How do I adjust my Hood/Bonnet "GAP" Please?

16625 Views 22 Replies 9 Participants Last post by curro101, Mar 10, 2016

Terentius55

Discussion Starter · Jan 24, 2016

Hi everyone, and 'Yes' I did try search and found nothing pertaining to my problem.
Problem: Look at the front of the car and the 'right-hand-side' bonnet/hood is sitting 2/3 mm higher than the left. (See Photo) When I push down on the bonnet/hood it levels and matches the 'left-hand-side'. This would indicate that the catch on the underside of the hood/bonnet would need to be adjusted to pull the hood/bonnet down to the correct level. Although the catch has nuts on it that appear to be for adjustment. When I took the catch off for inspection, there are "NO" locking or adjustment nuts on the inside and the outside nuts do absolutely nothing as they are pressed into place in molding! (See Photo)
Okay, it is "NOT" the level posts either side of the engine bay! (See Photo)
The catches either side of the engine bay cannot be adjusted down either. (See Photo)
It is also nothing to do with the front grill/bumper adjustment either. (Just in case members suggest this)
Help would be highly appreciated....:grin:
http://i.imgur.com/AE2s8LG.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/JUaKTQV.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/875U5qF.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/0T3ak0p.jpg

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1 - 20 of 23 Posts

jbanks15

· #2 · Jan 24, 2016

search works for me

http://www.slkworld.com/slk-r171-class-diy/27914-front-bumper-gap-sorted-171-a.html

Reactions: 1

Terentius55

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 24, 2016

jbanks15 said:
search works for me

http://www.slkworld.com/slk-r171-class-diy/27914-front-bumper-gap-sorted-171-a.html

Hi Jeff, thanks for this info (To which I have already read) and as stated in my post: "It has nothing to do with the front bumper" or "the height adjustment post! (10th line down) :|

Terentius55

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jan 24, 2016

Just to reiterate! My problem is "NOT" the front bumper gap! It is not the hood level posts! Adjusting the right level post or the bumper thingy will not solve the problem. Hood has to be adjusted "DOWN" on the right-hand side approx 2/3 mm! Why? So that the right-hand side lines up with the "Top of The Wing", 'and' the grill gap is level. "Adjusting the grill or bumper upwards will not level out the discrepancy and level the right-hand top of the hood with the wing. Hence my photos for clarification....

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jbanks15

· #5 · Jan 24, 2016

Wheelbase21 said:
Hi Jeff, thanks for this info (To which I have already read) and as stated in my post: "It has nothing to do with the front bumper" or "the height adjustment post! (10th line down) :|

I am such a slug. To the stocks for me

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Terentius55

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 24, 2016

Similar problem: SLK R170 Bonnet Catch Adjustment? - Mercedes-Benz Owners' Forums

In short: The right-hand hood underside "U Bolt catch" needs to be shortened 2/3 mm. If it had shims like the old MB's I could take out shims, but it doesn't. There are only 2 nuts that don't adjust, and nothing on the ends of the U bolt???
THIS ONE:http://i.imgur.com/AE2s8LG.jpg

efair

· #7 · Jan 24, 2016

Never done it before, so no first-hand knowledge, but I'm curious what happens when you turn the nut that has the washer under it. Does it truly "do nothing"? It appears threaded, can you turn it, and if so does the u-shaped bolt move?

curro101

· #8 · Jan 24, 2016

If you "un do" those nuts that seem to do nothing the U bar should go in and therefore pull the bonnet down further, I did mine recently and it worked fine...

Terentius55

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 24, 2016

efair said:
Never done it before, so no first-hand knowledge, but I'm curious what happens when you turn the nut that has the washer under it. Does it truly "do nothing"? It appears threaded, can you turn it, and if so does the u-shaped bolt move?

My first thought was that the "U Bolt" had nuts on the other side so that it can be adjusted up or down, so I took it off to have a look. It doesn't. have anything - it looks like in the manufacture it was screwed in and bent into shape! Talk about a Chinese puzzle!? The old Merc's had shims that were under the catch, but the SLK has none. If I could adjust the U bolt up 2/3 mm problem would be solved...:frown: http://i.imgur.com/AE2s8LG.jpg

curro101

· #10 · Jan 24, 2016

Did you try them to adjust before you removed for inspection ? If not just install them and try, as I said mine ajusted perfectly by using this method...

