I am planning to do alignment on my car (2002 E320). I have no idea if the previous owner did any alignments or not. ( I bought the car when it had 40k miles- now I have 75k I I just put a set of new Pirrelli).
I know for alignement they need to replace the caster/camber cam bolts (for the fist alignement), or at least this is what I was told.
Is there any way I can tell if the bolts were changed or if i still have the factory cam bolts?
I let the alignment shop change my bolts before and price for parts (bolts) and labor truned into around $ 250 or 300. If bolts need to be changed i can do it myself just before taking the car for alignment. BTW bolts are 22 per kit and we need 4 kits.
Many thanks.
I think you only need caster/camber bolt kits if the caster/camber is out of spec. These are set at the factory, and should stay in spec under normal service. I had my car aligned a couple of times at the dealer without having to have the adjustable bolts installed. I recently replaced a number of components in the front end - ball joints, LCAs, tie rod ends - and had to have the camber/caster kit installed on one side to get it into spec. That was the side on which I couldn't get the LCA to fit - a poorly made Meyle part...
I'd suggest you take it to the dealer and have them do it. Chances are, you just need toe adjustment.
The only reason you'd need the kits is if the car has been lowered or parts are worn beyond spec. In the latter case you'd replace the worn parts rather than adjust around them.
In the rear you can't do much for camber without some custom parts, it's totally tied to ride height in the stock configuration.
I am about to do the whole front end of mine and was wondering if I should do the back also.
Also you said that one of yoyr parts did not fit correctly, did you use dealer parts or ebay???
in the front I will do uca, lca ball joints tie rod ends and sway bar.
I am about to do the whole front end of mine and was wondering if I should do the back also.
Also you said that one of yoyr parts did not fit correctly, did you use dealer parts or ebay???
in the front I will do uca, lca ball joints tie rod ends and sway bar.
The part that did not fit properly was the RH LCA assembly. It was Meyle HD brand that I bought from FCP Euro. I could have returned it but wanted the project to be over so I made it fit.
The whole job was LCAs, ball joints, tie rod ends, sway bar bushings and sway bar end links. Really tightened up the front end.
I haven't done anything to the rear because I don't notice any noise or looseness there. I would suggest doing the front end first and waiting to see if the rear needs rebuilding. You will have to have it aligned and if the rear is within spec and you don't have any unusual noises from there, I would leave it alone.
Fred
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