Resolve premature inner edge tire wear
08-01-2013, 09:02 AM
#1
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Resolve premature inner edge tire wear
The very latest K-MAC patented design front Camber, Caster and Rear Camber
Toe Kits are now available to suit virtually every model Mercedes 1968 to 2013.
Majority of today vehicles, because
of cost cutting and speed of the assembly
lines only have Toe adjustment.
K-MAC Engineering
Toll Free 24/7# 1888 414 0762
sales@k-mac.com
www.k-mac.com
K-MAC Engineering - YouTube
Unlike the O.E front “one setting” offset bolts all K-MAC kits provide precise adjustment
(accurately under load, direct on alignment turntable) and more than twice the adjustment range.
This increased range and precise adjustment capability means at last ongoing issues of steering pull to one side, straight line high speed directional control, excess inner edge tire wear or being able to reduce lap times by increasing front negative Camber on race days can now all be resolved.
Fitting of these front and rear kits requires no special tools and allows future ongoing adjustments when altering height, fitting wide profile tires or simply to re-adjust for curb knock damage.
The adjustable front caster bushes also reduce dive, lift under brake and acceleration, along with improved steering response and traction under braking. They feature a unique K-MAC 2 axis/all positional bush design. This allows suspension arms to travel through their required arcs without binding. Also having twice the load bearing area of OEM rubber bushings that use air voids which can cause vibration, wheel hop with loss of traction under braking and subsequent premature bush failure.
An added bonus with the K-MAC adjuster kits is an entire bush upgrade as these 4 bushings for the front and the 4 for the rear are the vehicles main high wearing suspension bushings.
Example of K-MAC bushing strength/quality is the near identical bushings being used in the current Australian and New Zealand V8 race category where the G8 versus Ford. This all out competition racing – main straight top speed, then hitting race curbs, slamming down after becoming airborne! After 18 months of evaluation race scrutineers ruled the evidence had shown that for the safety aspect and reliability no other front end Camber and Caster adjuster kits other than K-MAC would be allowed to be used. The opposing Ford drivers were also instructed likewise.
K-MAC has been manufacturing adjuster kits longer than anyone else and amongst the many advantages of the patented designs – 2 of the most important features are:
- K-MAC kits are designed to adjust lower, not upper arms, effectively maintaining clearance top of tire to outer fender when wanting to reduce inner edge tire wear. Essential if wide custom wheels or wide profile tires fitted.
- We have ensured that K-MAC kits unlike virtually all other brands, do not use solid, metal to metal spherical bearings that besides ride harshness anyone in motor sport know they prematurely pound out. Instead all K-MAC patented design bushings are elastomer. Allowing 2 axis movement yet eliminating the air voids and/or fluid of OEM bushes. Result is, precise adjustment capability, improved steering, traction and braking response with extended wear life. Having twice the load bearing area of OEM bushes and no unforgiving metal to metal contact of spherical bearings.
Genuine K-MAC since 1964. First with front and rear Camber, Caster kits to suit Mercedes and world's largest range
Audi to Volvo
Audi to Volvo
08-09-2013, 10:47 PM
#2
Just noticed this post and wanted to bump it. First off, I am not affiliated with K-MAC in any way. I just thought someone might like an honest review on these bushings if they are considering buying some.
I installed the K-MAC Camber/caster kits on my E350 when I lowered it because it's important to me to do things right when it comes to my cars. For my Mercedes I found few good methods of adjusting alignment settings after I lowered it, and I was impressed with the engineering and quality of these bushings. They are truly heavy duty machined items that make the OEM units look rather sad by comparison.
Installation is straight forward and only requires a good shop press. Which is good, because honestly the installation instructions are sort of slim and if you're not familiar with basic suspension work it could be a daunting undertaking. The included installation tubes are a nice touch. The only negative is that the smaller tube that is used to press out the factory bushing is a very tight fit into the lower control arm and you will need a slightly smaller press disc to push it back out of the control arm after pressing the factory bushing out.
