Mercedes-Benz W124 toe-in and pulling to one side
Why does the W124 pull to one side or wander in ruts?
The most common causes are worn lower control arm bushings, loose lower ball joints, the rear subframe front rubbers and the outer bushings of the rear lower control arm. The auxiliary steering box can also be loose. Replace the worn parts first and then do a four-wheel alignment, otherwise the setting will not hold.
What is the W124 caster value when the car pulls to the right?
According to the factory instruction, on a car that pulls to the right the caster (forward-backward tilt of the wheel) is set with the wheels straight ahead to 10 degrees on the left and 11 degrees on the right. Many aligners set both sides to the same value, so it is worth asking for this specifically.
What is checked before aligning the W124?
The steering must be centred, because otherwise the car can pull even if the angles are correct. The tyres must be of the same kind and undamaged. The car's ride height is measured, because a car that is too low prevents camber and caster adjustment. At the rear, toe-in is needed.
How can W124 toe-in be checked at home?
With a measuring cord, measure the difference between the rear edge and front edge of the rims at the same height, with the steering wheel in place. The total toe-in is about 4–6 mm, i.e. 2–3 mm per wheel. The measurement is inaccurate, so confirm it with a test drive. The final setting is done on alignment equipment at a workshop.