K-MAC Bushing Install Guide for W211 with Airmatic
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Joined: Nov 2012
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From: Houston, TX
2006 E55
Your cross camber in the front and rear are great values. I wouldn't worry about those.
As far as the rear between install and alignment, when you change toe, camber or caster it affects the other values. In the rear, you only have toe and camber adjustment, so setting your toe may have changed the available range for your camber. When your camber was -0.2°, your toe range may not have been within spec.
As far as the rear between install and alignment, when you change toe, camber or caster it affects the other values. In the rear, you only have toe and camber adjustment, so setting your toe may have changed the available range for your camber. When your camber was -0.2°, your toe range may not have been within spec.
This. I would love to have -1.1* camber in the rear. You should be pretty satisfied with how much longer your tires will last.
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From: Cypress, TX
'06 E55, '15 Jeep SRT8, '94 Mustang GT
To give an update....I installed the rear bushings this past Saturday, but didn't have time to finish the alignment. I have about 0.5° too much toe-in on the driver's side, but the camber values are perfect at 1.5/1.6° per side as opposed to the 2.5/2.6° it was previously. I will post the write-up when I have time to get the alignment redone, depending on when my schedule matches with my father's. Hopefully that will be either this weekend or next. Good thing I work from home and don't drive much.
This is actually not true. The toe link has 2 mounting bolts on the body and one on the hub. The body mounting bolt towards the middle of the vehicle is actually a 2-pc bolt where the inner part is a lock and the outer part is an eliptical on it for adjusting. However, the amount of adjustment it allows for is about as effective as the MB crash bolts for the front, which isn't much.
This is actually not true. The toe link has 2 mounting bolts on the body and one on the hub. The body mounting bolt towards the middle of the vehicle is actually a 2-pc bolt where the inner part is a lock and the outer part is an eliptical on it for adjusting. However, the amount of adjustment it allows for is about as effective as the MB crash bolts for the front, which isn't much.
Last edited by HeissRod; Mar 18, 2014 at 07:25 PM.
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'03 E55, Range Rover Sport Supercharged, Ducati 748R
Long term reviews (5k+ miles) with bushing pics is what we all need. Looking forward to something positive from the actual bushings themselves instead of from a Kmac spokesperson!
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Joined: Nov 2012
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From: Houston, TX
2006 E55
Excellent, Heissrod. Please keep us all updated. Ive managed 8k miles on my current set of tires while the car is lowered but I know I'm running on borrowed time. I'd love to pick up a set of these bushings if they hold up.
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From: The Granite State
.
You are starting to sound like the kind of guy who would rather complain endlessly about problems you had in the past, rather than accept help (and free parts!) to resolve the issue.
In any case, short of testing these on your own car I don't see how anyone else's review or long-term durability report will ever be enough to convince you that the product is solid now. Why not just send a PM to Kevin with your shipping address and you can test the new stuff any way you see fit....
You DO still own an E55 don't you?
-G
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'03 E55, Range Rover Sport Supercharged, Ducati 748R
Spend the amount of time and money I did trying to dial these in only to watch them fall apart and you won't have to ask me why I'm waiting for others to report back. Sorry, I wouldn't be a guinea pig for these again, even if they are free and Kevin offered to do the labor himself!! However, If they prove themselves I'll be next in line. You can label me a complainer all you want but until you install your own kit, you're nothing but a cheerleader.
Kevin @ K-MAC generously offered to replace kits for the guys like you who had issues in the past. Have you contacted him yet?
You are starting to sound like the kind of guy who would rather complain endlessly about problems you had in the past, rather than accept help (and free parts!) to resolve the issue.
In any case, short of testing these on your own car I don't see how anyone else's review or long-term durability report will ever be enough to convince you that the product is solid now. Why not just send a PM to Kevin with your shipping address and you can test the new stuff any way you see fit....
You DO still own an E55 don't you?
-G
You are starting to sound like the kind of guy who would rather complain endlessly about problems you had in the past, rather than accept help (and free parts!) to resolve the issue.
In any case, short of testing these on your own car I don't see how anyone else's review or long-term durability report will ever be enough to convince you that the product is solid now. Why not just send a PM to Kevin with your shipping address and you can test the new stuff any way you see fit....
You DO still own an E55 don't you?
-G
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 847
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From: Australia
2004 W211 E55 AMG >>gone but not forgotten > W123 280E > W124 E280 > W126 380SE
Bushes collapsing because of torque
When launching with 3 passengers I felt something give way at the rear and having just replaced the front shocks I assumed the rears had now gone also. Wasn't until I had ordered new rear shocks from Arnotts that we worked out it was the stock bushes. Doh!
Last edited by TheTherapist; Jul 13, 2014 at 02:42 PM.
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From: Australia
2004 W211 E55 AMG >>gone but not forgotten > W123 280E > W124 E280 > W126 380SE
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From: UK
E55K AMG
Spend the amount of time and money I did trying to dial these in only to watch them fall apart and you won't have to ask me why I'm waiting for others to report back. Sorry, I wouldn't be a guinea pig for these again, even if they are free and Kevin offered to do the labor himself!! However, If they prove themselves I'll be next in line. You can label me a complainer all you want but until you install your own kit, you're nothing but a cheerleader.
Yes mine fell apart at the front after approx 3 years. Had them replaced for free, I did labour and hate it, getting the aliment right takes time too.
