Carsy

A little advice please . I asked my local MB parts for some fluted bolts to have on hand in-case they are required during a wheel alignment check in the future.

I gave them the part number from WIS A2043330071 but they came back & said that they did not list that number & I had an option of three (ranging from $20 each to $75 each) dependant on the degree/amount of adjusting I wished to do !

The three parts numbers given were:-

110 105 014 022

212 333 00 71

000 333 1071 .

I would be grateful to know which bolt/bolts are the ones I require ?.

Does the same adjusting bolt fit both jobs ie on the cross strut for the Camber & the torque strut for the Caster?.

While I am at it , is 'toe' the only rear wheel adjustment or can camber & castor be performed too?

Thank you all.

kevink2

Could you get the parts guy to make a copy of the related part diagram, and post it here? Did he say they were for front only?

Definately no need for any castor in the rear .... it's a steering thing.

.

Glyn M Ruck

JC - The W204 bushes are interchangeable with the W203 so unless something has changed I think the dealer is talking crap. There is only one bolt for 203 & 204 for both castor & camber bushes.

A 000 330 00 18 is the universal P/N we all use. Your 000 333 1071 might be an update. Benz sometimes have multiple numbers for the same part dependent on chassis. Just to confuse things. splinter has recently fitted W204 bushes to his C32 - I'll check what bolts he used.

Toe is the only standard adjustment on the rear. 3 way bushes are available for the rear to tweak camber but are seldom fitted standard. I know of a few W203's that had them standard but with a normal centre position bolt. They are so seldom needed unless the car has been in an accident that I'm pretty sure the W204 does not have them.

The 4 fluted bolts for the front in SA cost a staggering USA$125

Carsy

Thanks Kev, yes they were for the front. I have the MB parts drawing saying
A2043330071 part number.

Carsy

Thankyou Glyn, You are getting off lightly for $125. My quote for 4 fluted gold plated bolts 0003331071 was $330 incl tax .

Can anyone in the USA obtain a quote for me?. It may well be worth posting them out !!

Glyn M Ruck

splinter ordered some strange part number from the EPC & this is what he got. So my comments remain current.

Glyn M Ruck

RMeuropean.com have them for $13.61

splinter

“Some strange part number” …mind your keyboard, Mr. Ruck. ;)

Carsy,
I’ve four NIB adjustment bolts (complete with washers and self-locking encapsulated nuts) in the spares bin.
They’re yours gratis if you’ll pick up shipping ‘em your way. :y

splinter

edit:
MBUSA’s EPC currently shows PN 000 333 10 71 for a (204.008?) 220 CDI “TS adjustment screw.”
Not coincidentally, the same PN ostensibly now works on a 2WD W203 as well. Go figure. :nix:

My offer still stands though.

Carsy

Splinter,
You are both helpful & generous . I will PM you.

Glyn,
Thanks for the good info & help.


To try to sort the part numbers out I rang my local dealers parts dept today. They could not be more helpful & did all they could but without much of a result!.

What they did say that none of the bolts for the W204 ie A204 333 0071 were stored anywhere in Australia. The closest bolts were in Singapore & would take a week to deliver here!!

He also said that in his experience none of these bolts have been used in the dealership workshop. So there seems to date that there is not much of a call for the 204 adjusting bolts as yet in Australia. So the 204 must be holding up well here.

Regards,

JC

Glyn M Ruck

JC - Out of interest I phoned my friend Owen Young at Tiger Wheels Cape Town, my local tyre store & alignment center. All decent alignment shops in SA carry the bolts - but then we have a Benz population 2/3rds the size of the US with the plant here & drivers that endlessly complain about Merc "pull" with the camber of our roads. He confirmed they stock A 000 330 00 18 for all Benz cars

splinter - read “Some strange part number” to this South African ignorant plonker.

As usual you are one of the kindest souls on this forum - a trait we should all treasure.

Carsy

Well, that settles it then. It can't be clearer . A 000 330 00 18 is the one . Thanks Glyn & Splinter.

I drove on an unusual piece of one way freeway the other day , one with a crown. In one lane the car would pull slightly to the left & slightly to the right in the passing lane.

