1991 230TE WEIRD STEERING SENSATION - ADVICE PLEASE?

[Ade]

I have a 1991 230TE and have noticed that when near to or on full steering lock the car feels as if it has gone over a pothole or bump in the road even though none is evident. This came to a head recently when driving though a multi-storey car park and having the car on near to full steering lock almost constantly (as I travelled to each level) the car had a noticable 'jolt' at each ramp.

The nearest I can describe this 'jolt' is that the car felt as though the front tyres were slipping sideways over the wheel rims! I tried the car at full lock in a level car park and had the same effect.

Does anybody have any idea what the cause could be or what I should check? Steering play does not seem excessive, suspension feels ok, tyre pressures fine but there does appear to be some wear on the front anti roll bar mounting rubbers (Which I will change sooon but in the process of moving house!)

The car has just passed it's MOT and no wear to ball joints, suspension or steering gearwas reported. In fact the Tester remarked on what good condition the car was!

 

[flyingtech55]

Are the wheels the original MB type supplied with the car. Sometimes people fit after market ones which have the incorrect outset/inset. This is as important as the PCD.

 

[Ade]

flyingtech55. Thanks for the reply. The wheels are standard Merc Alloys (11 Slot type?) bought with the car but I very much doubt the original wheels. How does this affect the steering as the tyre sizes are as Merc Spec.

 

[flyingtech55]

Wierd Steering

What sometimes happens is people fit wide wheels or wheels with the wrong offset and they rub on parts of the suspension on full lock. We used to get cars in with damaged flexi-hoses due people fitting wide or incorrect wheels to them and causing the tyre/wheel rim to rub on the brake hoses. However, if the wheels are Merc. types with the correct tyre size then this is probably not the cause of your problem.

 

[Ade]

Weird Steering

Thanks for the advice. Any over possible reasons you can think of?

 

[flyingtech55]

Wierd Steering

What we used to do with this type of problem was to take the car to an empty car park (evening or week-end) and while one person drove the car slowly round in circles on whichever lock was causing the problem, a second person walked alongside watching/listening. You could often see the problem or get a good clue as to what was going on. This is also a very good method of identifying which corner of the car has a noisy wheel bearing or worn CV or Hardy-Spicer joints.

 

[Ade]

Again Sound advice. I have already tried the driving round slowly in car park bit but dont know how to identify what the prob is i.e. CV joint etc. How do you know whats what?

 

[andy_k]

check the integrity of the outer anti roll bar mounts - each side of the car there is a metal bracket - these are prone to failure and would exhibit the symptoms you are getting.

HTH

Andy K

 

[flyingtech55]

Weird Steering

Hi Ade

Without seeing the car that's really about all I can advise. If the car is lurching etc it should be possible to see something amiss. Perhaps someone in your area could have a look for you.

Good luck.

Gliderman

 

[Ade]

Got some new anti roll bar rubbers this weekend £14 odd +VAT the set(Pleasantly suprised). Will fit this weekend coming and let you guys know if it improves. Checked the mounting brackets and they're fine.

 

[teky]

could be idler arm bushes
http://uk.msnusers.com/autodatabase...sage=567&LastModified=4675471731951061020

 

[Ade]

Tecky

What's involved in changing these if necessary?

 

[teky]

the link above is my database and it shows you whats involved not that difficult a job

 

[Ade]

Tecky

Fanstastic Database! Can't go wrong with that one. Incidently, I'm changing the drive belt damper on the engine. Haven't got instructions like those for the idler arm bushes in your data base for the damper by any chance?

 

[squirrell]

Interested to read of your problem and may I add my bit!

It sounds like a tyres skipping, they all can have a tendency to do this due to the fact Mercs have a very good steering lock angle, some tyres are worse and as other people have said it could be down to incorrect tyre/wheel application.

suggest you have the steering geometry checked as it could be an error on toe out on turns. (four wheel alaignment check)

to a certain degree it may be a standard feature.

 

[teky]

http://uk.msnusers.com/autodatabase...sage=567&LastModified=4675471731951061020

 

[Ade]

Squirrell

Thanks for the tip, I've had the same suspicions as described in my original post. I've had the car a year which had fairly new tyres (matching- all round) and done about 10K Miles and already they're looking worn beyond normal expectantancy which makes me think they're a bit soft. The current tyres are 'Uniroyals', I'm no tyre expert but they are not what I've ever considered to be in the premier league of tyres. Anybody out there recommend any other makes?

Incidently I started changing the front anti-roll bar rubber this weekend but due to some 'dismanting problems' still have a little work to do so can't really tell at present whether this will improve the situation (One rubber to go - cant get the ****** nut off! - and a sheared bolt to replace)