Author Topic: Pagode: Front end lower control arms difference?  (Read 2040 times)

280slPagoda

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Pagode: Front end lower control arms difference?
« on: June 02, 2018, 07:19:39 »

The front end left and right lower control arms appear to be identical at first sight but is that true? They have different part numbers. Are they different? If so what is difference (without the torsion bar mounted)? My car a 280SL built nov -69 have front wheels about 1 inch backwards from front fender center. One expert mechanic says left and right have been misplaced with each other during a repair and should be changed. Other expert mechanic says the parts are identical and shifting left to right and right to left makes no change. The chassis measurements on my car are correct! Looking at Buds Benz I see the lower control arms have different part numbers but they come with torsion bar mount attached.
J220-045A Lower Control Arm Left
J220-045B Lower Control Arm Right
I look forward to advice!

Dave H

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    • Dave H
Re: Pagode: Front end lower control arms difference?
« Reply #1 on: June 02, 2018, 09:17:56 »
If this is what you are talking about. They are handed as can be seen. The right side is the rusty one in the first pic ,second pic is the left control arm.
Open just the right in a window then, open right again in another window but this time rotate it. Flick between windows to see the mounting angle is all wrong plus torsion bar mount will be on the wrong side  .
« Last Edit: June 02, 2018, 10:35:51 by Dave H »
Mercedes 250SL    1967
Mercedes 250SLK  2014
Alfa Romeo 166 3.2 Ti
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Shvegel

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Re: Pagode: Front end lower control arms difference?
« Reply #2 on: June 02, 2018, 22:44:01 »
If a front control arm is mounted on the wrong side the sway bar mount (torsion bar) mount would be behind the axle.  There are a couple things that effect the wheel position assuming the control arms are not bent.  On the left side where the sway bar(torsion bar) mouts to the frame there are eccentric bolts to adjust the fore and aft position of the left hand (seated in the car) wheel.  This is used to adjust the position of the front axle square to the car.  Also if the caster setting of the front wheels is off it will cause one wheel to be out of position.