W126 caster adjustment
 

Good people of Shopforum:

I have finished the rebuild of my SDL's front end. Included with this were the strut/guide rods. Is there anyway I can set the caster at home? Or at least get this close enough so I can get it to my alignment shop?

As I understand, this is to be 10°.

SURE ya can! Um, how close is that alignment shop again?

I would just eye ball it. With toe you can get the tape measure out and get close but camber... I dunno seems like I can tell if it's off or not by looking at it.

he said caster, which is 10 degrees, this is how much the wheels angle when they turn. Camber is zero degrees(tires straight up and down when pointed forward). I would say if the alignment shop is no farther than a few miles, and you drive slow... you should be ok, even if it is off. I just got my 126 aligned, and it was a tough job for my expert alignment guy. Try to turn slowly and take curves very slowly. I think you will make it to the shop.

oh well never mind then...lol

Time for bed

16 miles each way. :eek:

I can set the toe and camber without much hassle.

From more research it seems the caster is the relationship between upper and lower balljoints. Mine are pretty close as I measured before I removed the old.

Probably going to invest in a home kit so I can get the thing near perfect before I take it in to be done on a machine.

Why would you want to get it perfect before you get it aligned? Caster doesn't affect tire wear. When they adjust the camber it changes the caster anyway (albeit slightly). So if you're not spot on with the camber then setting the caster won't make any difference when they adjust camber.

Hey Hit Man X I love brunettes too!

Take a look at this thread (if you like lots of on line reading)

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=284337

Ah, well if it does not hurt the tyres then I will just leave alone and finish getting the camber and toe set so I can get the car to the shop