Can someone give me the answer, will the rear wheel camber change when lowering or raising the rear end by using the rear spring pads that i`ve heard about on this forum. and by what degree will the camber change when using these spring pads. thanks.

Had no idea you were that touchy, here in Australia it`s a famous quote by our Prime Minister and used by everyone even our Arch Bishop has been used it in the media . (now removed)

[Edited by georgehifi on 06-25-2001 at 05:15 PM]

georgehifi, we have kept this forum clear of icons as you posted sh-- you know what.
I have the answer to your question, but feel there are those less potty mouthed.
I may be the only one to reply as I have, but that's the way I wanted the forum I call HOME to run.
The Spiderman!!!

Sorry my signature (sh-t in sh-t out) has now been removed, it was only a metaphor, (bad petrol in bad perforance) bad food in bad body functions). can someone help with my original question now that this has been sorted out. Thanks!

[Edited by georgehifi on 06-26-2001 at 03:15 AM]

Brother of the Benz, georgehifi
Consider the five link geometrey of the rear suspension. Now change the spacing between the standing member(the spring).
As this space is increased or reduced, the links move as well and the camber is changed.
The rubber spring pads increase or decrease the spring hight by 5 mm.
The replacing of a red spring with a blue changes the standing height by x mm depending on the model.
This data can be found in The Technical Data Book, Order No. 6510 1277 02 for your year and model.
What adverse effects this has on roadability is in question.
Depending upon the amount of camber change could effect tire wear.
You have to make the spring change and have the alignment checked and adjusted.
We Yankes are sensative, we take things differently than those of a different culture.
Just speaking for myself, I will try to stop mediphors that aren't, in my opinion, less tasteful than some others.
You have the right to express yourself as you wish.
As a new participant, welcome and don't let one old croany reflect a bad image of a fine bunch of Benz owners.
Happy Trails Beep Beep from The Spiderman in Houston!!!

Spiderman thanks for accepting me back into the clan, if i could ask your expert oppinion again, i do all my own work my self if i can, because the rates on Merc repairs over here are horendous, not to mention most of them do`nt know what their doing. my car is down by 1 inch on the right rear, and also that wheel has more negative camber than the left, what i`d like to know is if i raise the right by 1 inch with different size spring pads will that decrease the negative camber on that wheel. as i do`nt have the funds to get the so called experts to play with it. Btw the previous owner had and accident on that side and they have not set it up correctly and i`m trying to do it myself on the cheap. Maybe they even forgot to put the spring pad in, heaven forbid. just trying to get all the facts before i start dismanteling the rear end.

[Edited by georgehifi on 06-27-2001 at 04:13 PM]

Help! has anyone got the answer to my last question, i`d realy like all the facts before i start tearing the rear end appart. Thanks

Brother of the Benz, georgehifi
Accident seems to stand out in diagnosing your standing height difference.
1 inch is a lot for just missing the rubber pad.
A silly question, but are the wheels and tires the same size and pressure?
It sounds as if you may have a bent link or two.
Try looking at the links for damage and make comparitive measurements between the two sides.
Where are you taking the measurement from?
Do some under chassis investigation.
You never were excluded from the group, just an old cronny mouthing off.
Happy Trails Beep Beep from thr Spiderman in Houston!!!

You can tell if they put the spring pad in by visually inspecting it (get down there!) You should be able to tell which pad is in there the same way by the tiny bumps on it. I have to agree with Spiderman its probably a bad link. When you look there should be only one factory bent link on each side near the back. If any of the others are bent then you may have found your problem. Worse case scenario is the chassis could be bent from the accident.

Brother of The Benz, georgehifi
Rub a roo foot and say a prayer that you don't have a bent frame.
Get under that ole girl and do some lookin and a measurin.
Happy Trails Beep Beep from The Spiderman in Houston!!!

yeah, i`ve spent a lot of time under it, from what i`ve seen and measured so far, the good side has a spring that has a blue and white colour code on it the bad side that had the accident has no colour code on it, this is what makes me belive that this spring is causeing the drop in height by about 1 inch, that`s why i`d like to know if this is what has caused it to visually have more negative camber than the good side, and if raised if it will straighten up the excessive camber (give me more positive) thanks

PS merc australia do not have any information on colour coding of the rear springs

George, you will not solve your problem by shuffling spring pads. if one spring is damaged or the frame is damaged, a spring pad is not the answer. as Don said, one inch is a hefty makeup for a rubber pad. The change in height created by the pad is a static measurement. You have not really affected the geometry other than the height. You will have to determine what is out of whack. It may be the frame, diff carrier, or any of a number of suspension pieces. If you lower the sprung load onto the suspension, the negative camber will increase. Put a barrel of Foster's in the trunk and see what the rear wheels do....All other things being equal, there is something wrong with your rear suspension. A pad may be missing, but it is not likely the primary cause of your problem..

__________________
Jeff Lawrence
1989 300e
2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE
No matter what you fix, there will always be something else to fix..
"Warranty" is just another way of postponing the inevitable.

Thanks to all those who tried to help me with my problem, it was very frustrating, but persistance has paid off, what i have is a very slightly bent wheel bearing hub carrier, a couple of thou out on this has resulted in about 3degree of negative camber, i was wishing it was the 1 inch of sag in the spring, but a lot of calculating later showed me that it was impossible to get 3degrees of negative camber for 1 inch of sag. Thanks again to all those who tried.