SLK Wheel Allignment stats

[cen]

I have recently fitted a set of new 17 inch wheels as opposed to the standard 16 inch to my SLK320.

I then went to our local tyre garage to have 4 wheel alignment done. However, I am not happy that it is correct. Can anyone supply me with the correct alignment figure for the vehicle 2001 R170?

The fitter shouted to his mate 2.5 but I cannot remember which way. I would be grateful for a figure that is correct so that I can confront them if incorrect.

I have a wobble at 65 onwards and the car appears to drag to the left. All wheels have been balanced correctly.

 

[hmang]

ask them in the nicest most diplomatic way if they would recheck the balance as you have a wobble.

tell them you're concerned that a weight may have fallen off.

i doubt this is to do with the drag to the left, but may help the wobble.

i recently watched my wheels balanced, still had vibration
then watched the guys calibrate the machine with a "set" weight
then watched them rebalance a wheel, when they took it off the machine i asked
just out of curiosity to put that same wheel back on the balancer... guess what ... out by 20g !
sometimes it takes a few goes to get it right.
machine error or operator error ???

my balance people hide now when i turn up. ..but hey... all i want is balanced wheels.

 

[cen]

Thanks for that however, the wheels were balanced three times like yourself following calibration. On the third occasion one wheel was 35g out.

I suspect the tracking more than the wheel balanceing due to the pulling and the moron fitter who carried out the check. When setting up the vehicle he asked me if the car was a C class. Does a SLK look anything like a C class? He then looked at the chart following my correction to the model and shouted to his mate 2.5.

I suspect this figure to be incorrect which is why I have posted this thread attempting to find an accurate figure to watch over them while they re-check the alignment.

 

[BlackC55]

Do you mean wheel alignment or front toe in/toe out adjustment?

The "2.5" may mean the amount of toe-in/toe-out that they have adjusted it to.

If you want a good wheel alignmnent done by someone who knows what they are doing go to a dealer.

A tracking check is not sufficient in checking the alignment of the wheels on your car. Get a full alignment done.

Also most MB will go slightly to the left on a normal road due to the camber of the road sloping towards the kerb.

Hope this helps

 

[television]

Are your new wheels hubcentric made for MBs

 

[PNE]

I've just bought an SLK 280 which had 17" wheels fitted as an extra. This has had a slight pull to the left since day 1. I took it to the garage for a steering and balance check and was told all is OK. I was also told the the slight pull was normal and was a safety design feature (built into all new mercs) to ensure that the car didn't pull right into oncoming traffic in case the driver fell asleep.

Sounds a bit strange to me, has anyone else been told anything similar? There's nothing about this in the manual.

 

[Blobcat]

I've just bought an SLK 280 which had 17" wheels fitted as an extra. This has had a slight pull to the left since day 1. I took it to the garage for a steering and balance check and was told all is OK. I was also told the the slight pull was normal and was a safety design feature (built into all new mercs) to ensure that the car didn't pull right into oncoming traffic in case the driver fell asleep.

Sounds a bit strange to me, has anyone else been told anything similar? There's nothing about this in the manual.

Hi & Welcome, quite common unfortunately and if you do a search on this forum you will see many threads. The bit about a design feature is dealer BS

 

[kth286]

Bobcat

Dealer BS is not strictly so.

The castor angle setting spec on my car is different on each side, and this encourages the car to veer left in event of driver falling asleep etc.

This is to avoid cars in left hand drive markets driving into oncoming traffic, and is another Merc built-in safety measure.

 

[brandwooddixon]

Wouldn't a pull to the left force a left hand drive vehicle to drive into the on coming traffic?

I've found that testing your car out on the motorway for any steering pull is best there is less camber than on an ordinary road. Also be aware that some tyres tramline badly, especially when part worn.