quote:
Originally posted by JimVillers
Arthur ... I am all for better. What are the control arm pivot points at curb condition? From the lower outside trunion to inside upper trunion pivots? 88mm is about 3.5 inches. If that is measuring from the lower control arm to the floor, that would just measuring tire effect.
Jim Villers
190SL, 230SL 5-Speed, 190E 2.3-16 Kompressor
Jim
This one is a little tricky to explain [ for me , not that it is tricky geometry] ..
I will try a comparison approach to a Right Triangle:
The thing that is getting measured is the angle slope of the lower control arm. This is done not from the floor as reference , but from the trunion/knuckle bolt C/L .
With the car on a level surface: Imagine a line going from the c/l
of the left trun/knuckle bolt [that goes through the lower control arm] going over to the right trun bolt c/l... so, this line is connecting the two bolts c/l.. right to left sides , full width of the front end...OK?
Now , the inner pivot of the same control arms [ that is bolted to the cross sub frame] is the measure point . If one measures down from that control arm inner pivot point c/l down to the imaginary line , the distance should be spec for that chassis [ according to Benz Data]
So , you can see that each sides measure forms a right triangle,
with the spec measure being the height side of the right triangle
[ side A]..the hypotenuse being the control arm. { side C ]
If both sides [ right/left]have the same spec at this measure , then you know the slope angle of the control arms are the same and the suspension is in spec. Changing spring, rubber , ect changes the control arms slope/ , along with the hiegth of the measure spec.
I made a simple tool for this measure and I think it is here or over mercedesShop somewhere in the archieves with the others .. been a long time ...
The trick here is to bounce the car a few times to let it settle out and load the car to your normal load .. It is all in the BBB somewhere , with specs for both curb and test load conditions..
..prob clear as mud .. I am sure someone with tech writing skills beyond mine could clean it up.
PS.
Seeing that you have just done some experimenting with different springs and konis up front , I would certainly check this measure to see how it compares to a Factory 113 spec , just out of curiosity...