Terentius55

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jan 24, 2016

curro101 said:
If you "un do" those nuts that seem to do nothing the U bar should go in and therefore pull the bonnet down further, I did mine recently and it worked fine...

I tried that but the U bolt would not go up it seems that it is also threaded into the unit, and if the U bolt went up, what's on the other side to stop it coming back down again as there are no locking nuts on the other side? How did you make the U bolt go up. did you hit it?

curro101

· #12 · Jan 24, 2016

No, undoing the nut makes the thread enter into the metal base, therefore pulling the U upwards. Do both nuts bit by bit at the same time.
Looking at your pic, it's likely the the oblong metal piece that one of the sides of the U bolt goes into is threaded but you can't see it under the nut......

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Terentius55

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jan 24, 2016

curro101 said:
Did you try them to adjust before you removed for inspection ? If not just install them and try, as I said mine ajusted perfectly by using this method...

Yes I did try this and the U bolt just stayed there and didn't raise, so I took it off to see if there were locking nuts on the inside. So what actually makes the U bolt raise? Maybe I've got a pair of dodgy nuts! (Excuse the pun, lol)

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Terentius55

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jan 24, 2016

curro101 said:
No, undoing the nut makes the thread enter into the metal base, therefore pulling the U upwards. Do both nuts bit by bit at the same time.
Looking at your pic, it's likely the the oblong metal piece that one of the sides of the U bolt goes into is threaded but you can't see it under the nut......

I'll try this tomorrow....:wink:

ZeroZero

· #15 · Jan 24, 2016

Hi All @Wheelbase21 So no adjustment from the two posts , The bumper & grilles look level in the picture , you could have a bonnet that is not the correct shape on the right hand side(but only by a very small amount) as we look at it . Is the bonnet only out of line at the front of the bonnet .

Cheers

Andy

curro101

· #16 · Jan 24, 2016

Right..just been down to the garage and taken one of mine off to see how it works !

In the pic below "A" which looks like a washer is actually part of the same nut you see on the outside, which turns on itself so when you move the nut in one direction or the other the U bar acting upon the straight bar "B" moves in or out....

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Terentius55

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jan 24, 2016

curro101 said:
Right..just been down to the garage and taken one of mine off to see how it works !

In the pic below "A" which looks like a washer is actually part of the same nut you see on the outside, which turns on itself so when you move the nut in one direction or the other the U bar acting upon the straight bar "B" moves in or out....

Thank you kindly for this information. I've been out and sprayed my nuts (Excuse me) with some "Loctite Release Agent" The one with the washer must be seized (I thought it was welded because it just won't budge and the design) I'll have ago at this one again after it's been soaking all night, and hopefully my newly adjusted nuts will solve the problem. Thanks again, Terence...:grin:

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Windrestrictor

· #18 · Jan 25, 2016

jbanks15 said:
I am such a slug. To the stocks for me

Don't do it Jeff! :grin:

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RJV

· #19 · Jan 25, 2016

The solution lies totally in the "U-bolt" adjustment - this sets the height of the closed hood versus the fender (aka wing). The purpose of the small circular rubber bump stops is to stop the hood from vibrating and rattling - they should be adjusted after the U-bolt height is correct. See attached.

If you cannot see how the U-bolt functions then it is likely to be faulty. It really isn't that complex.

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Terentius55

Discussion Starter · #20 · Jan 25, 2016

Yeee,haaa!!! Leaving my nuts to soak all night in 'Release Agent' has done the trick! My nuts are now loose, pliable and free to do as I please with them. I have adjusted the 'right-hand-side' as per: Curro101 and RGV's diagram, and now the hood aligns perfectly with the top of the right-hand wing. (Even measured it) Unfortunately, I cannot upload the photo I took as my laptop just decided to quit on me (Great) so I'm on a very old gas powered PC with no bluetooth, and my phone's **** too. Never mind it's now adjusted, so thanks to everyone for their help....PS: Just managed to do it...http://i.imgur.com/eJFBsu9.jpg

Moral of the story is: When one has over stiff nuts - leave them to soak all night, in the hands of a good agent (Release Agent) and the next day, one's nuts will be so loose,any up or down movement can be dealt with accordingly, with a smile on one's face....>

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