IBelieve

I put this in the AMG section and got no replies, so trying here:
The back tires on my new CLK55 (new to me) are "Vertically wacked" as I like to say and I think it's because someone lowered it and didn't align it.
The camber adjustment should take care of it but my concern it that the tires might rub when it's aligned.
It has 19" Lorinser LM5 staggered rims and Invo Nitto P265/30 ZR19 tires and they pretty much fill the wheel well.
My question is : does the top of the wheel move outward when the tires are brought vertical from a squatting type of stance?


Concerning the possible lowering, The local MB dealer service tech said he doesn't think it was lowered because it has stock springs and the spring cousions have 2 tabs (?) on them and that's correct for the height.
Which brings up another question. I measure the height by comparing the wheel centers to the body lines- in most pictures of a 2001 CLK55 they are almost exactly even with the top of the rocker panels. Mine are 1.5 inches above that line. Could this be from age-sagging or the wrong offset rims?

dlbehrns

I wouldn't be overly concerned unless the rear tires are starting to wear on the inside which would indicate the camber is off. You may be able to look on the inside of the rim for an offset stamp. If not a serial number to contact the maker to see what the offset is. I think the car looks fine but then, its not mine. I have some aftermarket Mandrus wheels, oem diameter, 8" wide with 32mm offset(35 is oem) and they look slightly tipped in at the top. I am not showing any adverse wear.

MarcusF

Per the factory alignment specs, CLKs have negative camber at all four corners.

One common way to measure ride height is with a tape measurer from the ground to the fender lip, with the line passing through the center caps. Get enough people to post their height and you’ll know where you stand. Lowest CLK on MBWorld? I'm going to guess it's CLKFAN old car.

IBelieve

Thanks Guys, Dlbehrns, I should have mentioned, I am wearing out faster on the inside treads and it is a bit hard to see but it's rather severe negative camber. May be compair it to the front tires in the pictures.

MarcusF, I'm thinking that over all tire height will affect the ground to wheel lip to give a varied result but center of wheel to a fixed body point will be a more readable standard. What do you think?

IBelieve

MarcusF, I found some other threads that you posted in with the camber spects. Thanks for that, that has helped me understand allot more.

I think I need the camber kit because the camber is so far off.
I may conceder going back to stock height also, I'm not a fan of the low rider look and in Florida, there are not many roads that demand a go-kart level of handling.

J56BP

Looks lowered tho. Maybe owner b4u cut factory springs? 19/235 tires?

dlbehrns

are the fronts wearing on the inside as well? if all four are wearing on the inside my guess would be you do have a lowered car and the only way to get back to factory specs is with camber kits front and back. ghostrider fabricated an adjustable rear camber bar and may still have a set available. there is a MB camber bolt for the front that allows for an additioinal .03 degrees of negative camber when installed. they are listed as a C model part but will work on the CLK. I have both on my car. You might want to find a wheel calculator online and plug in the dimensions of your current wheels & tires and see how they compare to the oem dimensions for a bit more perspective.