CLK-Class (W208) 1998-2002: CLK 200, CLK 230K, CLK 320, CLK 430 [Coupes & Cabriolets]

Camber On a Lowered Clk

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old Jun 25, 2005 | 12:53 AM
  #1  
jdouk69's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: CA
02 CLK320 ,bilstein sport shocks, Eiback springs, ECU upgraded, Front grill and emblem, 18" wheels
Camber On a Lowered Clk

Got my allignment today! Go to pick it up and the guy tells me that because i lowered it and put 18" wheels on it that the camber was off both front and back 2% . He saise there is no adjustment for camber for the rear and very litle for the front. Has anyone ever had this problem. If this is right what about the tire wear? Seems odd.
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2005 | 02:37 AM
  #2  
King320's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,905
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta
03 C32 AMG
Yeh, 2 degrees of negative camber is normal for lowered cars. Mine has it, my friends SLK has it. I used Konis+H&Rs, he used Konis+Renntech springs. As far as tire wear, your tires will wear slightly more quickly on the inside edge, but its not anything drastic. It actually really helps your cornering abilities, think of it like a skier with his skis on edge during a steep turn.The reason it did it is because your cars suspension is set up for a certain geometry (namely the spring length which you changed here) and shock pressure, when you changed that you changed the geometry of your suspension. thus the camber.
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2005 | 02:58 AM
  #3  
blackbenzz's Avatar
Out Of Control!!
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 13,489
Likes: 96
haters crazy
To correct this you need to buy a camber kit. You can buy one from either k-mac or speedybenz.
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2005 | 03:21 AM
  #4  
jdouk69's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: CA
02 CLK320 ,bilstein sport shocks, Eiback springs, ECU upgraded, Front grill and emblem, 18" wheels
heck, if the wear isnt that dramatic i guess ill just leave it be. Thank you for the info.
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2005 | 03:32 AM
  #5  
King320's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,905
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta
03 C32 AMG
No problem, camber kits are WAY expensive. More so than the suspension itself in most cases. I'd leave it.
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2005 | 05:32 AM
  #6  
mtimmy's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
W208 55 & R170 230
I dont' agree with that.,!

camber kit worth the money.... since you are 2 degree off ....

if you have 225 tires.!!! almost half to one inch of your tire will not touch the ground... you may consider its not as SAFE
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2005 | 09:46 AM
  #7  
lowphat's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
20 Year Member
Photogenic
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,064
Likes: 5
From: Northern Virginia / D.C.
01 LORINSER CLK 430 - 02 KLEEMANN CLK55 - 88 Euro / Jap AMG 560 SEC Widebody - 16 AMG GTS
If you like to then get a camber kit - otherwise you might be amazed at how fast you can wear tires down to the cords on the inside edge.
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2005 | 01:41 PM
  #8  
Josh K's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,781
Likes: 13
From: The Heights, CA
Tesla Model S
Yep, camber kit is the way to go, especially if you're upgrading the power. You want to take out a lot of the negative camber in the back so your tires are planted and you get better launches.

I'm going to take pictures of mine. It's an HOP TRAK-Link kit. It's not a bushing kit like K-Mac, and unlike Jeff's (SpeedyBenz) kit, it comes with all 4 camber arms for complete adjustment. It's not cheap, but then again neither are tires!
Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 25, 2005 | 03:53 PM
  #9  
King320's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,905
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta
03 C32 AMG
Originally Posted by Josh K
Yep, camber kit is the way to go, especially if you're upgrading the power. You want to take out a lot of the negative camber in the back so your tires are planted and you get better launches.
Would that really matter for a 320? I thought it only mattered it you got wheelspin, which would be reduced by having a larger contact patch.
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2005 | 04:22 PM
  #10  
mtimmy's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
W208 55 & R170 230
simple fact.,! put on 4 donut tires,.!.. drive 80mph on the freeway on a rainly day!., see how safe that would be
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2005 | 06:03 PM
  #11  
Lmmike's Avatar
Almost a Member!
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: STL
'05 Audi S4
Josk K... Along with pix, will you please provide the contact info and how much the kit cost.
Thanks!
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2005 | 07:12 PM
  #12  
King320's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,905
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta
03 C32 AMG
Originally Posted by mtimmy
simple fact.,! put on 4 donut tires,.!.. drive 80mph on the freeway on a rainly day!., see how safe that would be
My tires still make full contact with the road as far as i can see. i cant fit anything underneath the tire
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2005 | 08:57 PM
  #13  
MarcusF's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,784
Likes: 84
From: SCV SoCal
2002 CLK430
Since tires deflect, trying to slip a piece of paper under one side or another is useless. The best way to tell is to take a drive on a straight road and take a few readings with an infrared pyrometer. They’re cheap (under $100) and have many uses (ever wondered if the AC vents in your house/car are blowing cold air? Is the catalytic converter really burned out, or is the muffler shop trying to pull one over on you? Is your radiator really clogged? Etc.), so don’t assume I’m referring to some exotic tool. Rather than rewriting an article, lets just say if the inner tread is a lot hotter that the outer, your alignment is crap. After you get the alignment straight, you can use the pyrometer to "properly" set the tire pressures.
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2005 | 09:54 PM
  #14  
jdouk69's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: CA
02 CLK320 ,bilstein sport shocks, Eiback springs, ECU upgraded, Front grill and emblem, 18" wheels
Josh, sound good what the website i can buy them at.....

