My brother is the operations manager..............we give the dealership $50. and I pay the tech to do it after hours...........another $40...........so, it's really $90.

The wheel is perfectly centered in both photos. The wheel was untouched and the vehicle was not moved............and both photos were taken.

Well, it does seem to be going in two directions at once. I would take a look and make sure nothing was left loose before driving it back.

Yeah, the toe is not adjusted correctly. Take it back and have them check it.

__________________
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

My local dealership sent me a $50 gift card the other day! I was surprised! An alignment for the w123 was exactly what I was going to spend it on. Let's see, $119.95 their normal everyday low price - minus the $50...whoooeeee, seems like a deal to me!

I called to make sure they will not align IF there are parts that need to be replaced and I was assured that they won't

__________________
Dale

..........ya think...........

I originally thought that something must be loose, but I've driven it another 30 miles or so and it's just squirrelly as hell............nothing loose as best as I can tell.

If you went to get the lights in the green, then you got what you paid for. If you went to get your wheels properly aligned; then you need to ask for a refund. I see way too much positive camber. And if your steering wheel is centered, then the passenger wheel is toed outward making one tire be going straight and the other tire trying to make a right turn.

BenzDiesel

I don't know how they can screw up that bad with one of those alignment machines, it's either green or red.

Maybe it was out of calibration, or the reflector jig wasn't installed correctly on one of the wheels? You don't have a bent wheel or anything?

BenzDiesel

I was there with the tech when he did it.

He had a problem with the RF wheel pickup............reset it..........and the display would respond properly when the various adjustments were made. I certainly didn't observe any malpractice there. Must be a machine issue where the error goes right onto the vehicle and the tech is none the wiser.