B-tsai

Hey guys

Can I ask you lowered guys to update the rest of us on your tire wear situation?

I'm interested to hear: What springs you used (Eibach, H&R, Brabus).. Miles since the lowering.. and as well, if you replaced the front tires due to inner tire wear (Camber wear).

Cheers!

Hary Gahtoe

I take it you haven't lowered it yet. A * of negative camber is tolerated but more than that causes tire wear and handling issues. I have Airmatic suspension which is lowered 2.5"/2.75" with interests of going lower and I'm in the process of putting together a readjustment package with the interests of selling after I get it working.

B-tsai

Yeah.. I haven't lowered yet.. I want the H&R.. cause its the lowest.. but with the cost of 20" or 22" tires.. I just want to ensure I don't have to drop my pants for new tires every 5k kms

A camber kit would be perfect.. but I guess that's not the same thing you're developing if you're making something for the airmatics....

Hary Gahtoe

W164 ML basic suspension and body mount points are the same for coils as Airmatics so a camber adjustment setup would control both

B-tsai

Ah, good to know. Keep me posted!
Are camber kits essentially wedge or triangle shaped metal chunks?
I suppose longer bolts and different nuts will be required as well if so.

Hary Gahtoe

Camber alignment is best done with (small amounts) MB eccentric cam bolt up front with adjustable bars in the rear.

Aeroresh

I spoke with Brabus in Germany regarding tire wear on my D8 which has 23" wheels on...Whilst the alignments were in spec, the fronts had completely worn on the inside edges. Its been lowered an inch or two on the airmatic.

I was told that any negative camber on the front needs to be dialled out.
if theres not enough adjustment, Brabus can supply the correct bolts to do the job. Ive got the Mercedes part numbers somwhere if anyone is interested?

B-tsai

Thanks guys. I also read http://www.slickcar.com/info_what_is_camber.asp to learn more about correcting camber.

I didn't know Brabus made such a correcting kit for the W164. If so, please do post the part numbers. I'll assume its good to use with other springs (though the drop may differ, yielding different results but still better than nothing)

Aeroresh

This is an extract from the email I received from Brabus.

Hope it helps:-

Hary Gahtoe

Screws referred to are bolts that are elliptical. There OEM made by Febi which are for the fronts. I'll look into rear elliptical camber bolts. FWIW, those bolts only correct small amounts of - camber. Close to 1* of - camber is max. A lowered height of 2"- 3", causes 2-3 * of - camber, more than those bolts can adjust back to 0. Running an H&R, Eibach etc. lowering spring drops just shy of 2" so you could get quite close to MB camber #'s. Not 0 but close. But if you can't do fronts and rear it's kind of a waste of time

B-tsai

Ingalls seems to make some universal camber kits (Wedges).. anybody think these will work?
Need to know... what mm size strut bolts do we have on our ML's? W164.

I'm thinking now:

Bilstein B6
H&R
and an Ingalls camber kit.

AMGC60-3

My opinion is you cant go wrong with the Bilsteins and H&R springs, dont know to much about the camber kits, keep us updated please.

Hary Gahtoe

Shocks, struts; Don't effect alignment but Bilsteins do have a high control level.
I have a lowered CLK 430 with H&R's and Bilsteins. Bilsteins work "well" but are little too harsh over sharp bumps and too soft at speed, controlling the car. I had to use camber adjusters front and rear to correct - * there also.
If you use H&R coils your camber will only be slightly - *. It's all a trade off. You won't get much of a drop but then you won't need to readjust the camber as much either. Problem being the rears will still be slightly toed in unless you re-adjust, which ever way you go. Look closely at the 164 forum photos. All the drops show the rears toed in (neg camber) rears. The pictures are taken to hide alot. Straight on rear shots showing both tires is best.
Ingalls won't work. Those are for small cars, not something as big as an ML or rear drive independent suspension type.
I'm working alot and still planning on my own rear camber adjusters but I'm still a long ways off.

Divot

I am going round in circles trying to find the replacement Screws/Nuts referred to by Aeroresh on 18 Jan. I have an ML 420 "without" the air suspension. I have Brabus Springs/lowering kit and Carlsson 1/5 Evo 22" black wheels. The Tyres wore out in the inside despite going to alignment specialist, who failed to tell me the car had negative camber. I went to another alignment specialist who directed me to this blog. I went to Mercedes to ask them for the replacement parts. But it seems they are the standard parts. So am loath to buy them until I get to the bottom of it. I cannot contact Brabus as I do not have their email. Go to the Brabus website and they say to contact local Mercedes Benz dealer. Go to Mercedes Benz local dealer and they say they do not do Brabus parts. Although I cannot tell if thes are Brabus parts or Mercedes Parts. Going round in circles and new tyres just bought are wearing every time I use it. £ 380 each tyre. Somebody help ..............

Hary Gahtoe

I looked at the Brabus website, they don't list any camber correction. Shocks,springs and an outrageously expensive electronic air ride control.
I'm building a set from scratch or you'll have to find a performance or tuner shop as we call them on this side of the pond and have them build you a set of adjustable control arms.
Our ML is approx. 2" lower and now has - camber. If I want to go lower I'll have to build an adjustable set of control arms.
Good Luck