What to tell alignment guy
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'12 C63 P31 coupe
What to tell alignment guy
So I first bought my 2012 C63 coupe a little over a year ago. A few months later was checking out the front tires. All was good except the very inside was down to the cords. I got new tires and took it in for alignment. Told the guy about the wear and he said he'd get it fixed. I guess he just aligned to the specs in the Merc manual. I still saw some negative camber but it didn't look too bad so I didn't worry about it. New tires, 3000 miles later, the tread on the fronts are 90% except for the inside lip again. The cords are showing very bad. So no big deal since my car is in my garage getting modded and have new tires and wheels on the way anyway to be here Tuesday.
So now I put on H&R springs, have new wheels and tires coming and need to know what to tell the guy that is going do do the alignment. I know the camber needs to be straightened out to keep the inside wear to a minimum but everything I'm reading says there is no camber adjustment, or do I have terrible reading comprehension.What are my options since I don't want to eat through those PS4s like I did my last set? What do I tell the alignment guy since the last guy didn't get what I was trying to tell him?
I know I have probably disappointed the forum gods on my search failures so I will take my punishment...lolol
So now I put on H&R springs, have new wheels and tires coming and need to know what to tell the guy that is going do do the alignment. I know the camber needs to be straightened out to keep the inside wear to a minimum but everything I'm reading says there is no camber adjustment, or do I have terrible reading comprehension.What are my options since I don't want to eat through those PS4s like I did my last set? What do I tell the alignment guy since the last guy didn't get what I was trying to tell him?
I know I have probably disappointed the forum gods on my search failures so I will take my punishment...lolol
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12 C63BS Magno Alanite Grey, 25 X5 Msport, 08 BMW E93, Ducati Hyper 698
It is not normal first of all if everything was stock for the insides to wear like that unless you either drive the hell out of it or something is bent maybe, but only way to adjust camber is to buy some camber plates so it can be adjusted with the new suspension.
K-mac makes a set https://k-mac.com/
K-mac makes a set https://k-mac.com/
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'12 C63 P31 coupe
The previous owners how coilovers which I'm sure he had it aligned for those. He replaced those with factory springs to original ride height before I got it so I assume no alignment after. The wear even happened after I had aligned to Merc specs. Nothing appeared bent when I was just under there putting my H&Rs on but I'm not eliminating that possiblity. This is what it looks like now which really isn't that much cambered in than before. I'll see what the alignment dude can do when I get my new wheels but if no better I'll get the Kmac stuff. Would there be any benefit to taking it to a Merc dealer for alignment?
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'13 C63 & AP2 S2000
Make sure you run at least 44psi and that will help with getting even wear.
Only Toe is adjustable. Incorrect Toe will kill your tires more than camber. There is no other adjustability from factory. The lower you go, the more camber you get. I was at -3.4* camber. Got some "crash bolts" and was able to play with caster & camber to help reduce it. It helped but im still at -2.6*. If you want less than that, you'll need the K-Macs.
Merc dealer wont be able to do much more. Get the bolts and get it realigned.
Only Toe is adjustable. Incorrect Toe will kill your tires more than camber. There is no other adjustability from factory. The lower you go, the more camber you get. I was at -3.4* camber. Got some "crash bolts" and was able to play with caster & camber to help reduce it. It helped but im still at -2.6*. If you want less than that, you'll need the K-Macs.
Merc dealer wont be able to do much more. Get the bolts and get it realigned.
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'12 C63 P31 coupe
Ok that makes sense. Do you have a link to where I can buy the crash bolts? I'll try that first and get it aligned. If it's still not good enough I'll do the Kmacs.
Make sure you run at least 44psi and that will help with getting even wear.
Only Toe is adjustable. Incorrect Toe will kill your tires more than camber. There is no other adjustability from factory. The lower you go, the more camber you get. I was at -3.4* camber. Got some "crash bolts" and was able to play with caster & camber to help reduce it. It helped but im still at -2.6*. If you want less than that, you'll need the K-Macs.
Merc dealer wont be able to do much more. Get the bolts and get it realigned.
Only Toe is adjustable. Incorrect Toe will kill your tires more than camber. There is no other adjustability from factory. The lower you go, the more camber you get. I was at -3.4* camber. Got some "crash bolts" and was able to play with caster & camber to help reduce it. It helped but im still at -2.6*. If you want less than that, you'll need the K-Macs.
Merc dealer wont be able to do much more. Get the bolts and get it realigned.
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2009 c63
While he's in there, back the rear toe in to half its factory spec. It is unnecessary as set and will improve your tire life considerably.
I've lost track of how many rears I've gone through now and I had the same front issue once, but the alignment was near spot on.
I've lost track of how many rears I've gone through now and I had the same front issue once, but the alignment was near spot on.
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-
Together: 0°16' ± 0°07'
Left: 0°08' ± 0°07'
Right: 0°08' ± 0°07'
Edit: might as well post the front toe-in, might be useful in this thread. Front toe-in:
Together: 0°14' ± 0°10'
Left: 0°07' ± 0°05'
Right: 0°07' ± 0°05'
Mine is going to alignment on Monday and I told the guys to use the minimum specs. Should I tell them something else?
Last edited by rene_gts; Apr 29, 2018 at 10:38 AM.
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'13 C63 & AP2 S2000
0003330971 is the part number I used. You can get only 2 and that will play with camber. Get 2 more and you can play with caster. I would try not to play with caster because that will make the car "pull" more on whichever side has more. Its not the same "pull" as incorrect Toe, but will cause the car to steer more towards the right or left. However, tweeking the caster can also reduce the camber. Depends how you you are. I'm really low; on KW V3s. Just H&R Springs, you should be OK with only two bolts hopefully. But again, I think you're Toe is the culprit for destroying your tires more than camber. Previous owner most likely changed the suspension and did not realign.
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C63
If you want less tire wear, correcting camber or even run less than required and have minimal toe is the only option. Maybe some symmetrical tires so you can swap left to right but im not aware of some good symmetrical tires.
Last edited by Rick X Joaquim; Apr 29, 2018 at 04:45 PM.
