Wheel Alignment - Center Gravity Atherstone - Super Impressed

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jaymanek

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I have just completed a brake upgrade to my W124 500E.

Just in case anyone is interested, I went for the R129 Silver Arrows setup which has 334mm drilled and vented discs at the front and 300mm drilled and vented at the rear. Brembo calipers, OEM Mercedes Silver Arrows but refurbished as new. Fantastic Results – anyone has driven a 500E will know that the only thing one could fault with the car is the factory brake system, never inspired me with confidence.

To do this upgrade on a W124 500E, the lower control arms have to be changed to the new revised versions with smaller ball joints, otherwise the above discs catch.

Anyway, short version is after replacing the lower arms my wheel alignment needed doing.

We have normal wheel alignment equipment here at work but I thought I’d
treat it to a proper four wheel alignment done on a Hunter machine.

I have used various suppliers locally in the past when we have had cars in with tracking issues. All previous companies I have used simply set to factory specs and hope it works… In many cases it hasn’t worked and requires many visits to try and sort the issue out.

Wheel alignment is a very specialist job and I only know of a few companies that KNOW how to do it properly. Its one thing having the equipment, its another to know how to use it.

So I know that the best place in the midlands without question is Center Gravity (yes they spell it like that) very close to us in Atherstone. Normally this place has a lead time of around 2-3 months and so I have never used them before.

Well this time they got me a booking within a couple of weeks.
Today was the day.

I was greeted by Pete and Chris. If you do a quick google search, you will find many praising Chris, his knowledge and work ethic.
Well they weren’t wrong.

He was genuinely enthusiastic to work on my 500E, he said it was a treat for him. He mentioned he had researched the model night before. Given that their usual work consists of expensive Porsches, C63’s, RS4’s, Supercars and the like, it was quite flattering to hear!


In brief, procedure is to go for test drive with customer. Then discussion to ascertain what the customer wants.. some want to race, some like me just want a good cruising setup. After this they set to work, initially checking the entire car over… Shocks get checked, tyres checked, all ball joints, suspension components etc etc. Then adjustments begin with several test drives required. Then at the end the customer is taken for another drive to ensure they are happy and Chris will explain in detail every adjustment made, every part of the car touched etc. Should take around 3 hours.

Mine wasn’t so straight forward… Of course I maintain my cars to a high standard, but age will always be an issue. One track rod adjuster was seized. Chris had to remove it from the car and spend time to relieve, grease, adjust etc.. Many would have just insisted on a new part and stopped work. I was impressed by Chris’s persistence. I was booked in for the morning but the job took until 5.25pm. I was only charged £70 extra for the labour.

When I arrived to collect, Chris went through all the details. I thought he wouldn’t find a single mechanical fault with my car… I am quite confident about the condition of my cars mechanically… However he did find that the front shocks aren’t as efficient as the rears (rear shocks and spheres are new though) and that my rear suspension levelling arm has some excess play.

He explained every nut and bolt he had to undo, he explained that he removed the under trays to access the bolts and the fuel pump covers to access rear adjusters.

Given how fussy I am and also that I never EVER let anyone else work on my own cars, I was relieved that Chris had given such attention to my car.

Chris explained that they cannot simply adjust to factory data as attention has to be paid to the fact that I have larger and wider wheels and also that it has been lowered on Brabus springs. Chris explained all the settings and reasons behind them.

On the hand over test drive he demonstrated the effects of the setup and how it was now driving as it should be. He was pushing me for feedback and I have to say I was impressed with the car. I thought the car was fine before, but it really feels a lot more planted now, steering feedback seems a lot better too.

This chap takes his work extremely seriously and I suspect that he would have been there all night getting it spot on if he needed to be. His knowledge of wheel alignment is something I doubt many could even begin to understand never mind possess.

I am not often impressed like this, but the experience was exceptional. Yes more expensive than others, but worth every penny and I would recommend to anyone who wants wheel alignment done…

There was a Porsche there that had been brought over from Ireland just to have work carried out.

They of course know the WIM guys and speak highly of them.

Im so impressed im sat here writing this review at 8pm and I still have hours worth of work to be getting on with… but I wanted to jot it all down whilst I remembered.

Jay
 
I went there to get the 911 cornerweighted and set up to be a more track focused car , Chris certainly knows his onions re suspension setup ,it was a very long day but well worth it .

 
Jay, I presume the stock system is 300mm front discs, as per the R129?
 
I know Chris very well and we consult with each other every now and then problem solving.... He is fanatical about chassis calibration and there's only one way in his mind and that's the right way no matter how long it takes.. The car was in good hands indeed.
 
Doodle yes the 500E has the early R129 300mm discs up front..

Later SL's including the SL60 AMG had 322mm discs (I think) and then the Silver Arrows had the 334mm discs which are available as drilled or non drilled.

Apparently the Front & Rear 500E discs and calipers work really well to upgrade the W201 so I may well throw them onto the 190E Cosworth. Although never really had a complaint with those brakes.
 
320x30mm, left/right handed. They seem to be fine, I find it's the pads that always give out but there's not many options there, even fewer that I'd give house room too.

However, it appears the 190 Evo had the same front calipers, Pagid list RS42s in that fitment so will be giving them a go.
 
To do this upgrade on a W124 500E, the lower control arms have to be changed to the new revised versions with smaller ball joints, otherwise the above discs catch.

Anyway, short version is after replacing the lower arms my wheel alignment needed doing.

That's interesting.

I thought all 124s except the 500 and the 24 valve cars had the one type of lower control arms numbered: A1243303607 and A1243303707.

But you mention a "revised" one.

Have I got it wrong?

Mine's a 300CE-24 and it'll soon need the above LCAs at about 1000 Euro for the two. Can't complain at over a quarter of a million miles on the originals but it still hurts a bit.

Are there any alternative or better LCAs? Maybe there's some update that MB knows about but doesn't appear in the online catalogue?

Not interested in cheapo stuff though as I'm very content with the longevity of all my ball joints.

Thanks for any insight.

RayH
 
My arms were A1243303407, A1243303507

They only supply the later arms now, im not sure if yours will be the same number now.

The difference is that the early cars had a removable ball joint, the new replacement doesnt..
 

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