• The Forums are now open to new registrations, adverts are also being de-tuned.

Alignment questions

bio10155

New Member
Joined
Jul 11, 2013
Messages
17
Car
E350 E Coupe
Hi all,

I have a few questions regarding the geometry of our Mecs, more specifically cars form 2000+ onwards.

As most of you already know, cars that were produced post 2000, only had the ability of adjusting the front and rear 'toe'. The only remedy of rectifying front camber/caster settings was to purchase camber/caster bolts to allow for these settings to be adjusted.

Now, regarding the rear camber - there appears to be no such bolts from Mercedes to adjust any offset? So therefore here are my questions:

1. When manufacturing these cars - how do they align the rear or front the first place?

2. If misalignment happens (excluding hitting anything that would compromise the geometry), are they the results from warn bushings? If so, would new bushings 'realign' the rear camber? I.e. if they naturally drift from the specs?

3. Is there any tricks from stock steup to tweak the rear without resorting to aftermarket camber control arms?

4. Finally, what are my options to have adjustable rear camber - AS mentioned above, I can get control camber arms, but are there anything more subtle? I ask because I own a 2011 CLS which is financed. I would like something less conspicuous to not readily flag up the modification from a routine inspection?

Any opinions are most welcomed.

Thanks.
 
It's actually veering off a little on the alignment sheet - but for my sanity - i would like control of camber settings to an extent.
 
Do you have the sheet details?

Camber will only vary due to either wear, damage or such activity as lowering.
 
Don't think i have damage or wear as such, definitely not lowered. Anyway, I want some flexibility of rear camber adjustments..can anyone suggest anything besides camber arms? By the way, could the stock rear bushing be tweaked a little to give me possibly 10 minutes of play?
 
I think I need to paraphrase your comment so I fully understand your reasoning.

The car is on lease so you don't want a detectable mod, but want to mess about with the camber to give the phat look, knowing it will destroy the tyres, which the lease company will be paying for.
 
Hey guys - just an update, after considering my options regarding the alignment - I have decided just to go with having the front adjustable. I phoned MB up and asked if they had their adjustment bolts for the camber and caster. They provided me with the following part:

A 000 333 10 71

I went to kwikfit as they had the new Hunter system. Apparently there were the wrong bolts -as the technician said nothing was adjusting. I've been doing some research and there's another bolt: A 000 333 00 18. Is this the correct one for me? They look very similar in design. Another explanation could be my stock bush - do I need to upgrade them to accommodate these new adjustment bolts. I appreciate you input.
 
I now realize what the mechanic has done - he didn't move the bolt to fit in one of the three positions of the bush! However, i do have my reservations on whether I have the correct part for my vehicle...it appears the part A000 33 00 18 has two grooves on the bolt 180 degrees apart - can someone confirm this? My part A000 333 10 71 only has the one.
 
The bolt is number A000 33 00 18 and called the female. The bushings each have four rails, two at the front of the bushing and two at the rear. Each pair of rails ( male ) are set top/ bottom of the bushing. The adjuster bolt needs to be fed down the rails ( front or rear ) of the bushing allowing the male rail to fall into the female groves.

For camber adjustment ( toward positive ) the female groves need to face away from the car and this needs to be done with the wheels off the ground.
 
The bolt is number A000 33 00 18 and called the female. The bushings each have four rails, two at the front of the bushing and two at the rear. Each pair of rails ( male ) are set top/ bottom of the bushing. The adjuster bolt needs to be fed down the rails ( front or rear ) of the bushing allowing the male rail to fall into the female groves.

For camber adjustment ( toward positive ) the female groves need to face away from the car and this needs to be done with the wheels off the ground.

Hi there! So do I have the wrong part then - since I have the single groove bolts? These were the part for my VIN...
 
The bolt is number A000 33 00 18 and called the female. The bushings each have four rails, two at the front of the bushing and two at the rear. Each pair of rails ( male ) are set top/ bottom of the bushing. The adjuster bolt needs to be fed down the rails ( front or rear ) of the bushing allowing the male rail to fall into the female groves.

For camber adjustment ( toward positive ) the female groves need to face away from the car and this needs to be done with the wheels off the ground.

I'm just curious - is this Tony?

I've been doing a lot of research regarding the MB alignment and it seems that a lot of people recommend WIM. To that note - I went on your forum and I must admit - you really know your stuff! Just comparing my experiences of Kwik fit - I don't believe they actually know how to use their hunter system when they tried aligning my car - a lot of things they 'should of' done were not done. At the moment my steering wheel is slightly off centered to the right and my wheel wobbles ever so slightly which not the case before i had it aligned.

I would like to get my car aligned up right - first time, therefore I would like to have WIM to install my bolts and do a full geometry. I will give you or Pete a call tomorrow and get myself checked in.
 
Yes i am Tony and thanks for the kind words..... The other bolt has a male "butterfly" washer and the car has a female cut-out on the cross member, in the event the ones you have are wrong we can just swap them over for the correct one's we have in stock.
 
Yes i am Tony and thanks for the kind words..... The other bolt has a male "butterfly" washer and the car has a female cut-out on the cross member, in the event the ones you have are wrong we can just swap them over for the correct one's we have in stock.

You are most welcome Tony!

I must admit, it's quite rare to talk to someone who actually talks 'geometry' and knows it! I'm glad you do, and have a very good reputation at hand. Hence - you have my business :) Anyway, thanks for the information you have supplied regarding my version bolts. I have spoken to MB again this morning to double check they are the right ones...so far! Anyway, I've spoken to Joe this morning at WIM and have booked myself in on Saturday 11:00am. Looking forward to meeting the experts in person!

Thanks again,

Tim.
 
Last edited:
Got my car booked in at 1pm on Saturday :D
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom