Front Tyre wear
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Delaware
2004 Mazda6, 1993 RX7
bigger rear bar for less understeer
For one tracked car I had, I used aluminum pivot blocks (with zerk fittings) for the bars. Oem had no rear bar, so I sized the bar by design (came to .56" dia), and had 5 different length options, keeping the link vertical. Useed mid length for big tracks, and 1 step stiffer for autox.
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
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2006 C350
I have a 06 c350 4matic. Anyone have any idea what the dealer will charge me for an alignment? My front right tire has severe wear after only 10k miles on the tire. This wear is on the inside, and it is all the way down to the cords already... I am honestly a bit afraid to drive it right now. It does pull, but only slightly right. The left tire is wearing a bit on the inside, but not anything severe like the right tire.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
You have toe out. Setting the toe should cost very little. If you have a full alignment requiring replacement of the castor & camber bolts it will cost more.
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From: Delaware
2004 Mazda6, 1993 RX7
+1
This car has likely not seen an alignment rig in a long time, for toe-in to change to excessive toe-out!
May be ok to get a reputable, cheaper place like indep shop, or sears, firestone, etc, to do their free alignment check thing, and then likely just set the front & rear "total toe-in" to the minimal spec. Demand copies of before, after, and spec. before you drive in bay.
But given the severe wear, if you need to deal with camber and caster (for the pull), just go MB service, find a coupon, and bend over.
.
This car has likely not seen an alignment rig in a long time, for toe-in to change to excessive toe-out!
May be ok to get a reputable, cheaper place like indep shop, or sears, firestone, etc, to do their free alignment check thing, and then likely just set the front & rear "total toe-in" to the minimal spec. Demand copies of before, after, and spec. before you drive in bay.
But given the severe wear, if you need to deal with camber and caster (for the pull), just go MB service, find a coupon, and bend over.
.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 18
Likes: 1
From: West Side Down Under
W204 C300
Had my alignment checked today and this will mean something to the experts here......Here's the after readings, hope that is good....
Front Axle L----- R
Partial Toe 0.0-- 0.2
Toe 0.2
Camber -0 28' --- -0 52'
Caster +8 48' ---+9 26'
Rear Axle
Partial Toe 0.8 ---- 1.6
Toe 2.4
Camber -0 04'--- -2 22'
Camber Diff +2 17'
The guy doing the alignment said there's no camber adjustment on the fronts, and he couldn't budge the rear to align the camber on the right rear
Not sure how the the adjuster works.....he did show mean what supposed to happen, but in this case it didn't move despite him loosening the bolt.
Anyway he said it was the toe that would have contributed to the front tyre wear.
Front Axle L----- R
Partial Toe 0.0-- 0.2
Toe 0.2
Camber -0 28' --- -0 52'
Caster +8 48' ---+9 26'
Rear Axle
Partial Toe 0.8 ---- 1.6
Toe 2.4
Camber -0 04'--- -2 22'
Camber Diff +2 17'
The guy doing the alignment said there's no camber adjustment on the fronts, and he couldn't budge the rear to align the camber on the right rear
Not sure how the the adjuster works.....he did show mean what supposed to happen, but in this case it didn't move despite him loosening the bolt. Anyway he said it was the toe that would have contributed to the front tyre wear.
Last edited by desa; Oct 14, 2011 at 08:36 AM.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
There is camber & castor adjustment on the front.
https://mbworld.org/forums/4763942-post21.html
There is also toe adjustment on the rear.
https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...le-toe-204.pdf
Some of these alignment shops are half asleep.
https://mbworld.org/forums/4763942-post21.html
There is also toe adjustment on the rear.
https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...le-toe-204.pdf
Some of these alignment shops are half asleep.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 18
Likes: 1
From: West Side Down Under
W204 C300
Glyn, from the info you have provided, how does my readings compare? Are they way out? I'm not sure if I should take it back if they have simply done a half-**** job......
I guess without the front camber kit, there's really not a lot to do, but they could at least fix the rear camber for me. They didn't even undo the tie rod bolts as in the picture. They loosened the swing arm bolt to try and adjust the camber. By the looks of things, you need to also get to the tie rod bolts.
I hate getting wheel alignments done. Not many people actually know how to do it, it seems. The guy who normally does it for me professionally everytime has recently departed.....RIP Bob.
I guess without the front camber kit, there's really not a lot to do, but they could at least fix the rear camber for me. They didn't even undo the tie rod bolts as in the picture. They loosened the swing arm bolt to try and adjust the camber. By the looks of things, you need to also get to the tie rod bolts.
I hate getting wheel alignments done. Not many people actually know how to do it, it seems. The guy who normally does it for me professionally everytime has recently departed.....RIP Bob.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,331
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From: Delaware
2004 Mazda6, 1993 RX7
Glyn, from the info you have provided, how does my readings compare? Are they way out? I'm not sure if I should take it back if they have simply done a half-**** job......
I hate getting wheel alignments done. Not many people actually know how to do it, it seems. The guy who normally does it for me professionally everytime has recently departed.....RIP Bob.
