C Class pulling to left

[c250td]

I have a '98 C250 TD saloon. (56k miles)
It steers slightly to the left meaning I'm constantly pulling the steering wheel to keep it straight. I've had the tracking checked twice at ATS and this is fine.
I've also had to replace two new rear Michelin tires in 12 months (12,000 miles) . The front tires where also worn on the outside.
Any idea what the problem is ?
thanks

 

[fuzzer]

I can remember from previous posts that checking the tracking is an artform on a benz and cannot be done by joe ats or jim kwikfit properly. I think you would be advised to take it to a specialist or a dealer and see what they say ..

Im sure others will just say what i have

 

[Dave B]

Yeah, I heard the same Fuzzer.

By the way, my front tyres also wear on the outer edges. Tracking checked by MB at last service.

 

[Andy]

Hi All,

With regards to tyre wear on the outside edges. So long as the wheel alignment is ok. Then MB SUGGEST that the wheels are swopped around at every service. This prolongs the life of the tyre. Trouble is when one wears out they all do so you are left with replacing all four.


C250D, some would say that 12k is nothing for a set of rear tyres. I would say its about average. Next time look at the centre tread wear. It almost certain to worn in the middle & ok or better on the outer edges. This tyre fitted to the front will then wear on the outer edge and so wear the complete tyre. Or you could dare I say it. Keep your right foot under control.

Regards sheepishly

Andy @ www.mercedesservicing.com

 

[c250td]

thanks for the advice.
I'll get my friendly MB dealer to check the tracking.

I've now fitted Continental eco-contacts at the front.
fyi, I've previously driven a much heavier (and faster)850  estate which didn't seem nearly  so heavy on the same size tyres.  They were Goodyear Venturas.

 

[Anonymous]

My C270 cdi pulls to the left despite three attempts by dealer to adjust geometry.  They say it's a characteristic of car ("it follows the camber") and they have done all the adjusting they can. At 5,000m only I can't comment on tyre wear but wear on my shoulder and neck muscles after a 2 to 3 hour journey is very noticeable constantly having to correct from left pull.    I am taking this up with MB but any feedback/support  welcome.  Surely I am not alone?! (Was previously an e-class driver so have come to terms with different feel of c class driving experience but do not wish to be driving a car that is trying to run me off the road all the time!)

 

[altreed]

I had my local MB stealership  check the steering and set up the geometry on my c36, I still experience the same clonk and graunch noise and the osf wears on he outer edge.  

I'm heading Birmingham way come 72000 miles!

 

[altreed]

I had my local MB stealership  check the steering and set up the geometry on my c36, I still experience the same clonk and graunch noise and the osf wears on he outer edge.  

I'm heading Birmingham way come 72000 miles!

 

[ian williams]

When ya say 'check the geometry', did that include checking the camber and castor angles( which have nothing at all to do with toe in or out, no matter what they say). A change in camber setting can have the effects you mention, and can be caused by wear or even slight impact on the front suspension.

 

[simon]

When manufacturers/dealers claim "characteristic of cars" , I go into total disbelief mode.
Knowing the quality of MB R&D (As against other manufacturers) it is totally unrealistic to believe that they would sanction putting a model on the road with such a defect.
I would add that I am not a diehard enthusiast of MB.

Ernest Sidesman.

 

[Andy]

Hi all,

Unfortunately it seems it is a characteristic of these vehicles to pull or drift to the left. They do not have the same problems on the continents as the roads are flater so I am led to believe than ours. Only if you get the vehicle on a dead flat road will you get the car to drive straight.

That is why if a customer asks me to take a look at the steering alignment. And there is no excessive tyre wear. I will tell them not to bother. As there is no sure way that I can catagorically say I will cure it.
We have exactly the same equipment as the dealers so I know there is no discrepancy.

Regards

Andy @ www.mercedesservicing.com

 

[simon]

C250TD has a saloon that requires constant pulling to the right on the steering wheel to maintain straight & level on UK roads & that is normal & correct?
I must admit that I have not  heard of any road test/or motoring scribe mention that to date on the saloon model either in this country or elsewhere & they are not
usually slow in criticising MB products.
I have only driven 5 250TD models myself & they were all estates, none of them exhibitted such a fault.
I still remain extremely surprised Andy .

Ernest Sidesman.

 

[Guy]

Its not a problem I've had with my car but a lot of US C class owners have posted similar complaints on forums - some say that the dealer has corrected it, others can't get rid of it.
Certainly sounds like a common fault to me - calling it a characteristic makes it sound almost acceptable!

 

[Trenery]

Hi All

My C240 (2001 - 25k) pulls left. I have been told the same from Merc about road camber. It's rubbish. My car pulls left even on an opposite camber. I have had the RAC take a look and they have stated that the car has a problem.

I am just about to take Mercedes to court. Please contact me if you have the same problem. We need to get a list of people with the same problem and hit the car mags, press and Merc. Something must be done about this problem as it's very fatiguing and quite wrong.

In my view Mercedes are treating us all like idiots and should take this issue seriously.

