1995 S124 Tracking and camber adjustment

[sidevalve]

I have just changed my front wishbones (the ball joint broke off one of them, luckily when I was parking, so I thought I'd do em both!). Anyway, when I was putting them back the cam-shaped bolts only fitted back in one position, so I thought I couldn't have got them wrong - there are two raised edges that they fit in between, and the only way the cams would fit in between the raised parts was in one position. Pic shows the right-hand one in its original position, before I started the job.

But after I had done the right-hand one (I did that first because it was the one that had broken), the steering wheel moved round to the left about 30 degrees (i.e, it is 30 degrees to the left when I am going in a straight line). Doing the left hand wishbone had no further effect on the steering wheel. I assume that the right-hand cam bolt has gone back in a different position, and I hope that this can be sorted by adjustment. However, the adjustment is beyond me, and having looked at a few posts on here it seems to be a rather complex issue. Some people seem to be of the view that it is best to go to a dealer, but I am really anxious to avoid this, partly because I am in France and I would rather eat my own leg than go to one because they are so expensive, and partly because, in my one contact with them, they treated me with considerable disdain because my car was so old (and, I suspect, because I wasn't going to spend €1000 with them...). So I think it is quite likely that they would charge me a fortune and not fix the problem (been there, done that, with other garages here).

So... any suggestions? If I take it to a tyre place will they adjust these cams as well as the track control arms, because it looks as if both need doing. I am anxious to avoid both uneven tyre wear and an off-centre steering wheel!

 

[rayhennig]

Some people seem to be of the view that it is best to go to a dealer

Not I sir, not I.

I junked the local MB concessionaire years ago due to grossly inflated spare parts prices. I now get them from Munich.

I got the alignment done by Maury Pneus - Eurotyre who have a Hunter Hawkeye machine. And, apparently, a man who knows how to run the machine.

All those that know suggest that this machine is de rigueur in the world of alignment. I'm just relating what I've read.

You might also try finding a specialist in MBs. They do exist but it may involve a journey. In my case, the nearest specialist is about 70 km away.

Where in France are you?

RayH

 

[DREAMER NO2]

Dont take the car to a side shop they will only muck it up further ..

 

[Botus]

when you fit new parts they may not be the exact same dimensions as the old parts, and or a track rod end might be set a thread or so off

a 4mm change in length from the fulcrum to the ball joint can easily get 40 degrees of steering misalignment - as you have adjustment, you just go to any decent tyres shop, hand over not much and let them set things correctly

its is impossible to do it at home unless you have special tools and they are way inaccurate compared to the modern laser stuff - all 4 corners checked and front adjustment should be less than 100 euros (ought to be <80)