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I'm getting bolts installed next week on my CLK550. This is to try to help correct a persistent right pull that's been ******* me for a long, long time.
Question being, if I want to be able to set both caster AND camber, do I need 2 bolts or 4?
My car still pulls to the right after four alignments and lots of tire rotations, although the last alignment did seem to help. I'm fairly sure its pulling more than the crown of the road should suggest, ie: pulls on flat surface, but it really could be in my head at this point.
Current alignment report is here. My read is that it should if anything pull to the left, not the right.
Last edited by siyan; 04-29-2013 at 09:28 PM.
Reason: image URL
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
You need to have greater Caster on the passenger side of the car to stop this problem. Dial in one more degree caster (max 2 per DTB) on the passenger side, typically 9.6 deg & 10.6deg. You can go to 11.6 deg if needed to achieve 2 deg diff. You need the fluted bolts in the Caster bushes to achieve this. I have always found 1 degree fixes the problem but it can be tyre dependent. I'm talking Michelin PS2 or Pilot Exalto PE2.
Good luck. At your present Caster setting the car will pull.
Ok so at the alignment place now and they say that the caster bushing doesn't have notches in it. Just a clean circle. Do I somehow have the wrong bushing on the car?
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Oh crap. There are some cars out there without the 3 position bush. I've never seen one but we had a similar report from another member ~ car bought used so we could not confirm it came from factory that way. Then you are going to have to change the bushes as well to the 3 position bush. For the Caster bushes this is a good idea because they are a bit of a weakness on these vehicles & frequently crack under load & leak ~ They are filled with silicone fluid.
Good luck.
EDIT ~ every tyre & alignment shop in SA is well versed in this procedure & all carry the fluted bolts. Benz has high market share here though.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; 05-04-2013 at 04:19 PM.
So they got it eventually. Apparently didn't move the control arm far enough on the first try but got it to stick in the groove on the second.
Still I guess these cars don't have a "analog" adjustment? Just whatever settings are available on the bolts? Maybe I am missing something.
The car seems substantively better now. They had to put both camber and caster bolt on the right but nothing on the left. I wouldn't say it's 100 percent, but progress has been made.
Anyways, I find it still frustrating how many hours I have sunk into this endeavour. Still not over.
Would aftermarket bushings and bolts be an option?
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
I really don't know how much Caster difference they have achieved?? What does it show on their machine? The next step might have to be reducing Caster on the driver's side if you still have pull.
I really don't know how much Caster difference they have achieved?? What does it show on their machine? The next step might have to be reducing Caster on the driver's side if you still have pull.
How did they miss a 3 position bush initially??
According to their measurements, they increased cross caster by about 0.42 deg.
I think the guy just didn't move the control arm far enough on the first try, so the bolt ended up in the middle slot again and free-spun.
Not sure if they tried reducing left side caster or not. I think they put one of the bolts in on the left (not sure if upper or lower arm) but didn't get any progress with it?
For my own education, how do you do "fine" adjustments to the angles? Is there a different bolt you can turn? These bolts appear to only give you fixed adjustments unlike an eccentric bolt.
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
The Benz fluted bolt/3 way bush system is robust & in effect gives you all the adjustability you need unless you have a severely bent frame. Their are no other adjustments & eccentric bolts are not required.
If actual means "after" vs. before then they have not achieved what is required. i.e. min 1 degree more positive caster on the passenger's side. As I've said before this should typically be 9.6 deg & 10.6 deg or more. Put fluted bolts in all 4 positions & tell them to do it again. I don't think they know/understand what they are doing. I have never experienced any difficulty in achieving what Benz suggests. Ran 1 deg more caster on my last 3 Benzes & have no pull.
The Benz fluted bolt/3 way bush system is robust & in effect gives you all the adjustability you need unless you have a severely bent frame. Their are no other adjustments & eccentric bolts are not required.
If actual means "after" vs. before then they have not achieved what is required. i.e. min 1 degree more positive caster on the passenger's side. As I've said before this should typically be 9.6 deg & 10.6 deg or more. Put fluted bolts in all 4 positions & tell them to do it again. I don't think they know/understand what they are doing. I have never experienced any difficulty in achieving what Benz suggests. Ran 1 deg more caster on my last 3 Benzes & have no pull.
Glyn, do you know if FEBI brand camber/caster bolts are any good or should I just but the MB OEM ones?
2008 CLK350....all new front end parts. If if add the .3° of caster with the fluted bolts do I lose some camber camber? Is there an exact anount? It's a triangle.
04-27-2013, 05:29 PM
