84 300d negative camber eccentric washer bolt adjustment

[petecooke]

I have a 1984 300d and the front passenger tire has severe negative camber. Over 2 centimeters between the top and bottom of the rim when measured with a plumb line.

Tires wear to the metal every 2,000 miles.

I attached a photo of the front passenger eccentric washer bolt. There is also a eccentric washer on the other side.

I know I probably need to rebuilt the front end but is it possible to adjust the eccentric bolt to eliminate some of the negative camber?

If I rotate the eccentric washer so the thicker part is right of the center of the bolt, will this decrease the positive camber(which would slow down the inside tire wear)?

Thx

pete

[qwerty]

Originally Posted by petecooke

...but is it possible to adjust the eccentric bolt to eliminate some of the negative camber?

In theory, yes.

Originally Posted by petecooke

If I rotate the eccentric washer so the thicker part is right of the center of the bolt, will this decrease the positive camber(which would slow down the inside tire wear)?

That would have the affect of "shortening" the lower control arm, which would decrease negative camber or increase positive camber. (I assume that "right" refers to the right side of the car.)

[t walgamuth]

I think you have other problems. As much negative camber is available would not IMHO wear the tires that fast.

I bet your toed out severely and burning off the rubber that way.....could also be caused by worn front end parts too but toe out would be needed to produce that massive wear.

[qwerty]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I think you have other problems.

Pete thinks so, too. After all, he did say:

Originally Posted by petecooke

I know I probably need to rebuilt the front end...

[rscurtis]

Tom is correct, camber by itself will not wear a tire that fast.

[qwerty]

Originally Posted by rscurtis

Tom is correct, camber by itself will not wear a tire that fast.

It's all a matter of degree. Sidewalls don't wear very well when leaning into the pavement. By any measure, 2 cm of "lean" is off the charts.
That said, the same factors (frequently sagging upper control arm bushings on a W123) that contribute to negative camber also contribute to positive toe angles.