W211 Camber/Castor Issue

[jon_viola]

Hi,

I just took my W211 E320 Cdi Estate for a full 4 wheel laser alignment. I had previously done this some time ago where replacement of the lower front arms was recommended as hitting the correct castor and camber was proving impossible even with MB bolts. I have now replaced both of these (hence the trip to the alignment centre).
However: the drivers side castor is fine but camber leans inwards.The passenger side camber is fine but the castor is 1 degree out. The cumulative effect is that the car pulls to the left (passenger side)

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what to look for?

Many thanks!!

Jon

 

[GordonTarling]

Not sure what you mean by 'laser alignment', but the only surefire way of getting it checked properly is with a Hunter machine. Wheels In Motion at Chesham have one and appear to be the acknowledged experts on chassis alignment, so maybe worth the trip out to see them? They did my last S211 and it was a different car afterwards.

 

[Dieselman]

If the car is on the original springs they will be knackered. Fit new springs and start again.
I suspect it will come into spec. then, if not use all four bolts, if necessary.

 

[WDB124066]

You can have a maximum of 1 degree split between castor angles, the left should be long, the right should be short to make it go right and resist the left drift.

 

[jon_viola]

Thanks Guys.

The problem is that my castor is short on the passenger and long on the drivers side but I can't seem to get it right! I have 10 deg bolts supplied and fitted by Wheels in Motion who recommended that I change the lower arms.


I should add that my left wheel seems to be 2 fingers from the arch and the right 3 fingers. That's a lot of castor!


The camber of the drivers side wheel I guess could be spring height. I'll check in the morning.


Thanks for your help!

 

[Dieselman]

The problem is that my castor is short on the passenger and long on the drivers side but I can't seem to get it right! I have 10 deg bolts supplied and fitted by Wheels in Motion who recommended that I change the lower arms.

Seems a dubious suggestion.

I never understand why alignment centers want to move settings away from all equal. To have that much variation smacks of incompetence with using the equipment.

 

[Dieselman]

I should add that my left wheel seems to be 2 fingers from the arch and the right 3 fingers. That's a lot of castor!

Last car I had that on was a new Volvo...on the rear axle. The dealer thought I was going mad until I demonstrated it to them.

 

[jon_viola]

Unless the bolts have been fitted incorrectly after replacing the arms and that's put out the castor....

 

[Dieselman]

You should get a better result setting it up with a spirit level, a ruler and some bits of string.

Reading threads like this makes me think I should be opening an alignment centre...

 

[jon_viola]

I should add that all this has been done on the same type of machine as at Wheels in Motion so I guess we can believe the results.

I'll post up a pic tomorrow.

Thanks!

 

[Dieselman]

The machine make is irrelevant, Hunter is just a brand name.

It sounds like your car might have incorrect rear thrust, which is being compensated for at the front end.

 

[wheels-inmotion]

Why did you need this alignment/ geometry in the first place? Fact is the actual castor position is outside of the expected realm for natural correction!

The camber/ castor pick up points evolve together, displace or correct one you indirectly effect another, the result would then give line of sight to which X, Y, Z dimension is bent.

Fact is if the corrective bolts don't resolve the complaint then there must be an injury to the chassis, I/ We cannot heal the world but we can offer direction.

 

[jon_viola]

Ah please don't take this as any comment on Wheels in motion!!!

You guys were totally brilliant, professional and helpful. In fact I have directly sent you 4 other customers- 2 Mercs, 1 Porsche and a BMW!!!!

I was just saying that your machine had been used the first time, I'd replaced the arms as suggested and now sadly using someone with the same type of machine I'd been unable to get the castor/camber correct.

Thinking about it over night I have a feeling the castor is a simple case of not using the grooves in the bolts/arm correctly and will try to bring to you to have it done on Thursday. (will call in the morning!) the camber of the drivers side I can't figure out....

Anyway lets hope we get to the bottom of this.

I'll post up the current readings later today.

Cheers

Jon

 

[wheels-inmotion]

Fitting the adjuster bolts is really difficult, many times even MB UK/ Germany get it wrong.

Best to start afresh and compute a solution given the adjustment range.

 

[jon_viola]

I totally agree! Speak in the morning

Cheers

 

[jon_viola]

Here you go.....

 

[Dieselman]

Is the car and Elegance, Avangarde or Sport model?

The rear camber is way out, has it been lowered? Also, does the car lean to the left, it appears all the cambers lean towards that side.

 

[WDB124066]

From the little bit I know about wheel alignment The castor AND camber are set up to make it go left, go see Tony, we could discuss this all day otherwise.

Regarding the machine, machines do nothng except tell you alignment values, it is the trained Technician using the accurate machine that makes the job.

 

[Dieselman]

To get the front right it probably needs the n/s caster bolt reversing and the o/s swapping into the camber arm instead.

The rears might be more interesting if bolts aren't available.

 

[jon_viola]

Yep I agree- all pointing left. Lets hope we can get it sorted.

Car is a standard Avantgarde model by the way and not lowered or altered in anyway.

Thanks for all your help- much appreciated!