I am on my third set of adjustable rear camber arms too. Snapped twice in 4 years.
YOU CANT BEAT GENUWINE ORIGINAL MERCEDES PARTS
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Joined: Jun 2006
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'03 E55, Range Rover Sport Supercharged, Ducati 748R
Yes mine fell apart at the front after approx 3 years. Had them replaced for free, I did labour and hate it, getting the aliment right takes time too.
I am on my third set of adjustable rear camber arms too. Snapped twice in 4 years.
YOU CANT BEAT GENUWINE ORIGINAL MERCEDES PARTS
I am on my third set of adjustable rear camber arms too. Snapped twice in 4 years.
YOU CANT BEAT GENUWINE ORIGINAL MERCEDES PARTS
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From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
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From: UK
E55K AMG
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From: Cypress, TX
'06 E55, '15 Jeep SRT8, '94 Mustang GT
http://www.renntechmercedes.com/www/node/1180
Although, I'm not sure the addage of "getting what you pay for" really applies to Renntech. Their I/C pump kit is $1,400, for goodness sake.
http://www.renntechmercedes.com/www/node/488
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From: Florida-Germany-New York
2004 E55,1969 300SEL6.3,2011 ML350 BlueTec Diesel,2005 ML400 CDI
Take a look at the specified ranges on my post-alignment print-out. The OEM camber range for the rear is -1.2° to -2.2°, obviously with -1.7° being ideal. If your tech set you at -1.1°, then that's fine. Chasing tenths of a degree can be maddening. What is your cross camber for the rear?
Same with the fronts, the range is -1.1° to -1.7°, with -1.4° being ideal. -1.8° is also close enough, but I'm confused as to why they can't get that lower. It was possible to set mine lower than -1.0°.
Same with the fronts, the range is -1.1° to -1.7°, with -1.4° being ideal. -1.8° is also close enough, but I'm confused as to why they can't get that lower. It was possible to set mine lower than -1.0°.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Cypress, TX
'06 E55, '15 Jeep SRT8, '94 Mustang GT
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,429
Likes: 61
From: Cypress, TX
'06 E55, '15 Jeep SRT8, '94 Mustang GT
Sorry guys, Ended up having tire problems and Discount had to order new tires in for warranty. Haven't had time to get it done since.
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From: Republic of Texas
'99 and '05 E55 AMG
Since I have the KMac bushings, I can provide feedback on mine.
I installed the KMac front bushings with new tires 24,000 miles and 17 months ago (I also rebuilt the entire front suspension at the same time; ball joints, tie rod ends, air springs). I verified the alignment last November (12,000 miles into the install) but inspect my tires weekly. As of today there is no undue wear on the tires (BF Goodrich G-Force Comp 2) or quirks in the handling. I believe I can get 35,000 to 40,000 miles out of these tires. Since my car is a long-distance daily driver I used the KMac bushings to obtain minimum recommended camber on the front tires (-1.1 degrees).
I installed the KMac rear bushings at the same time as the fronts but removed them after 5,000 miles and 3 iterations of the clamp design. I believe those bushings would work on the steel control arm non-Airmatic cars but in my case I found the soft alloy control arms of the Airmatic-equipped car would literally "flow" where the KMac part would grab onto the alloy arm. The bad part was when the camber suddenly went much more negative the toe goes out! Not good at all when accelerating hard and the tail of the car wants to come around and lead.
Kevin was easy to work with and helpful so I have nothing but praise for his interactions with me. He even sent me on his own nickle another iteration of the rear bushing clamp assembly but my heart is just not into tearing apart the rear suspension again. On the bright side, I did get to buy some really nice tools and a bushing press/pull kit and I'm really, really good at disassembling the rear suspension!
So, I highly recommend the front bushings but not so much the rear bushings (at least for the Airmatic alloy arms).
I installed the KMac front bushings with new tires 24,000 miles and 17 months ago (I also rebuilt the entire front suspension at the same time; ball joints, tie rod ends, air springs). I verified the alignment last November (12,000 miles into the install) but inspect my tires weekly. As of today there is no undue wear on the tires (BF Goodrich G-Force Comp 2) or quirks in the handling. I believe I can get 35,000 to 40,000 miles out of these tires. Since my car is a long-distance daily driver I used the KMac bushings to obtain minimum recommended camber on the front tires (-1.1 degrees).
I installed the KMac rear bushings at the same time as the fronts but removed them after 5,000 miles and 3 iterations of the clamp design. I believe those bushings would work on the steel control arm non-Airmatic cars but in my case I found the soft alloy control arms of the Airmatic-equipped car would literally "flow" where the KMac part would grab onto the alloy arm. The bad part was when the camber suddenly went much more negative the toe goes out! Not good at all when accelerating hard and the tail of the car wants to come around and lead.
Kevin was easy to work with and helpful so I have nothing but praise for his interactions with me. He even sent me on his own nickle another iteration of the rear bushing clamp assembly but my heart is just not into tearing apart the rear suspension again. On the bright side, I did get to buy some really nice tools and a bushing press/pull kit and I'm really, really good at disassembling the rear suspension!
So, I highly recommend the front bushings but not so much the rear bushings (at least for the Airmatic alloy arms).
Last edited by bbirdwell; May 24, 2017 at 10:27 AM.
