Tracking

[tristand]

Hi There,

Last week I replaced my two front tyres because of uneven wearing. The outside of each tyre was worn nearly bald. I'm assumed that the tracking was way off so I also opted to get the car tracked whilst in the Tyre Centre.

They put on the new tryes and did the balancing, put the wheels back on. The person at the desk suggested I go down and have a look a the car being laser tracked, said it was "a great machine, very few around", etc.)

I observed the process from start to finish(20-25mins). Having never had a car tracked before, I really don't know what is right and what is not. Here is what worried me-

• The operator struggled to find an appropriate car in the system computer. I informed it that it was a C207 if that helped, A207 would be alternative. He settled on a S207 CLK Sport, which may make sense as I understand the E-Coupe is based in a C Class chassis
• On the rear, he only made adjustments to the Rear left hand side wheel, and had to partially remove a panel from the chassis to do so.
• He then moved to the front and only made adjustments to the front right hand side wheel

Considering the level of wear on the previous tryes, I would have thought there would have been a bit more tweeking?

I was in a rush, so didn't read the report of the tracking. Later when I got home had a read over. I really don't know what to look for but it reads strange in some areas to me.

Some previous values are lower than final values. Some final values seem to be outside the reference values.

I'm really at a loss to deem this a successful tracking report or a pile of cr*p.

I took the car on a 600Km run yesterday and there is a noticeable vibration in the steering wheel at 80mph upwards. This vibration is noticeable on different surfaces and a road I travel regularly. This defiantly did not exist before. Could this be attributed to new tyres, the balancing, or the tracking?


Car and Tyre Details
Car: E250 Coupe - C207 - 2009
Old Tyres: Dunlop 235/40 R18
New Tyres: Continental 235/40 ZR18 MO

Comments on the validity of the report would be greatly appreciated.

http://imageshack.com/a/img838/2555/c474.jpg

 

[Harlowcabbie]

No expert but I wouldn't be happy with those values if the 3rd column across is the default values doesn't really seem close to me. I was told once by someone that a few mil out can be equivalent to every mile dragging the tyre 10 metres sideways or something like that. Im sure someone knows the exact stats on that but a small adjustment can make a big difference.

 

[rorf]

Take it back - front tyres wearing on the outside is a sign of too much toe in (positive) but the initial report is showing toe out (negative). All the caster angles are missing. Or take it too a professional organisation and then demand your money back from the tyre dealer.

 

[tristand]

This company are supposedly professional, over 30 branches nationwide(the biggest in Ireland). This is the reason I went to them in the first place. I'm beginning to think that the machine they are using is not calibrated correctly or they simply don't have a clue how to operate it.

 

[Dieselman]

The fianl setting s are fine. The operator could have spent a bit more time and adjusted both rear toe settings, but it is well within spec.

The only angle out of spec is the front camber, which I doubt is adjustable.

Does it drive OK?

I suspect your worn edges were as much down to the tight castor angle on tight lock and over use of the power steering at rest.

 

[wheels-inmotion]

OSF camber is an issue as is the fact they never bothered to measure the castor which is critical on the MB....... Shoddy work in my opinion.