front wheel alignment on W202

[sixpack]

Hi.
I have a problem with wear on the outer tread of the left front tyre. If I ask the advice of a tyre specialist, they always say check & adjust toe out/in. My thought is that if toe out/in is wrong, both tyres should wear on the outside or outside, depending on which direction the error is. Am I missing something here, or are these "experts" just trying to have an easy life. I have tried to measure the camber angles (find a totally level surface to park front wheels, check how far off vertical the wheel is, using a right angle & spirit level) This shows that the left wheel (the worn tyre side) has less neg. camber, about 2mm, compared with 4mm on the non wearing side. Is this significant? The Haynes book shows how to adjust camber, but I dont want do it without asking. Expert advice appreciated !

Peter

 

[guydewdney]

wheel alignment data

www.dewdney.co.uk/guy/202wheel.pdf

guy

 

[sunil sood]

sixpack,

i have exactly the same problem,my front passenger side tyre wears out on the outer edge.

i had it checked and the wheel alignment was fine.

the owners manual states that the tyres need to be rotated around to prevent this wear patten.

 

[Andy]

Hi


You should not attempt to adjust camber angles. Or any wheel aligment angles if you cannot acurately read off the vehicle data readings. If you have had the vehicle checked then I would check the front control arm bushes. Usually if they are worn. Tyre wear on the inner edge of the tyre wear will result. 210 & 202'S are renown for tyre wear on the outer edges & MB do specify that the tyres should be rotated on each service. IE every 9-13k.


Regards

Andy@ www.mercedesservicing.com

 

[wingco]

My W202 does exactly the same thing. I am told that it is because of roundabouts, being a heavy car all the weight is pushed onto the front nearside when cornering, especially on roundobouts. Aparently in LH drive countries the opposite happens.

 

[philharve]

Tyre wear and LH & RH corners

Hi wingco

An interesting theory ... one I would happily accept.

I had a similar problem with a Toyota. I had the steering geometry checked but all was OK???

My local tyre specialist suggested the problem was with my driving style??? He sugested I took roundabouts and righthand corners faster than lefthand corners!!! I didn't believe it and the problem persisted until one day I consciously decided to monitor my speed. It was true, I had an unconscious bias for righthand bends or rather I took greater care with lefthand bends. I consciously changed my driving style and the wear issue dissapated.

I would imagine that the problem would switch to the opposite side of the car for Continental drivers.

REGARDS Phil

 

[wingco]

Tyre wear fixed!

My 202 alway wore the outside edge of the front nearside (and always wandered over to the left even on M-ways).........tracking checked and adjusted by MB dealer 3 times at great expense.....still knackered tyres front near side (still couldn't go in a straight line). Went to an independent tyre place for 2 new tyres and got them to do the tracking. It now drives in a straight line and the tyres wear evenly (for the first time in the 65k miles ive had it)....only cost 23quid!

 

[jberks]

Had a similar experience on my 210. Dealer charged a fortune and the car still juddered over 60. £25 at a tyre specialist and sweet as a nut.