Suspension and Wheels

[fcannas]

Dear All,

I have more or less finished my 230 sl,

I have new tyres and bilestein suspension, but i'm experiencing some problems ...when  i do left turns the left back  tyre touch in the inside " car" ...

Any ideas? is there some set 's i should do?

Best Regards,

[ja17]

Hello,

Are your tires the correct size?

[rwmastel]

Perhaps your rear axle is not centered (aligned)??  See this link.
http://index.php?topic=8482

[Bob G]

Correct tire size is 185 HR 14 or 195 HR 14 I think and someone correct me if I am wrong but I beleive the aspect ratio was 80 when the car was new. Some people like to go to the 205 Michelin HR 14. I like to say as close to stock as possible so I am running Michelin 185 TR ( touring radial) 14 Rainforce - no longer availible. Not the best tire but not the worst.
By the way if you have the extra money to spend some of our W113 affinotos have the Coker repoduction Firestone 185 HR 14 with the correct white wall and curb guard on the tire like the orginal. Score was high marks from some of our group members owners.
Bob Geco

Bob Geco

[fcannas]

My tires are ok, i do believe its the axle that its not well set.. I will try to check it than i will post some news..

Thanks for all your kind help...

[rwmastel]

quote:Originally posted by fcannas

My tires are ok, i do believe its the axle that its not well set.. I will try to check it than i will post some news.

A quick way to check is to drop a string down from the fender lip on each side and compare.  How close is each wheel to its thread?

[Longtooth]

"Correct Size tires".... I've been running 205/70 R14's from Michelin since '84 when I bought the car and most recently from Yokahama... tires (front or rear) don't rub against anything and spare fits in trunk without touching anything, with tire cover on the spare - spare fit is close, but no interference.  Worst case when fully cranked over hard left or right and going over a bump at driveway I might hear a bit of a rub on front tire (tyre), but inside fender-wells show no marks for wear against tires over all the time I've used 205/70 R14's.  I've never had a rubbing problem on rear's in any situation -- including hard cornering.

If you're hearing rubbing on left rear tire with left turns (when assumedly left hard cranked all the way over), but not on right rear on right turns, and with new shocks (Bilsteins), it sounds like

1) a camber problem on left rear wheel (this is related to springs and rubber.... or
2) body (left rear qtr panel) is mis-shaped (prior imperfect body work)... or
3) Mounting rubber on left mount (whatever it's called) is worn out or overly compressed... or
4) left rear spring is either broken or has been compressively overstressed to shorten it.... or
5) left axel is bent.

[mdsalemi]

Remember, these cars were essentially hand built meaning there are variations.

1)  I had, until I covered them in paint, the original scuff marks from rubbing 205/70's on the inner fender wells.  Wasn't all the time of course, but it was there nonetheless.  No additional scuffing since the 185's were installed.

2)  The 205/70 spare wouldn't fit on the trunk mount stanchion, period--at least not with air in it!  My "correct" [and inflated]185 just barely fits now, and from that fit it is easy to see how and why the 205 didn't.

My experience isn't true for everyone as Longtooth points out, but I won't believe it is unique, either.

[fcannas]

Thank you all for all your help, idi not have the time yet to fix the problem, but i forgot to tel that the car its a bit higher on one side so could be a spring problem to...

I will try to fix it soon

Best regards

[fcannas]

Hi everybody,

Finally i sttoped my problem...

I found that my wheel was not thighten enough the brake drum was making that noise, i also checked that a bolt was missing on the inside... near the suspension bolt !!! that links the wheel to the axel...

A dangerous situation...!!!

Regards