I lowered my 2009 E350 using the Eibach/H&R lowering springs. They dropped my car 1" in the rear and 1.2" in the front which was the drop I was looking for. The initial alignment after lowering the car showed -3.1 degrees of camber in the front and -2.2 degrees of camber in the rear. In the front, the factory camber adjustment bolts only moved it .5 degrees which still left me at -2.6 degrees. Which will cause severe inner tread wear in a very short time. And quality tires for the Mercedes are not cheap. The factory front camber spec. on my 2009 E350 is -.90 degrees +/- .50 degrees. The K-MAC bushings got me to -1.3 degrees which is within factory specification. Even the K-MAC's couldn't get me all the way to -.90 degrees but I have no tire wear issues and the car handles and rides extremely well. I would have preferred to get all the way to -.90 degrees but as long as I was within factory tolerance I was pretty satisfied. Especially considering the awful numbers I started with. The K-MAC bushings also definitely tighten up the steering response. That was an unexpected bonus that impressed me more the more I drove the car.
The rear K-MAC bushings got me from -2.20 degrees all the way to -.90 degrees with ease, and going all the way to +1.0 was possible.
If you are considering using lowering springs to get that perfect look and to improve the cornering on your Mercedes I can't encourage you enough to do it right. If you just drop in the lowering springs and set the toe (which tends to be method I see all too often in my shop) you're going to destroy tires in record time and you will lose that marvelous steering precision that makes your Mercedes a joy to drive. And if you're just seeking a way to increase your steering feel and response these bushings are a great way to go.
Now in the spirit of honesty the K-MAC bushing kits are not cheap. They cost 3 times what the springs cost. But for my car there wasn't a quality alternative and destroying expensive tires was never an option. There is a lot to be said for doing things right the first time.
Anyway, if anyone has any questions feel free to ask. I'll do my best to answer them.
I installed the K-MAC Camber/caster kits on my E350 when I lowered it because it's important to me to do things right when it comes to my cars. For my Mercedes I found few good methods of adjusting alignment settings after I lowered it, and I was impressed with the engineering and quality of these bushings. They are truly heavy duty machined items that make the OEM units look rather sad by comparison.
Installation is straight forward and only requires a good shop press. Which is good, because honestly the installation instructions are sort of slim and if you're not familiar with basic suspension work it could be a daunting undertaking. The included installation tubes are a nice touch. The only negative is that the smaller tube that is used to press out the factory bushing is a very tight fit into the lower control arm and you will need a slightly smaller press disc to push it back out of the control arm after pressing the factory bushing out.
I lowered my 2009 E350 using the Eibach/H&R lowering springs. They dropped my car 1" in the rear and 1.2" in the front which was the drop I was looking for. The initial alignment after lowering the car showed -3.1 degrees of camber in the front and -2.2 degrees of camber in the rear. In the front, the factory camber adjustment bolts only moved it .5 degrees which still left me at -2.6 degrees. Which will cause severe inner tread wear in a very short time. And quality tires for the Mercedes are not cheap. The factory front camber spec. on my 2009 E350 is -.90 degrees +/- .50 degrees. The K-MAC bushings got me to -1.3 degrees which is within factory specification. Even the K-MAC's couldn't get me all the way to -.90 degrees but I have no tire wear issues and the car handles and rides extremely well. I would have preferred to get all the way to -.90 degrees but as long as I was within factory tolerance I was pretty satisfied. Especially considering the awful numbers I started with. The K-MAC bushings also definitely tighten up the steering response. That was an unexpected bonus that impressed me more the more I drove the car.
The rear K-MAC bushings got me from -2.20 degrees all the way to -.90 degrees with ease, and going all the way to +1.0 was possible.
If you are considering using lowering springs to get that perfect look and to improve the cornering on your Mercedes I can't encourage you enough to do it right. If you just drop in the lowering springs and set the toe (which tends to be method I see all too often in my shop) you're going to destroy tires in record time and you will lose that marvelous steering precision that makes your Mercedes a joy to drive. And if you're just seeking a way to increase your steering feel and response these bushings are a great way to go.
Now in the spirit of honesty the K-MAC bushing kits are not cheap. They cost 3 times what the springs cost. But for my car there wasn't a quality alternative and destroying expensive tires was never an option. There is a lot to be said for doing things right the first time.
Anyway, if anyone has any questions feel free to ask. I'll do my best to answer them.
