2000 W210 Front Wheel Alignment

[ShinyF1]

I've just put 2 new tyres on the front end of my car [235/45 17s] as the outside edges had worn down quite nicely thankyou. I should have spotted it sooner but the car was tracking beautifully - dead straight.

Anyway I had the tyrefitters [Protyre in Slough] check and adjust the alignment using their techy equipment. The car now feels as if it is pulling slightly to the left. Before you ask yes I have tested this on a flat [not cambered] road to be sure.

Does anyone know if the correct setting has a natural bias to tend towards the nearside or should I expect it to track dead straight?

 

[Dieselman]

It should track straight on level road.
Check the rear setup before setting the front.

 

[wongl]

I've just put 2 new tyres on the front end of my car [235/45 17s] as the outside edges had worn down quite nicely thankyou. I should have spotted it sooner but the car was tracking beautifully - dead straight.

Anyway I had the tyrefitters [Protyre in Slough] check and adjust the alignment using their techy equipment. The car now feels as if it is pulling slightly to the left. Before you ask yes I have tested this on a flat [not cambered] road to be sure.

Does anyone know if the correct setting has a natural bias to tend towards the nearside or should I expect it to track dead straight?

I am having the same problem after getting the tracking done at the dealership where Steve works. Steve got the best technician to do the alignment, after which it pulls slightly to the left, and I was told that this is normal. Happy to take Steve's word for it.

 

[Dieselman]

Post your alignment results up and I should be able to say why it's pulling.

I've just had mine re done and it's a lot better due to fitting a camber bolt but it has a very, very slight bias due to now needing a castor bolt now.

The centre won't fit any bolts so it will be another trip if I can be bothered.

At least the rears are now tracking straight with a thrust angle of -0.01 minutes.

 

[BenzComander]

Post your alignment results up and I should be able to say why it's pulling.

I've just had mine re done and it's a lot better due to fitting a camber bolt but it has a very, very slight bias due to now needing a castor bolt now.

The centre won't fit any bolts so it will be another trip if I can be bothered.

At least the rears are now tracking straight with a thrust angle of -0.01 minutes.

Dieselman, I understand the rear track can be adjusted on the W210 estate? I have wear on the inner edge of my rear nearside tyre, quite severe wear in a two inch band.

Is this a trip to the stealers to get it set up, or are there trusted indies that understand these cars?

 

[karlefr]

Well, all of my cars did or do pull slightly to the left, and I was told by a MB technician that this is correct, in case you dream while driving or in an emergency the car will go towards the kerb and not into the oncomings traffic.
By the way my right hand drive S124 (imported from Germany) was pulling sightly to the right until I got it tracked here in Ireland, and from that moment it pulled slightly to the left.
Tyre wear was and is always normal!

 

[television]

Dieselman, I understand the rear track can be adjusted on the W210 estate? I have wear on the inner edge of my rear nearside tyre, quite severe wear in a two inch band.

Is this a trip to the stealers to get it set up, or are there trusted indies that understand these cars?

Wear on the inside would indicate that the camber is out, or the car is over loaded on that side

 

[ShinyF1]

Post your alignment results up and I should be able to say why it's pulling.

I've just had mine re done and it's a lot better due to fitting a camber bolt but it has a very, very slight bias due to now needing a castor bolt now.

The centre won't fit any bolts so it will be another trip if I can be bothered.

At least the rears are now tracking straight with a thrust angle of -0.01 minutes.

Found the invoice and report at last. Here are figures:

 

[Dieselman]

Slightly odd results there. No front caster and no rear camber readings, strange.

You have unequal front Camber so it will have a bias to pull the steering but not much and unequal rear caster.??
I don't see how they can measure that and suspect they mean camber.

There is no front caster shown. Unequal caster will cause the steering to turn towards the side with less caster so you have to act against it.

The rears are well within tolerance and should be giving a slight R-h bias of only 1 minute so the problem is up front.
The cambers are significantly different and there is no caster reading, did they not take measurement on 'the turn' or 'pressed'? They need to to obtain all the readings.

See how the tolerances for the rear toe are different. That's how they compensate for driving either on the right or the left side of the road.

It looks like you may well need some camber bolts fitting. Not hard to do but get the alignment centre to do it if you can because fitting the camber bolt throws the tracking 3mm out and shreds the tyres until sorted.

Shreds being noticable wear in under 10 miles..

 

[ShinyF1]

Slightly odd results there. No front caster and no rear camber readings, strange.

You have unequal front Camber so it will have a bias to pull the steering but not much and unequal rear caster.??
I don't see how they can measure that and suspect they mean camber.

There is no front caster shown. Unequal caster will cause the steering to turn towards the side with less caster so you have to act against it.

The rears are well within tolerance and should be giving a slight R-h bias of only 1 minute so the problem is up front.
The cambers are significantly different and there is no caster reading, did they not take measurement on 'the turn' or 'pressed'? They need to to obtain all the readings.

See how the tolerances for the rear toe are different. That's how they compensate for driving either on the right or the left side of the road.

It looks like you may well need some camber bolts fitting. Not hard to do but get the alignment centre to do it if you can because fitting the camber bolt throws the tracking 3mm out and shreds the tyres until sorted.

Shreds being noticable wear in under 10 miles..

Thanks very much dieselman - is the current set up likely to cause accelerated uneven tyre wear? If so I will invite the alignment centre to comment on your observations....

[apologies if a stupid question]

 

[Dieselman]

It will have a very slight tendency to wear the o/s front more on the inside but not worth talking about, and it is within spec.

 

[BlackC55]

The castor values are very important for the pulling issues.

Some machines can't measure it.

Ask them why there are no castor values.

And as DM said there is no adjustment for rear castor values and they have shown no camber values. Strange.

 

[ShinyF1]

The castor values are very important for the pulling issues.

Some machines can't measure it.

Ask them why there are no castor values.

And as DM said there is no adjustment for rear castor values and they have shown no camber values. Strange.

I did have to direct the technician to the correct car model on their computer system - I almost was 'aligned' as a W211 Elegance!

 

[Dieselman]

I did have to direct the technician to the correct car model on their computer system - I almost was 'aligned' as a W211 Elegance!

You should have left him, maybe it would've morphed into one...

 

[ShinyF1]

You should have left him, maybe it would've morphed into one...

Probably would have only got an early model though knowing my luck

 

[Dieselman]

Lol...

 

[BlackC55]

The alignment values differ between models of 210.

One 210 is not the same as another.

I take it the fuel tank was at least half full and the washer bottle full, tyre pressures good as this plays a part in the ride height.