W204 Alignment Issues
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Joined: Nov 2014
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C250 W204
W204 Alignment Issues
Hi there, I am new to MB, purchased my first CW204 C250 petrol 3 weeks ago with 5000 km. When I purchased, the car had alignment issues and I only reported it 2 weeks later (my fault thinking normal motor plan would cover) to my shock it does not cover alignment only at 20 000 km. The dealer changed the alignment bolts and adjusted the castors (find attached latest report). It still pulls to the left. They advised that they have reached the end of the thread and cannot adjust anymore. Surely this cannot be the case for a reputable brand like MB to have alignment issues? I am used to BM and did the switch to try something new! All I have been getting is headache with MB.
A fix please would be helpful as the dealer is obviously clueless.
A fix please would be helpful as the dealer is obviously clueless.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
C250 W204
It is pulling to the left. The dealer checked the balancing and tires. They are fine. They even swapped the tires with another. I am shocked for words that a car with 6000km on the clock has alignment issues that the dealer cannot fix. i thought this was rudimentary things to do.
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Mercedes-Benz CLK 550
It is pulling to the left. The dealer checked the balancing and tires. They are fine. They even swapped the tires with another. I am shocked for words that a car with 6000km on the clock has alignment issues that the dealer cannot fix. i thought this was rudimentary things to do.
Fact is “Full front and rear wheel alignment” is no more!
Since the mid ‘90 model’s, with the ever increasing speed of vehicle assembly lines there has been no front or rear Camber (or front Caster) adjustment facility fitted OEM
Only current adjustment is front and rear Toe!
To attempt to return vehicle to factory specs to resolve costly premature inner edge tire wear, improve traction, and fix steering pull the only current alternative for Camber and Caster is to fit offset, slotted bolts (for the front only). But these are inaccurate - one only position bolts - offering a minimal .3 of one degree adjustment (3mm / 1/8”).
It’s no wonder many owners continually change tire brands or go from one MB Dealer or alignment shop to another trying to get it right/fix the problem!
We saw the need therefore "to fix it right the first time" by designing, developing, patenting (and re-instating from the 1990's) fully adjustable front (and rear) suspension for virtually all models.
The current K-MAC kits have up to 4 times the adjustment of these one only position offset bolts (both Positive or Negative). And unlike these one position bolts they can be accurately adjusted on car(under load) direct on alignment turntable (no need for labor intensive removal/replacement each time).
Providing ongoing full, precise adjustment of both Camber and Caster settings if altering suspension height, fitting wide profile tires/wheels, curb knock damage or being able to quickly fine tune/change specs on race days (extra Negative/plus track width to go deeper into the corners/lower lap times). With the unique K-MAC patented design only requiring use of a single wrench/no disassembly.
For the rear, similar kits for precise Camber adjustment (with additional Toe to compensate for the new Camber facility). Importantly unlike the alternative rear adjustable Camber control arms available K-MAC kits do not move top of tire outwards - this reducing essential clearance top of tire to outer fender when adjusting to fix premature inner edge tire wear/improve rear traction.
Also instead of spherical bearings as used on control arms which prematurely pound out allowing metal to metal contact. At K-MAC we have developed long life elastomer bushings.
Bonus with the four front and four rear bushes is that they are also designed with twice the load bearing area and replace the highest wearing suspension bushings. And with K-MAC no special tools are required to fit.
Note (Product background re bushings): Majority OEM bushes have air voids to allow 2 axis movement. So control arms can travel through their required arcs without binding, locking up.
Essential with today’s modern designs of “multi-link” arms with different angle mount points!
Yet most “aftermarket” replacement bushes the industry standard is to eliminate these air voids in an attempt to improve both steering response and reduce wheel hop, loss of traction under brake and acceleration.
The opposite is often the case – the elimination of the air voids causes even more severe wheel hop, loss of traction through binding, locking up of arms.
K-MAC bushes – with 50 years now of bush technology are designed without the air voids but where needed with “full 2 axis movement”. Result is power to the ground – maximum traction/acceleration/braking - along with noticeably improved directional control and steering response for highway driving, lane changing.
