[MBZ] 83' 300D alignment/worn out?

[JFreezn@aol.com]

In a message dated 5/1/2006 7:24:04 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time,  
levigsmith at gmail.com writes:

So, I  was at the in-laws waiting for the dog to do it's business and  started
taking a closer look at the wear pattern on my tires now that I've  had the
car long enough (it came with near new tires) to notice.  All  have the
correct air pressure and keep it.
Well, the backs seem pretty  nice and square as should be.
The front left is worn on the inner and out  edges, but still mostly there.
The front right didn't seem too bad, till I  looked closer on the inner
edge.  It's worn down enough that the cords  are showing through...

It has loose steering, which I largely tightened  up last year via the
steeringbox, but I'm wondering if part of that is  something suspension
related now...
So...
Is this the normal kind of  "shake the wheel in the air and hope you can
notice a loose part"?  Or  is there anything else in particular I should be
looking for that might  need replacement, or good ways to identify that they
need  replacement?
Or should I just take it in for an alignment?
And on that  note, is there any sort of rear wheel alignment, or is this
strictly a  front-wheel alignment?



Levi,
 
Probably the bushings in the upper control arm are gone.  Jacking  under the 
lower arm should take enough pressure off the upper arm so you can  push in 
and out at the top of the wheel.  Rusty has the bushings separate,  but there is 
a good chance the control arm is damaged if you have driven it far  enough to 
wear out a new tire on the inside.  About $60.
 
Don't spend for an alignment until you figure out the cause and repair  it.  
Mercedes calls for a 4 wheel alignment, many shops are not equipped to  do 
Mercedes alignments.
 
Regards,  

Jim  Friesen
Phoenix AZ
79 300SD, 262 K miles 
98 ML 320, 142 K  miles