Tyre muncher

[LostKiwi]

Maybe I didn't think the lock was overly bad because at the time I had the Volvo I also had a Defender 110. The turning circle in those is measured in counties....

 

[Hector Hall]

I've never driven a defender even though I hold them in very high regard. I never realised they had a bad turning circle

 

[LostKiwi]

110s are dreadful (and 130s are even worse!!!).
I also had FC101s and bizarrely the lock on those was astonishingly good (but with no power steering you did need to eat weetabix regularly)!

 

[Naraic]

I have an S60 and a 1998 C70 T5 and I can only liken them both to the QE2 for manoeuvrability lol.

Are they both front wheel drive?

 

[LostKiwi]

Are they both front wheel drive?

Yes

 

[JBell]

Did they check the "Toe In", this will also cause that problem

 

[Hector Hall]

Did they check the "Toe In", this will also cause that problem

I don't think so. I'm going to get it out on the proper alignment machine mid week and see. I have to travel a bit to get to the tyre depot with it but if it sorts my problem it will be well worth it.

 

[JBell]

I don't think so. I'm going to get it out on the proper alignment machine mid week and see. I have to travel a bit to get to the tyre depot with it but if it sorts my problem it will be well worth it.

It needs full laser alignment

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

SO has anyone checked the steering/suspension for wear and tear?

You can do all the alignments in the world but if a ball joint has worn out or something like that, no one measurement will be the same and it will wear your tyres out, especially if they are adjusting things.

Lower ball joints and upper wishbone joints are common as well as the TCA bushes. All contribute to wheel alignment.

I would seek the help of an Indie before doing anything else.

 

[Hector Hall]

Suspension is 100% as my car is my bread earner it wants for nothing, is regularly serviced and health checked so I'd be almost 100% sure suspension and so on is perfect. What do you mean by full laser alignment? The tyre depots that I've used use a laser alignment tool but I've been told there is zero adjustment on the rear of the w211

 

[Hector Hall]

110s are dreadful (and 130s are even worse!!!).
I also had FC101s and bizarrely the lock on those was astonishingly good (but with no power steering you did need to eat weetabix regularly)!

I watched a Freelander do a sharp turn yesterday and was amazed at how bad it was

 

[Craiglxviii]

Merc turning circles are great. 28 foot from memory. All my cars including Ze Beast have a significantly better turning circle than my A3.

 

[LostKiwi]

I watched a Freelander do a sharp turn yesterday and was amazed at how bad it was

Freelanders are a LOT better then Defenders too...

 

[Hector Hall]

That's crazy

Freelanders are a LOT better then Defenders too...

That's crazy, Defenders must be real bad.

 

[turbopete]

Suspension is 100% as my car is my bread earner it wants for nothing, is regularly serviced and health checked so I'd be almost 100% sure suspension and so on is perfect. What do you mean by full laser alignment? The tyre depots that I've used use a laser alignment tool but I've been told there is zero adjustment on the rear of the w211

id be surprised if theres no camber adjustment, considering Mercedes sell camber adjustment bolts for exactly this purpose! they may be talking about the tracking (toe-in/out) which may not be adjustable (ive never owned or worked with the 211 so dont know it too well) but the camber most definitely IS

 

[LostKiwi]

All RWD Mercedes have adjustments for front and rear toe in/out.
Some Mercedes also have adjustment for front and/or rear camber.
Mercedes provide camber adjustment kits for all RWD Mercedes that require adjustment that are not adjustable from the factory.

The ONLY practical way to correctly align an MB is with a Hunter wheel alignment machine.

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

I dont wish to be rude, but who has checked the suspension and steering?

You wont believe the amount of garages that miss worn TCA bushes and ball joints as they dont test them properly. Upper wishbone ball joints, lower wishbone ball joints and TCA bushes are W211's achilles heel, and the TCA bushes are modified to AMG ones.

That tyre wear cant be down to just camber. In my experience.

 

[JBell]

That tyre wear cant be down to just camber. In my experience.

It is usually "Toe" that wears them the worst.

I think the car needs a full "going over" suspension wise

 

[LostKiwi]

I don't know why the OP doesn't just get it done. If nothing else it will highlight where the issue is.
I know I have an alignment issue on mine. I had it checked on a Hunter and its told me exactly where its out of spec so now I know what it needs to put it right.

 

[John Laidlaw]

We get a few like that on here (not meaning to be rude OP), a lot of hope that remotely something can be fixed when the experts like Steve are spelling it out what needs done. Maybe a misplaced faith that their vehicle has been looked at properly when it may not have.
As I say I'm not meaning to be rude, just sayin'