PS. Under the supply of goods act you can request a full refund as the purchase does not meet the expected quality.
http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1994/Ukpga_19940035_en_1.htm

mike@globalstealth.com

 

[simon]

Guy,I too have seen the complaints on the U.S. forums regarding steering both on the C class & other modsels.
Examination often suggests that the fault has not been correctly addressed.

Mass production cars should/are made to operate successfully within Design Authority parameters.
If any vehicle fails to function properly when set up correctly(I repeat correctly) within limits there is an engineering fault/defect.

Setting up steering geometry on present MB cars is significantly more complex & sophisticated than in the past.
If a vehicle fails to steer correctly when set up within limits, it requires an engineer who understands the theory of steering geometry rather than a mechanic who simply understands his tracking machine.
Unfortunately it would appear that there are more of the latter than the former.

Ernest Sidesman

 

[dave elcome]

Ernest.

I agree totally with what you are saying,  with regards to the lack of knowledge in garages these days.

In the good old days (swing that lamp!), we Mechanics were taught during our apprenticships!! at the end of which we understood the principles of the motor car period.

Ask a "fitter" these days about Camber angles, and he'll probably think you are talking about a beech on the south coast, they would probably think that Castor was something on a chair, King Pin Inclination would certainly draw a blank, and asking them to explain the Akerman principle would no doubt induce a Migraine!!

The reason behind all this is a total lack of basic training, i saw it happen in the trade back in the early seventies, times got a bit tight, so garages stopped taking on apprentices, this was ok in the short term, but come the eighties, and you couldn't find skilled labour for love nor money.  Add this to manufacturers pandering to leasing companies, offering ever increasing service intervals in order to woo business thier way, and there you have it in a nutsh*ll
, spanking new dealerships, with impressive showrooms, liveried courtesy cars, and jack the lad salesmen in flash suits that don't fit, but what are the chances of finding someone there who actually understands your vehicle??

 I suspect that most marques have the equivalent to Andy, someone who has done the training, worked on the vehicles consistantly, and is still interested.

If only the dealers had realised this years ago, them i'm certain these pages would not be so full of people complaining about the service they get, or rather don't get.

By now you might just be under the impression that this is a pet subject of mine!!

 

[julian moore]

Thanks for all your helpful observations.  Here are extracts from written reply from MB Customer Assistance Center, Maastricht: "Under certain circumstances dependent on the camber of the road surface, the vehicle may drift to the left.  This is not a mechanical defect in most cases.  The reason that the vehicle may drift to the left is due to physics acting upon the vehicle. The steering of the C-Class has a low level  of friction in the front axle which provides a good road feeling and self-centering.  This low friction level can lead the vehicle to follow the camber gradient of the road....as you advise your dealership has carried out all the adjustment checks and can find no mechanical defect, there is nothing further can be done, the vehicle is following the camber gradient ....like-wise the right hand drive models will pull to the right..."    Over and out.

Meanwhile, (my second line of attack) MB Milton Keynes, having studied the printouts from the previous adjustments,  have sent my dealership modified settings which they want them to try!  I will give them one more try (the fourth) and then review my position.

Comments please....  Also, can anyone provide actual addresses of US web forums you refer to...?

JulianMoore@btinternet.com

 

[Guy]

http://forums.mbworld.org/forums/
http://www.benzworld.org/
http://www.c32life.com/
http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforum/index.php3

I'm afraid you will have to search, some of the posts may be archived by now.

Good luck, hope this helps.

 

[sdwells]

I had similar problems with my 1990 230TE. My local tyre specialist checked the tracking and said it was spot-on. My local Merc garage checked it and said it was out and adjusted it, and charged me about £60.00 for doing it. But still the car drifted to the near side, - and I noticed that the rear tyres were wearing on their outer edges.
I checked in the Haynes manual and discovered that it?s possible to adjust the tracking on the rear wheels too. The lower track control arms are fitted with eccentric washers, and when I turned the near-side rear pivot bolt through about 30 degrees (which effectively decreased the toe-in on this wheel), all tendency to drift has stopped.
I?m not sure if your model has the same suspension set-up, but it might be worth a try, as it only takes a few minutes to adjust, and if it doesn?t work you can just re-set it to its original position.
Good luck,
Steve.

 

[sdwells]

I had similar problems with my 1990 230TE. My local tyre specialist checked the tracking and said it was spot-on. My local Merc garage checked it and said it was out and adjusted it, and charged me about £60.00 for doing it. But still the car drifted to the near side, - and I noticed that the rear tyres were wearing on their outer edges.
I checked in the Haynes manual and discovered that it?s possible to adjust the tracking on the rear wheels too. The lower track control arms are fitted with eccentric washers, and when I turned the near-side rear pivot bolt through about 30 degrees (which effectively decreased the toe-in on this wheel), all tendency to drift has stopped.
I?m not sure if your model has the same suspension set-up, but it might be worth a try, as it only takes a few minutes to adjust, and if it doesn?t work you can just re-set it to its original position.
Good luck,
Steve.