I hate getting wheel alignments done. Not many people actually know how to do it, it seems. The guy who normally does it for me professionally everytime has recently departed.....RIP Bob.
Front Axle L ---- R
Camber -0 28' --- -0 52'
The MB spec per side for 3 diff't C-CLass Models is (-29',-32',-37') -28', +24' , with a max side to side difference or 24' . [Ref: 30'=30minutes=1/2 degree]
The camber is in spec, but at the limit of side to side variation (sloppy work). I would have asked for -55' +/- 5' per side.
Caster +8 48' --- +9 26'
The MB spec for 3 diff't CLass Models is (10 18',10 21',10 38') -30', +30' , with a max side to side diff of 30' [ref: 10 means 10 degrees]
The side to side diff is 38', exceeding the 30' max. Take the minimal MB spec of 10-18', less 30' allowed, gives the minimum value of 9-48' . Both sides are below a minimum MB spec.
Poor job on Caster.
Partial Toe 0.0 --- 0.2
Don't know MB spec, but likely in spec, and good low number.
Toe 0.2 ... I assume they mean Total toe-in.
I also assume the unit is "Fraction of a Degree" (need to verify with the shop). The MB spec in that unit is .17deg +/- (.17deg). Looks Ok, but I prefer less. [note: .2 degree would be total toe in of .09" measured at OD of 25" dia tire.
.
Last edited by kevink2; Oct 15, 2011 at 12:29 AM. Reason: improved clarity
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
I agree totally with Kevink2.
When I buy a Benz I fit the fluted bolts at the first alignment & be done with it. Then you have proper adjustability.
I like cars perfectly aligned. I'm not shy to fit the most expensive of tyres but I don't want them buggered up or driveability messed with.
My alignment shop will not take the vehicle off of the alignment rig until I sign off & then do a printout.
When I buy a Benz I fit the fluted bolts at the first alignment & be done with it. Then you have proper adjustability.
I like cars perfectly aligned. I'm not shy to fit the most expensive of tyres but I don't want them buggered up or driveability messed with.
My alignment shop will not take the vehicle off of the alignment rig until I sign off & then do a printout.
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From: Delaware
2004 Mazda6, 1993 RX7
I bought the car as a CPO in July (yup, 3 months ago) and it had all new tires and they had done an alignment as part of the CPO process. Within weeks of buying the car, I noticed it was pulling very hard to right, so I went back and got them to do a re-alignment. Fast forward to October, and the front outer edges are completely bald....
... I forgot to ask for alignment figures from today's alignment (when I got my car, they were closing down for the day), but here are the numbers from last time. If you want the target data, I can give you that as well.
Rear:
Camber: Left -1.33' (the period/dot is degrees), Right -1.10'
Toe: Left 0.10', Right 0.09', Total 0.19'Geometrical Driving Axis: 0.00'
Front:
Camber: Left -0.58', Right -1.03' * (the right was out of range during the read, they later adjusted it but didn't give me an updated print-out)
Caster: Left 10.27', Right 10.52'
Setback: -0.23'
Toe (unpressed): Total 0.04'
Toe (pressed): Total 0.04', Left 0.02', Right 0.01'
... I forgot to ask for alignment figures from today's alignment (when I got my car, they were closing down for the day), but here are the numbers from last time. If you want the target data, I can give you that as well.
Rear:
Camber: Left -1.33' (the period/dot is degrees), Right -1.10'
Toe: Left 0.10', Right 0.09', Total 0.19'Geometrical Driving Axis: 0.00'
Front:
Camber: Left -0.58', Right -1.03' * (the right was out of range during the read, they later adjusted it but didn't give me an updated print-out)
Caster: Left 10.27', Right 10.52'
Setback: -0.23'
Toe (unpressed): Total 0.04'
Toe (pressed): Total 0.04', Left 0.02', Right 0.01'
Most important, sounds like you bought this car and had several alignments done at the same place. There is NO-WAY you could be down to cords on just the outer edges of front tires, unless the toe-in was excessive. Hard driving would have shown wear across the outer ~3" .
I think you, a CPO owner, need to take this to MB top dogs .. don't know phone#, but they owe you $$$
.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 18
Likes: 1
From: West Side Down Under
W204 C300
Thanks guys for your intepretation of those number, made it clearer now 
So unless I get those fluted bolts, camber and castor is not adjustable at the front, right?
The outer wear on the fronts is therefore contributed to the toe being out and tyre pressures at factory specs (too low). These are both now attended to, so hopefully I'll get more mileage before I need to get new tyres, currently 40-50%. I will definitely get those bolts beforehand.
BTW AJ's numbers were in degrees and minutes I think?
So unless I get those fluted bolts, camber and castor is not adjustable at the front, right?The outer wear on the fronts is therefore contributed to the toe being out and tyre pressures at factory specs (too low). These are both now attended to, so hopefully I'll get more mileage before I need to get new tyres, currently 40-50%. I will definitely get those bolts beforehand.
BTW AJ's numbers were in degrees and minutes I think?
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,331
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From: Delaware
2004 Mazda6, 1993 RX7
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,331
Likes: 9
From: Delaware
2004 Mazda6, 1993 RX7
.
