Steering again

[cmax200]

I have looked through the archives, but still would like help with this. Recently obtained a 1999 C200, find it wanders primarily to the left. (told this is normal, but only ever expeienced this with 1 other car, and that was finally resolved).
Also the car goes off line very quickly, every little bumb in the road throws it.
A very streessful drive cannot relax and let the car drive itself. Continually having to correct it.
Have book into a local stealership and they have quoted me £250:00 for full steering alingment check!!! is this about right and what should the end result be.
Or does anyone know of anyone who would carry out this work in the Medway Kent area.

 

[njpumphrey]

Are the tyres wearing evenly? If the tracking is out it may behave like this. You could take it to Kwik Fit or the like and have the tracking and tyres checked for free...

 

[NormanB]

I am sticking my head above the parapet here but I am not so sure KWIKFIT will do anything useful for you. My understanding is that the Merc set up has lots that will affect it and there are many adjustments that can be made.

It might be worth getting the dealer/indy to get it up in the air and inspect for defects in terms of bushings/suspension and steering system first before you go down the adjustment route.

Sorry but I do not have anything positive to say about Kwikfit - once bitten an'all that.

Good luck

 

[Andy]

Hi


Let me say here and know. It is very rare to get a c class to drive straight unless its on a spirit level flat road. If you do not have tyre wear. Then don't waste your money. If you decide you want to waste your money (in my humble opinion) then come up to the midlands & we will relieve you of £60 plus vat for a four wheel steering alignment using the same equipment as the stealerships.


Regards

Andy @ www.mercedesservicing.com

 

[steveperry]

Hi cmax200,

Just to add to Andy's comment (hehe not that he needs it ) I drive a 1998 C240 (W202) and I find the steering is affected by road camber. For example there is a road close to me that is a dual carriageway that has a long right hand filter lane approaching a set of lights, i.e. 3 lanes in total.

If I'm approaching this set of lights and I'm on the left-hand lane I usually find the car wants to pull to the left, the tendency depends on whether I'm accelerating (very little pull to zero), coasting (slight but noticable), or breaking (quite noticable, and some steering correction maybe required). And some days seem worse than others, hehe go figure, I've given up trying.

If I'm in the the middle lane the car will head straight as a dye no matter what the conditions, in Andy's words "very rare to get a c class to drive straight unless its on a spirit level flat road".

However, if I'm approaching the lights in the right hand turn filter lane, the car will want to pull to the right. Pretty much similar situation as I have described above but this time all to the right.

The one thing I've noticed is that this section of road surface has quite an exaggerated camber to it, and I've read elsewhere that our cars are quite sensitive to that, I don't mind that as the W202 and Merc's generally have really tight turning circles when compared to other car marques. Have you noticed how the wheels seem to 'tilt' (only just noticeable) when at full lock rather than just turn in the direction required. My previous car a 190E (W201) was very similar and behaved in exactly the same way at this particular junction.

Just my observations.

S.

 

[steveperry]

Recently obtained a 1999 C200, find it wanders primarily to the left. (told this is normal, but only ever expeienced this with 1 other car, and that was finally resolved).

P.S. You'll probably find it wanders mainly to the left because you drive mainly on the lhs of the road, I'll wager if you go for a driving excursion to Europe you'll probably find the car will suddenly want to pull to the right.

 

[cmax200]

I find this to be very disconcerting, why should it wander? I mean I bought a Merc so that I could relax when driving, but I am constantly having to correct it. If I let my concentration slip momentarily, the car just goes of line. If Andy reads this, where abouts in the W Midlands are you. I have to go up to Derby in a few weeks time.

 

[Nik_Codling]

steering

Just to share a recent observation on my own car....

I just bought four new tyres and requested I have the tracking checked, as it was pulling to the left. The tyre fitter told me to drive the car with the new tyres on first, and bring it back if it was still pulling.

It turns out that it's fairly common for the front n/s to wear out on the edge due to roundabouts, and this has the effect of pulling the steering over on that side. This was indeed the case on my car, and the steering is now fine. I should imagine this must be bad for taxi drivers in Milton Keynes!!!

I am pleased to report I also have a far greater ride, less wallow (new tyres must have stiffer side-walls), and more precise steering. Oh, and it doesn't want to dissapear off the road backwards every time I go round a bend in the wet now....

Nik

 

[Matt Crooke]

Just to add to this, My W201 did exactly the same thing, even after the lazer alighnment etc etc.

Its a quirk of the car me thinks......

ps, me Senator dosent do it ,,,hee hee!!

 

[altreed]

I have been suffering the 'wandering' with my c36, exacerbated with having wide tyres. I have also suffered excessive tyre wear on the outer edge of the OSF tyre. I dropped off the car to Andy for a full service and asked him to have a real go at the steering. They conducted the laser alignment and found the whole suspension was out on 3 of the 4 wheels. They did a great job getting the alignment within a whisker of perfect settings (well within tolerance).

The car still wanders with the road camber. I need some new tyres and will fit them when I have time/money!! I suspect the behaviour of the car will improve with new tyres.

I think it is a feature of the car. The steering is excellent, with good feedback and is very responsive, I guess is the price you have to pay for responsive steering!

 

[snwbrdcg]

Looks like a common problem

New to Merc ownership I bought an SLK, this car is affected by every change in the road surface even the white lines. I asked a tyre company this morning to check the tracking and they refused saying that it can only be done at a dealer! I rang around and got the same answer from all tyre fitters. One of them did say it was something to do with the ride height of the car and that Mercedes have not released the settings.

 

[slk32]

Interestingly, my SLK32 also tracks every change in the road surface. Took it for a laser alignment check, and the front end was out of tolerance. Mercedes do not supply adjuster kits as standard, so I was only able to have the tracking done but the car now feels better. Still undecided on whether I should spend the money and get adjuster kit and the whole thing set up properly.

None of my previous fast cars (Porsche 996, Audi TTR) have done this, nor did the SLK320 I took out on a test drive.

 

[TreneryM]

pullinh left

I Had the same problem on my new C240 (2000)

They have just fixed the problem. They gave me many many excuses. All rubbish.

I even had an RAC report. I have been fighting Mercedes for 2 years. The support has been crap.

At last the problem is fixed. Tell your people to speak with Barry Gambrill, DaimlerChrysler Milton Keynes.

I have his phone number if you need it. He has fixed the same problem on other cars.

 

[kid-jensen]

TreneryM,

Don't keep us in suspense!

What was the cure :?:


I still think cmax200's problem could be down to steerig box wear/adjustment.

If there's play in the system, the car will wander at speed.