Hi all,
I've just finished replacing the control arm suspension bushes (aka front lower wishbone), front lower ball joints and steering damper on my 96k 1998 C280 Estate which I've owned from new (freeing the lower ball joints was a major pain - another story). Both the Haynes and Bentley manuals say I should now have the wheel/chassis/steering alignment checked (and I've seen posts mention this) but I can't see why. Everything goes back together in the same position it was originally, and there's nothing anywhere that can be adjusted (except the steering track rod ends, and they weren't touched other than simply separating the ball joint from the steering knuckle and then re-attaching). The raised shoulders of the big suspension bolts fit in the slots in the mountings snugly. I've driven the car on short runs in town and at highway speed and it handles perfectly with no pull, wander, judder, etc, exactly as it always has. Am I missing something? I know you can get special MB suspension bolts which can adjust camber etc, but why would I need these?
Thanks, John