129 Front tyre wear

[Pipemaster]

This is the second 129 SL I have had and both seem to scrub off significant amounts of tread on the inner front tyres leaving lots of tread across the rest of the tyre - which is frustrating when you have to pay £100 a go to replace them.
I have had both cars set up on all 4 corners so i think the the tracking is not to blame. Does anyone know if this is just a trait of the car?
Would inflating to maximum recommended pressure help in evening out the tyre wear by "raising" to centre?
Cheers

 

[eric242340]

Hi Pipemaster, I know of this problem but I would need you full VIN to call up the appropriate mods section.

 

[Pipemaster]

Just as a note:
the handling is not a problem at all - could it be that the negative camber is set too far out of limits perhaps the tyre place's data is out? Although i havent had this car long and the wear was done before I came along...

 

[stats007]

The tolerance is about half a degree for the camber settings -0.66 to -1.16 I think for the front. I've not seen any inside tyre wear on any of my SLs - only on the outside - mainly due to the caster angle and scrub on steering. Are you sure the tyres haven't been swapped on the wheels for this reason?

£100 a corner seems cheap too - what tyres do you have on her?

 

[television]

The tolerance is about half a degree for the camber settings -0.66 to -1.16 I think for the front. I've not seen any inside tyre wear on any of my SLs - only on the outside - mainly due to the caster angle and scrub on steering. Are you sure the tyres haven't been swapped on the wheels for this reason?

£100 a corner seems cheap too - what tyres do you have on her?

As stats, I cant recall any uneven wear on the 129 that I had. Outside wear would make more sense.

malcolm

 

[eric242340]

There are two spring sizes, for your front suspension, long and short. Code Blue is the long spring and Code Red is the short spring. If your fitted springs are short then this would give the type of tyre wear you are experiencing, but if long the wear would tend to happen on the outside of the tyre. The colour code is marked on the lower part of the spring. You would need to remove a wheel to see it.:grin:

 

[stats007]

Not quite correct - there are three spring strengths - they are all the same length. The colour codes are for the spring pads to alter the height.

 

[eric242340]

Not quite correct - there are three spring strengths - they are all the same length. The colour codes are for the spring pads to alter the height.

The pads are not colour coded the have three sizes and each size is represented by a cut in the pad ( one two and three cuts). The pad with three notches being the thickest.

 

[stats007]

Sorry I wasn't referring to the pads being coloured themselves. They are available with a differing number of burls (1-4) as you say ranging for 8, 13, 18 and 23mm.

 

[eric242340]

Sorry I wasn't referring to the pads being coloured themselves. They are available with a differing number of burls (1-4) as you say ranging for 8, 13, 18 and 23mm.

Quite correct and in mentioning this you have touched on another way to adjust the camber. So changing the size of pad could effectively cure the tyre wear problem. Now Pipemaster has two options.

 

[stats007]

I very much doubt it has anything to do with his current geometry.

 

[eric242340]

I would also mention the camber on this car is adjustable without changing springs or pads and could be done on any four wheel alignment machine, but preferebly with mechanics who understand Benz steering geometry. So thats option 3.

 

[eric242340]

I very much doubt it has anything to do with his current geometry.

OK, then what would you suggest is causing the inner tyre wear?

 

[stats007]

Worn bushes or dampers if there is any real wear going on at all. As the gentleman bought the car like it there's no evidence to suggest the tyres haven't been swapped around.

WIS won't provide you with everything you know .

 

[Dave's E55 AMG]

Toeing is a MB trait

 

[television]

Toeing is a MB trait

Is that what they call toeing the line, :mrgreen:

Malcolm

 

[Pipemaster]

Thanks for the flurry of information. I'll have the pads sizes looked at and monitor the wear on the fronts when I replace them. I realsie the wheels could have been roated front to back however I experienced similar wear on the 129 I had previous to this a 95 280. The wheels were set up on a 4 wheel alignment machine 3 weeks ago so maybe the probelm has been cured and he did know ewhat he was doing actually relishiong the chance to adjust the merc and complimenting the car on collection - he also had an XJS which he worked on when he had the time.
The tyre are Marshalls which I prefer to Pirelli's and the oem Dunlops for a mix of both wear and handling. Actually they are £89 a corner balanced and fitted and the comapny is well known for good service and good prices - Apex Tyres Peterborough. Goodyear / Dunlops /Pirelli all about the same price
Cheers

 

[television]

Do not forget the the camber can only be set by a MB dealer with the correct jig.
The steering on my 129 was perfect,that was a 99 car.



Malcolm

 

[stats007]

R129s have issues with anti-roll bar bushes - as well as trackrod ends so worth getting these all checked out.

Not heard of Marshalls but at £89 each they sound a bit too cheap for my liking. Tyres are THE most important aspect of a car and can dramatically change the feel and handling. Continental Sport Contact 2s and Dunlop SP9000s were typically OEM fitment at the time - I've used both and are excellent all rounders.

 

[Pipemaster]

Trackrods etc are fine. Marshalls are good tyres. P6000's same price Michelin Pilot £5 more etc etc Not cheap tyres just very good prices there's a difference