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Sept 10, 2012 21:23:10 GMT
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So I had a blow out in my 1997 Mercedes SLK which was very exciting  but it lead to me hitting the pavement backwards and buckling the wheel and one of the suspension arms. I had it fixed at a garage that I trust, used them for years and they know me. Temporary new (odd) wheel, new suspension arm and everything lined up and straightened out. When I collected the car, because the wheel fitted was a different offset, I noticed it sat very upright with no camber whatsoever but was pleased to get the car back and knew I was fitting matching wheels in a week. I was told to take the car back in once the new matching wheels had been fitted to double check everything was straight. The week passes and I get my new wheels on, the car is tracking straight, doesn't pull to the side and is running fine BUT the lack of camber on that wheel is quite obvious now. The side that didn't hit the pavement has a slight camber but the repaired side doesn't. I took the car down to the garage and they laser aligned it all and it was perfectly straight (I saw this with my own eyes) but when I commented on my lack of camber  they said they couldn't do it there it would be a specialist job if that...?! Problem I have is, where the hell apart from Mercedes (and expecting silly moneys) will adjust the camber, it's annoying as its the sort of thing no one would notice but it's my car and I can see it so obvious it looks stupid, plus I can't imagine it's doing wonders for the handling? I'm located in West Yorkshire, Huddersfield. I can probably get pictures tomorrow if you think that might help? Cheers. |
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97' silver Mercedes 230 Slk.... charged 94' bronze Hiace custom ... daily drinker 92' white Eunos roadster....... sold  91' grey Mercedes 500 SL .... sexyful 82' white Mercedes 200......... needs lows |
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Sept 10, 2012 21:38:20 GMT
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Makes me wonder if the chassis rail or subframe etc is bent / twisted seeing that side wasn't damaged and I assume OK before the accident.
Has body alignment been checked by garage or did they just change damaged parts and check tracking ?
Paul H
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
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Sept 10, 2012 21:47:30 GMT
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according to the interwebz, the rear suspension has no camber adjustment from the factory, meaning no eccentric bolts to have be fitted/set wrongly, meaning something is still bent.
is all they replaced the lower arm? id say its highly likely the subframe is bent, as they're not particulalry substantial on those.
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Sept 10, 2012 21:52:41 GMT
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Thanks for getting back so quickly! Yeah before the accident the camber was normal on both sides.
I can't recall at the minute and I'm trying to find the receipt but I do think i asked for everything to be checked and said make sure the chassis hasn't twisted? When I went back to check with the new matching wheels I think it was just tracking? A clamp on the back wheel firing a lazor onto the front wheel?
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97' silver Mercedes 230 Slk.... charged 94' bronze Hiace custom ... daily drinker 92' white Eunos roadster....... sold 91' grey Mercedes 500 SL .... sexyful 82' white Mercedes 200......... needs lows |
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Sept 10, 2012 21:56:54 GMT
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Ahh curse word thanks Dez, yes only one suspension arm. I did think at the time I was bloody lucky! A bent subframe sounds scary and expensive? Sorry for being technically rubbish, my skill level and understanding ends at splitting headlights and painting them |
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97' silver Mercedes 230 Slk.... charged 94' bronze Hiace custom ... daily drinker 92' white Eunos roadster....... sold 91' grey Mercedes 500 SL .... sexyful 82' white Mercedes 200......... needs lows |
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,713
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Sept 10, 2012 22:01:52 GMT
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a wheel can be 'straight' and the camber be out though- the lazer setup you refer to can only read toe.
the wheel could have the correct toe, but if the bottom mounts have both moved in the same amount (which would be a fair assumption if you went sideways into a kerb) the camber will be out. you need to measure sideways across the car and corroborate your measurements by going diagonally across to fixed points at the front of the car from both sides to see what is bent. a tracking gauge cant tell you that.
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ChasR
RR Helper
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Sept 11, 2012 8:04:55 GMT
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I would be tempted to go with a bent subframe.
However, I would not rule out a tired rear arm bush. Remember you are on a brand new arm on one side, with the original arm on the other, with potentially relaxed bushes etc. My friend had the same problem (and a strange handling) Seat Ibiza when he just changed the spring and damper, and lower arm on one side (one side (you can guess which!) was much firmer than the other after the car only covering 30,000 miles...
As for finding somewhere who can do camber alignment I know of someone in Rugby I would trust. Failing that, look for someone with the Hunter alignment system which also checks for camber (www.alignmycar.co.uk). But it is as obvious as you say it is, it may be a good idea to rectify the issue first.
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Last Edit: Sept 11, 2012 8:10:04 GMT by ChasR
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bl1300
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Sept 11, 2012 8:28:51 GMT
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Normally those laser tracking gauges only measure toe angle. Personally I much prefer using the old style ones with mirrors on them its so much easier to be accurate. Id be tempted to say that the subframe is bent as well.
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Current fleet.
1967 DAF 44
1974 VW Beetle 1303s
1975 Triumph Spitfire MkIV
1988 VW LT45 Beavertail
1998 Volvo V70 2.5
1959 Fordson Dexta
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RobinJI
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"Driven by the irony that only being shackled to the road could ever I be free"
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Sept 11, 2012 19:23:51 GMT
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Nothing wrong with laser alignment gauges, you can get it plenty accurate with them if you know how to use them right, and a decent set will do camber too, it's just most places won't bother/know how.
As Dez says, everything needs measuring really, or you could just be disguising an issue that's still there. I'd agree with ChaseR too, in that it's a good plan to always replace bushes on both sides if you're at all worried about handling.
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Sept 12, 2012 19:29:36 GMT
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Just a quick thanks to everyone who has commented  I too now think its probably down to bent subframe, as it hit the kerb with enough clout to break the alloy wheel spokes clean off but I can't remember there being any mention of subframe damage or repair and after googling what bit the actual subframe is I find it hard to believe everything would be straight on it after that. I'll take it back to the garage at the weekend, see what they say. If I get guff off them I'll take it somewhere else and say from the start I have a wonky subframe Thanks again everyone The sooner I get this fixed and I'm happy it's safe/right, the sooner I can start to concentrate on saving for an old Mercedes SL 500... much more up Retro Ride's street  |
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97' silver Mercedes 230 Slk.... charged 94' bronze Hiace custom ... daily drinker 92' white Eunos roadster....... sold 91' grey Mercedes 500 SL .... sexyful 82' white Mercedes 200......... needs lows |
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CIH
Posted a lot
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Sept 13, 2012 18:17:59 GMT
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Before you do anything I'd recommend you actually have someone measure camber - anywhere with a Hunter or similar can measure it.
There's no OEM adjustment and the only things I've ever seen are adjustable arms in America but they're expensive and with shipping, taxes, fitment and adjustment they're in to a lot of money.
I'd also take the time to enjoy the welding on the subframe. Seriously, I little nice to say about most German cars but the welding on MB subframes is really tidy!
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Last Edit: Sept 13, 2012 18:19:05 GMT by CIH
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Did you check the rear hub/hub mounting plate as well?
Seen these bend many a time on cars with no obvious signs,yet a replacement usually sorts it.
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but it lead to me hitting the pavement backwards and buckling the wheel and one of the suspension arms. I had it fixed at a garage that I trust, used them for years and they know me. Temporary new (odd) wheel, new suspension arm and everything lined up and straightened out. 
they said they couldn't do it there it would be a specialist job if that...?! 
I too now think its probably down to bent subframe, as it hit the kerb with enough clout to break the alloy wheel spokes clean off but I can't remember there being any mention of subframe damage or repair 
