[W126 Coupe] Rear Wheel Alignment

[Robert Karl Stonjek]

I think you'll be disappointed by the amount of adjustment those eccentric bushing give..  As my understanding goes it's minimal...

Either way I'll be curious to hear how you make out.

Jonathan


The thing got out of alignment somehow, so there must be some way to get it back in.  I think a previous owner must have played with the front suspension to compensate for the rear, so when I had the front straightened out (aligned, camber and caster etc) it showed up the rear problems even more though I was suspicious all along that something wasn't right somewhere.  I had been blaming the tyres for everything - it had recaps on the front and I hate recaps with a passion.  So when I had new boots fitted I expected it to glide much smoother than it did.

I'd sooner put a match to this thing than keep it the way it is or sell it (I simply won't sell rubbish).  It is interesting to note that my 77 year old mother can notice that something is wrong and says that my previous car, a cheap 83 Ford station wagon (ie 'Estate') had 'better handling'.  To her, the main difference between the two cars is their colour, so her opinions are entirely uncoloured by the car's pedigree or expected performance etc.

Even so, I can run it at 200+kph with confidence (125mph) but it doesn't feel right and now I know why.

Being out so far (2.4 and -1.5) may be the result of sideswiping a curb.  If so then the lower swinging arm may be bent, which would cause the problem.  If that is the case then the swinging arm can be replaced.  But I do not have a workshop or the necessary tools or experience to tackle such a job, though if enough people tell me it is impossible to fix I'll have to fix it myself (and I will, even if I have to take to it with a sledge hammer in a do-or-die 'fix-it or 'f**k-it' effort to correct the problem.)

On a more practical note, there are devices used to straighten bent motor vehicles that could be employed to give the whole side of the car a pull and stretch it by the necessary few millimetres to straighten out the suspension.

Robert
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