So my set up must be good!!

ucfbeta92

I always see discussions about fluted bolts and have often wondered if this is a "must have" or a "nice to have". Do US W204s already have fluted bolts installed or is it something that you proactively have to ask for?

My car has always pulled slightly to the right (despite two alignments at MB dealer and the numbers to show that they're in the limits) and I've learned to live with it, but I'm curious. Does it help keep the alignment "intact" longer or make it more resistant?

This evening, my left front tire hit a lowered drain hole in the road at around 25 mph (might as well have been a pothole given the impact I felt), and as far as I can see there is no notable damage, or unusual driving behavior since. I'm still worried that I may have jacked up my alignment.

I've already had two alignments done in the four months since I bought my car; once early on because the car was pulling very hard to the right, and once last month because the outside edges of my new front tires were fully worn out (in less than 3 months; while the middle/interior were good as new; got new front tires and an alignment). Now I'm just being super cautious so I don't have to buy another set of fronts in 3 months.

Any advice?

Glyn M Ruck

You have no castor or camber adjustment on these cars without fitting the fluted bolts - only toe. The standard bolts only fit the center position in the castor & camber bushes.

To get rid of pull to the right with camber of the road you need to dial in one more degree positive castor on the RHS for US cars - Benz allows max 2 Deg. Typically 9.6 deg. LHS 10.6 deg RHS. So you need to fit the fluted bolts.

kevink2

As I recall, these offset bolt kits only change camber or caster about 1/2 degree or less. They can be used for front end "pull" problems ( caster), but not much more.

Glyn M Ruck

See above - we posted at the same time.

kevink2

Usually, you have to ask for it, as MB does not assume the OEM car needs a difference in caster, side to side, to offset pull issues.


The splined bolts will likely correct pull problems, but won't help keep the alignment from changing from a hard pot-hole or curb hit. Do you have alignment records? Always ask for printed copies of before and aft alignment measurments.

Time for another alignment check. Excessive toe , neg or pos, can ruin a good set of tires .... get copies ...


Make sure you get copies! And who did the alignments, and how did they correct the pull to the right? Any notee of adding flueted bolts on the invoice?

.

silversx

will A0003300018 fit the 2012 c250 sedan? my alignment shop said i need a couple to correct caster and camber

http://www.rmeuropean.com/search.asp...ord=0003300018

silkynitro

I don't understand, since there's no camber/caster adjustment the only thing you have to adjust is toe in/out.

I have a slight drift to the left (RH/Drive) so I booked in for alignment took 5-10 minutes to correct the toe in, as there's no camber/caster adjustment which needs correcting. The car still drifts to the left, I was also told the fluted OEM bolts may not have enough adjustment to correct the problem. So I'm thinking about fitting a K-Mac camber kit.($400 + fitting $$$$ + another W/alignment.

Glyn M Ruck

There is castor & camber adjustment. You require to fit 4 X Castor & Camber 3 way fluted bolts discussed above.

All you need to do is buy the fluted castor bolts & fit them which gives you castor adjustment & dial in 1 degree(max 2) more positive castor on the LHS/passenger side of the car (RHD). Typically 9.6 & 10.6 degrees. Your pull will be gone. See bulletin in the Wiki.
Every decent alignment shop should know this.

Toe adjustment does nothing for pulling with the camber of the road.

Good luck.

silkynitro

Thanks for the reply, have you any idea how much and are these bolts genuine mercedes parts.

Carsy

Give your local dealer a ring. He will want your Vin number. I can't remember how much I was quoted but it did make me wince at the time, but no where near A$400.

My dealer was confused as to the correct part number. Make sure you get the right ones.

They are genuine parts , probably made by a contractor to Mercedes.

Good luck.

Glyn M Ruck

In overpriced SA similar to Aus they are $100 for all 4. Much cheaper in the US as per my RMeuropean post above.

AK75

Hi guys,


My C250 2012 model pulls to the left really bad so was going to ask if any1 knows what number are the camber/castor bolts for W204 so I can ask my local MB dealer to get em for me.
Cheers

Glyn M Ruck

A 000 330 00 18