car 'jumps' on full-lock

Jules230

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On full-lock (right or left) my mercedes clk230 'jumps' (bunny hops virtually) and sounds like the noise made when driving over cats eyes. The problem has been getting gradually worse.
Front nearside tyre is also wearing on the inside.
Any suggestions please?
Tracking is ok. Steering fluid levels ok also.
 

bigasotonuk

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C43/55 AMG 1999 / C230K 1997
Hi,
Welcome to the forum.
Try your tyre pressures first, as Mercedes are very sensitive to this.
Use to get this on mine, You say the tracking is ok? When it was done was it a full 4-wheel alignment as this cured mine.
Qwik-fit done it twice and could,nt get it right, and refunded my money. Took it too get a 4-wheel check (measure camber castor and give you printout before and after adjustment) and the fault was gone.
 

wireman

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nice 201 2.5D 1993 & very nice 129 SL500 1994
Have you inspected the bottom ball joints for wear?
 

David Nock

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CLK/2009/320CDI
I'm only a keen DIY mechanic but I would start by (safely) getting the front end up on axle stands and then gently levering the bottom arms up and down with a tyre lever or similar. Any worn joints sufficient to cause your problem would I think be fairly obvious by doing this.
 

wireman

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nice 201 2.5D 1993 & very nice 129 SL500 1994
Beware that the merc ball joint is under tension, not the more usual compression.

You may need to take off the wheel and lower the wish bone onto blocks to relive the load on the ball joint, then you can get the bar in and feel for play.
 

David Nock

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Beware that the merc ball joint is under tension, not the more usual compression.

You may need to take off the wheel and lower the wish bone onto blocks to relive the load on the ball joint, then you can get the bar in and feel for play.
Thanks for that better guidance.
 

Phil B

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I have exactly the same problem with the jumping Etc on my CLK230K. The first thing I did was check the tyre pressures, which were spot on, I don't think it's the tracking as there is no uneven tyre wear, and the car doesn't pull to either side on braking, and I've had the ball joints checked. Anyone got any other ideas?
 

Dec

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W202
I have the same problem, I can’t think why, but from some reason is this not something to do with a worn belt damper attached to the thermostat housing, this is a C180 I am talking about, the car in question might be different? Any comments?

Dec
 

brandwooddixon

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S63 Coupe 2014
It sounds as if your NSF tyre is out on tracking - hence the wear pattern. Check the bottom ball joint and the track rod end.

Is there any feedback through the steering wheel when it occurs?

Does the problem only occur on full lock or does it manifest itself before full lock is reached?

Try driving in ever decreasing circles to determine when it starts. Stop the car when it starts to show up and check for any possible obstruction in contact with the tyre (just in case your tyre/wheel combination is causing the tyre to rub against bodywork or suspension components).
 

Jack of all

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w202(E202)/1998/1800
This frustrated the hell out of me for years, hope this helps someone.
My W202 C180 jumped/shipped on full lock, wore one tyre inside and wandered/ steering felt vague at motorway speeds (follow the lorry tracks in the surface etc)
New lower ball joints and steering damper, checked everything tracking, pressures etc no joy.
I knew it had a small bit missing off the end of the spring but it has huge pressure and it doesnt twist like a coil over strut spring
I couldnt see how it could affect track/camber/geometry or anything, but it does.
This MOT it was a bit worse (was the only advise on the pass cert) so I did it for £60 (special tool reqd)
Only thing Ive changed on the car in months and it's FIXED!!!!!
My only guess is the accerman steering needs the right spring pressure to keep its geometry correct???
It was that wheel that jumped on full lock and wore the tyre
 

sweeper

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2014 Viano 2.2 R350cdi
This is a common thing on Merc’s the steering geometry is such that at full lock the wheels are not following the correct circle, worn tyres, slippery surfaces, types and tyre sizes can all make things better or worse, low profile tyres make it worse and vice versa, I’ve had a few Merc’s and they all did it, apart from the R class but that has some all season mud and snow tyres which probably mask it as they have a bit more give and as they are wide they are also tall so the sidewall has more “give”
 

mattkh

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A160 W168 1999 1.6
This frustrated the hell out of me for years, hope this helps someone.

Only thing Ive changed on the car in months and it's FIXED!!!!!
Many thanks.
I am still confused as to what you changed. Please help to put my mind at rest.
Thanks.
 

Mr Greedy

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E350/2011/OM642 265bhp
My reading is one of the front suspension springs. They tend to snap off short sections from the end at the bottom.
 

Paul Garrett

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Hi,
Welcome to the forum.
Try your tyre pressures first, as Mercedes are very sensitive to this.
Use to get this on mine, You say the tracking is ok? When it was done was it a full 4-wheel alignment as this cured mine.
Qwik-fit done it twice and could,nt get it right, and refunded my money. Took it too get a 4-wheel check (measure camber castor and give you printout before and after adjustment) and the fault was gone.
Well you said the magic word there in Kwik Fit....i wouldnt let them service my Scalextric cars! Ha!! I had bad experience with them years ago and they seem no better now, would not let them near my Merc at all
 

sweeper

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2014 Viano 2.2 R350cdi
My reading is one of the front suspension springs. They tend to snap off short sections from the end at the bottom.
Ok, I had a broken spring on my old C230K years ago, no noticeable issues but the car did suffer from tyres skipping when approaching full lock especially on slippery surfaces, I replaced the spring and the car wandered all over the place until I replaced the tyres, I also noticed wandering on my Viano when tyres were worn, typically very worn on outer edge, new tyres have cured the wandering and helped with the skipping, I have a softer all season m+s tyre now and it is much better, time will tell if it still cuts the edges as bad, we also notice on our work Vito's that they did not cut the front edges, so what's the difference? th weight, in my opinion as they were always fully laden which affects the castor angle.
 

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