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The Front Left tire of my W203 is 1.8cm or 18mm behind or setback when compared with the Right one. Due to this, the car heavily pulls on left side while driving and it becomes very hard to drive on long journeys.
Is there any way or adjustment option in suspension by which i can pull the
Front Left wheel 18mm forward?
I have visited some alignment shops and none of them were able to fix the issue, they just told me that the tire may have hit something.
Went to a body shop to inspect if the car’s frame has been damaged or not. They measured both the left and right sides of car frame and compared them. They told me that your car’s frame hasn’t been damaged by any means and it’s allright.
So, my doubt is bent suspension, but the mechanic says that w203’S control arms or suspension never gets bent, it cracks or breaks in case of an impact.
Please suggest what you think or if you have any solution.
Thanking everyone in Advance 🙏
Last edited by Sinan Khan; May 25, 2021 at 07:30 AM.
If the subframe isn't damaged then there's always the option of replacing all the control arms. The alignment shop can also adjust the toe which would fix any steering issues. Then there's the option of simply loosening the control arm nuts (where they are bolted to the subframe) and shifting them slightly before retightening. If you want more extreme adjustment, the bolts can be replaced with fluted versions that move +/-4mm (exactly 4mm, no in between values such as 2mm) in either direction.
2mm is negligible. I am skeptical that this is the cause of your steering woes.
There are adjustment bolts for caster/camber available. Its not an easy procedure, in general you have 3 positions for each of the 2 control arms, so you shift the tire for- or backward.
Not the right answer. I have got the documents, but in German
You should check all bushings, especially the hydro bushing for damage first.
I am going to change the control arms first, to see if the issue gets resolved.
so, according to these documents, we can adjust the caster + or - 4mm. But in my case, the difference is 18mm.
When quoted a “full front and rear” alignment it is only Toe “directional” adjustment !
There is no front Camber and Caster, or rear Camber. New car industry’s best key secret. It is all to do with cost cutting and ever increasing speed of auto assembly lines.
At KMAC we have been resolving such OEM suspension short comings since 1964.
Allowing to cater for “day to day commuting” encountering high cambered roads, altered height through load carrying or lowering, fitting wide profile tires, ability to adjust to counter curb knock damage.
For the front (only) - you can fit inaccurate “one offset” position fluted bolts. But they only offer a minimal 3mm (⅛ inch) change.
We saw the need to therefore FIX IT RIGHT THE 1ST TIME by providing serious adjustment to end the frustration of costly, premature edge tire wear issues. IN YOUR CASE ALSO SUFFICIANT ADJUSTMENT TO RESOLVE YOUR 18mm UNEVEN CASTER.
KMAC kits at same time replace the 4 front and 4 rear highest wearing bushings.
Front bushes are large 70mm diameter (soft rubber, oil and air voided). KMAC replacements are “Monoball / 2 Axis” still therefore allowing arms to travel through their required suspension arcs without binding, locking up. With the advantage of more secure location and significantly improving brake and steering response.
Unique patented design allows precise (front and rear) single wrench adjustment. Accurately (under load) direct on alignment rack
W203 (all models) FRONT #502216K $480
REAR #501926J $380 (4/04-07 51” O.D lower arm inner bushes) #502026H $320 (09-3/04 33” O.D lower arm inner bushes)
Rear incls. Extra Toe adjustment to cater for the new Camber settings.
DHL Delivery worldwide $40 one kit ($20 each extra)
1888 844 9099 (24/7) Worlds Largest Range Front & Rear Adjuster Kits – Audi to Volvo
When quoted a “full front and rear” alignment it is only Toe “directional” adjustment !
There is no front Camber and Caster, or rear Camber.
For the front (only) - you can fit inaccurate one offset position fluted bolts. But they only offer a minimal ⅛ inch (0.3 degrees) change.
We saw the need to therefore to FIX IT RIGHT THE 1ST TIME by providing substantial adjustment to resolve costly, premature edge tire wear issues. IN YOUR CASE ALSO SUFFICIANT ADJUSTMENT TO RESOLVE YOUR UNEVEN CASTER.
KMAC kits at same time replace the 4 front and 4 rear highest wearing bushings.
Front bushes are large 70mm diameter (soft rubber, oil and air voided). KMAC replacements are “Monoball / 2 Axis” still therefore allowing arms to travel through their required suspension arcs without binding, locking up. With the advantage of more secure location and significantly improving brake and steering response.
Unique patented design allows precise (front and rear) single wrench adjustment. Accurately (under load) direct on alignment rack
W203 (all models) FRONT #502216K $480
REAR #501926J $380 (4/04-07 51” O.D lower arm inner bushes)
#502026H $320 (09-3/04 33” O.D lower arm inner bushes)
DHL Delivery $40 one kit ($20 each extra)
1888 844 9099 (24/7) Worlds Largest Range Front & Rear Adjuster Kits – Audi to Volvo
I am going to change the control arms first, to see if the issue gets resolved.
so, according to these documents, we can adjust the caster + or - 4mm. But in my case, the difference is 18mm.
No, the +- 4 mm is the position of the fluted bolt in the bushing itself. They have 3 positions - 4, 0, +4
These cars also have different caster angles between L and R for the front wheels. I remember the sales guy telling me the car will pull towards the R for a LHD vehicle, and vice versa. Safety feature so that cars don't end up drifting into oncoming traffic if something happens to the driver.
Which part of the world are you located? Might want to add that to your profile underneath your avatar.
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