Also is there an adjustment for rear camber?
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2005 | 11:55 PM
  #15  
Josh K's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,781
Likes: 13
From: The Heights, CA
Tesla Model S
Originally Posted by jdouk69
Josh, sound good what the website i can buy them at.....

Also is there an adjustment for rear camber?

The whole purpose of them is for rear camber adjustment. You can contact www.hopracing.com for details. I'm getting my supercharger installed in a couple of weeks so while the car's at the shop, I'll snap some pics so you can see what I'm talking about.
Reply
Old Jun 26, 2005 | 12:02 AM
  #16  
mtimmy's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
W208 55 & R170 230
You won't be able to tell by putting something underneeth the tire,..,

if you can do that! you will be at -5 to -10 degree., at this level ., your car can't even run correctly on a stright road.

When you can see a negative camber by a naked eye.!!! it is a very excessive - camber
Reply
Old Jun 26, 2005 | 12:50 AM
  #17  
jdouk69's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: CA
02 CLK320 ,bilstein sport shocks, Eiback springs, ECU upgraded, Front grill and emblem, 18" wheels
i actually just found some on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...ME:B:EOAB:US:6

tell me what you think
Reply
Old Jun 26, 2005 | 02:12 PM
  #18  
Josh K's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,781
Likes: 13
From: The Heights, CA
Tesla Model S
Looks like it's only 2 arms. For complete camber adjustment on our cars, there are 4 arms.
Reply
Old Jun 26, 2005 | 04:24 PM
  #19  
benzinoben's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
From: BAY AREA, CALIFORNIA
99 CLK 320, 2000 GSXR 750
Okay, let me see if I can help...I was the first here in Northern Cali to have the KMAC front kit installed. I was off by almost 2degrees and going through tires like crazy. I was maybe getting 10K (with rotation). Rear same thing. I put the KMAC front kit and speedybenz rear. They both adjusted with in stock range and now the tires wear out perfectly, no inside wear at all. I am now at almost 15K miles and have not rotated. That will happen at about 20K, so I should get about 30K or so miles out of them, which is awesome. My tire guy tells me with proper rotation I might actually get closer to 40K. I am on fusion zr1's. Good tire for the price, I know there are better but I rarely break them loose in turns but can still break them loose out of the hole. Josh K is correct, rennsport also sells a rear kit with 4 dog bones, but after my mechanic installed the speedybenz kit, he was very impressed. Even rennsport uses gay teflon bushings which get sloppy after a while. The Speedybenz ones used compression fitted bearing races which last many times longer. Of course buy whatever makes you feel like the man...it's your ride...
Reply
Old Jun 26, 2005 | 05:16 PM
  #20  
King320's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,905
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta
03 C32 AMG
Originally Posted by benzinoben
can still break them loose out of the hole
How?
Also, how much was your kit?
Reply
Old Jun 26, 2005 | 05:24 PM
  #21  
benzinoben's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
From: BAY AREA, CALIFORNIA
99 CLK 320, 2000 GSXR 750
Stop sign...traction control off, I can still break them loose, nothing like a dragster but I get a good size bark of my tires...

KMAC front was about 300 or 400 bucks if I remember right and about 2.5 hours of labor
Speedybenz was about $225 or $250 for the set and about 40 mins labor....
Reply
Old Jul 8, 2005 | 11:18 PM
  #22  
jdouk69's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: CA
02 CLK320 ,bilstein sport shocks, Eiback springs, ECU upgraded, Front grill and emblem, 18" wheels
ok, went to install these 2 camber rods i purchased and what a pain.... havent done it yet. For you that have done it, If you want to go back to stock, would you have a problem. The camber arms i bout are for a clk 320 but i need to expand or file the holes a litle to make the rods fit. Anyone in northern cali know of a good place to take it to. Any help would be great.
Reply
Old Jul 11, 2005 | 08:33 AM
  #23  
wnycec's Avatar
Super Member
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 558
Likes: 0
From: New York City
2000 CLK 430
Is this a satisfactory replacement?

H&R sells a product called "Triple" C Camber Adjustment Bolts. Which is supposed to be a cheaper alternative. I have no idea of what the results would be like or its durability but I figured I'd post the little that I know.

Has anyone used this product? Worth it?
Reply
Old Jul 11, 2005 | 10:11 AM
  #24  
mmgrad's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,289
Likes: 9
From: So Cal
W213 '17 E43 ///AMG - W211, W208 no more
Originally Posted by wnycec
H&R sells a product called "Triple" C Camber Adjustment Bolts. Which is supposed to be a cheaper alternative. I have no idea of what the results would be like or its durability but I figured I'd post the little that I know.

Has anyone used this product? Worth it?
in theory, yes, those would fix the problem... however, the last i checked, H&R doesn't make that kit for the CLK
Reply
Old Jul 28, 2005 | 03:02 AM
  #25  
Darth Speed's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: On a rock
92 AMG 190E EVO2DTM, 240T Turbo Benz, 84 AMG 190E, 560SEC-TT, 95 C36 & a BHG 98 C230
Check this out...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=7989879723
Reply


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:34 PM.

story-0
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-1
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-4
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-6
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

Slideshow: From bulletproof sedans to surprisingly tough SUVs, these Mercedes models proved that the three-pointed star can go the distance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-08 09:55:49


VIEW MORE