Pulling to the left

[S.Speed]

Hello fgellow merc owners..
I own a C270 CDI and I notice it has a tendancy to pull to the left if I take my hands off the wheel..
OK I know I should keep hold of the wheel but I would like to know if this is normal..

 

[mattkh]

Hi
How much is it pulling ?
Has it just started doing it ?

 

[whitenemesis]

This very common on the C class.

It can be corrected but usually needs special camber bolts and a good test rig.

These guys have a good reputation

 

[S.Speed]

Hi all..
Sorry for the late reply. I have been away from the computer this weekend..

I have largely corrected it by doing my own tracking..

Many years ago I bought a "Gunsons Trackrite" tool.. Its a sort of mat that you drive over and there is a pointer on a gauge that tells you how much toe in / out you have..
I have used it on many cars and have found it a very, very useful tool..
Any way it reconed the drivers side wheel was not aligned but that the passenger one was OK.. I corrected it till it was happy and now the pull to the left is so subtle that I can live with it..
The car seems crisper through the bends now and changes direction more positively..

I have no idea if these gadgets are still available.. If they are, I totally recommend them.
The only thing you have to watch for when using it is that you are on smooth tarmac / concrete with no gravel..

 

[Xtractorfan]

Used to see those advertised a few years ago and often thot they were a good idea.. Have you ever had your car checked on a 4 wheel alignment system afterwards just to see if both tallied

 

[S.Speed]

Hi xtractorfan,
I have done just that with a previous car ( a Rover 220 Turbo Coupe) .. On that car the tracking of the rear wheels could be altered . I did all 4 wheels with the Trackrite then took it to be lazer tracked..
The adjusted nothing as he said it was spot on..
So after that I never bothered to go to another tracking place..
On all previous cars that I used to tack up using the Trackrite, The tyre wear at the time of renewal was totally even..

I think that tells me all I needed to know.

 

[Xtractorfan]

A good result then, interesring and helpful

 

[S.Speed]

Thanks Jet Tech..
Mine is exactly like that one in the link..
I must have bought mine 20 years ago !!
It looks like the design hasnt changed one bit..
I suppose that shows it was a good design then

 

[television]

Thanks Jet Tech..
Mine is exactly like that one in the link..
I must have bought mine 20 years ago !!
It looks like the design hasnt changed one bit..
I suppose that shows it was a good design then

There is nothing like the satisfaction gained when you have fixed it yourself, no one to have to go back too to argue with

 

[Rory]

I wonder if Trackrite would have an advantage in that it checks the tracking while the car is moving, so the steering is loaded up to some degree?

I read they set the cars up in the factory on rolling roads and that's one of the reasons why it's hard to get them right afterwards.

 

[television]

I wonder if Trackrite would have an advantage in that it checks the tracking while the car is moving, so the steering is loaded up to some degree?

I read they set the cars up in the factory on rolling roads and that's one of the reasons why it's hard to get them right afterwards.

I did not know that when a car is new, all the components are quite stiff, and they may not settle in their natural positions, there are pages of info on this in WIS.

Thanks,,room for thought here

 

[turbopete]

brought it to the top for you to find it easier

 

[jamesmc]

Also available on eBay UK

(Item: 390042122534) at £53.36 (inc VAT) plus shipping.

See Gunsons Trakrite

Seller: badmintonavenue35 (7860 Feedback score)
Feedback: 100 % Positive
Member: since 12-Jun-04 in United Kingdom
Account type: Business

 

[mattkh]

.... Trackrite....checks the tracking while the car is moving,

I do not get this, please explain.

 

[Rory]

I do not get this, please explain.

You have to drive over it to get the reading. Alignment is generally tested with the car stationary.

My thinking is that driving would impose some load on the steering and suspension components and *might* give a more representative reading than one done when stationery. I'm not asserting that this is true, I was just pondering out loud.

Merc's are supposed to be "loaded" with a spreader bar when having the alignment done, but I doubt many garages to that. I've also read, and one or two posters have mentioned it actually being done, that the cars should be weighted to represent a normal load.

Lastly, I did read somewhere that in the factory they're checked on a rolling road. However I've been unable to find that reference so it might not be correct.

 

[mattkh]

You have to drive over it to get the reading. .

Hi
Thank you so much.
One more q.
Do you have to buy two of these, one for each wheel, and drive the car over them, OR do you do one wheel at a time ?

 

[Rory]

do you do one wheel at a time ?

One wheel at a time.

If you look at the large picture in the ebay link http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390042122534 you will see that there are arrows for the direction of travel depending on whether the gauge in on the nearside or offside of the car.

 

[Number_Cruncher]

It only makes sense to do one side at a time, because, tracking is a relative measurement between the two wheels on the axle.

What the trackrite measures is how far the wheels are scrubbing relative to each other, and so, it should not matter which side you measure on. If you do the work properly, you should get the same answer.

I use one, and in terms of value for money, and ease of use, it's pretty well unbeatable! Yes, every now and again you need more from an alignment, say, castor, or camber, but, 9 times out of 10, this device is all you need.

 

[television]

It only makes sense to do one side at a time, because, tracking is a relative measurement between the two wheels on the axle.

What the trackrite measures is how far the wheels are scrubbing relative to each other, and so, it should not matter which side you measure on. If you do the work properly, you should get the same answer.

.

Thanks for the description, I am amazed at how many cars you see going up and down kerbs, nearly 2 tons of car trying to climb a 6" kerb from near stationery to pass another vehicle, and here we are discussing a mm.

 

[Number_Cruncher]

>>here we are discussing a mm.

One of the (many) odd things about the older MB steering box steering systems is that the tracking adjustment is very sensitive. As there are two track rod ends, one with right hand thread, and one with left hand thread, when you rotate the adjustment sleeve, you alter the track rod length at twice the rate that you would with a normal steering rack equipped car. To get the last tweaks, to get the car running true means that you're only turning the adjustment sleeve by an 1/8 of a turn, if that!