micstre

2007 SL55 AMG - Is it better to complete a 4-wheel alignment if only a front-end alignment is suspected?

cdk4219

I would never do a 2 wheel alignment on an independent rear car. It’s on the rack already.

aegea

Pep Boys says they need to install special tools to get something probably camber perfect. Anyone know about this?

as.thompson

Are you certain that you want to trust Pep Boys to align your Mercedes?

cdk4219

No factory camber adjustment, just aftermarket. If camber is off and car is at stock ride height, parts are worn out. Maybe Pep boys isn’t the place to go for this.

K-Mac

Do need to realise the often quoted reassuring “FULL FRONT & REAR ‘4’ WHEEL ALIGNMENT” is not as it seems !!

Instead it is only basic “TOE” - directional adjustment.

New car industry’s best kept secret. Brought about through cost cutting and ever increasing speed of new car assembly lines.

OEM THERE IS NO FRONT CAMBER (OR CASTER) AND NO REAR CAMBER. ESSENTIAL - To allow to adjust “tire contact angles” spread load more evenly. To resolve costly, premature excess edge tire wear.

Encountered in day to day commuting - high cambered roads with excess passenger side edge wear. Wheel squat through load carrying or lowering. Fitting wide profile tires. Or just having the “ongoing” adjustment to cater for curb knock damage.

WE SAW THE NEED THEREFORE TO RE INSTATE FROM THE EARLY 90’s once again full front and rear adjustment. TO FIX IT RIGHT THE 1st. TIME - end the frustration of going from one dealer or alignment shop to the next or experimenting with constantly changing tire brands.


SEE SPOILER RE R230 SL CLASS KITS (also manufacture Front & Rear kits to suit virtually every model Mercedes Benz).





AUDI to VOLVO - K-MAC Experience Of Resolving OEM Suspension Shortcomings Since 1964 !

MikeJ65

Front camber is adjustable with a camber bolt kit. Alignment shops are well versed in this type of solution. They need to first adjust height which is very critical for camber and requires a special angle gauge. They also need a spring loaded toe bar to adjust front toe. Any good alignment machine will walk them through it step by step.

cdk4219

Yea, but if the camber is out in the front, either you have lowered the car really low, or the control arm bushing/ ball joint is really worn.

K-Mac

Yes, but a Camber bolt kit provides minimal adjustment and only one offset position. Example 1/8” (3mm) which is equal to .3 of one degree - hardly sufficient to correctly resolve any Camber issue.

We have designed the K-MAC “Front” bushing kits (Camber or both Camber and Caster) to provide 4 times the adjustment range and is “precise” single wrench adjustable.

Ultimate / accurate adjustment “under load” - direct on alignment rack. Also at same time replacing the 4 highest wearing bushings with Mono ball / Self aligning which significantly improves brake and steering response.