steering wheel centre position

[djb]

I have just had the steering column changed on my c sport, (by MB dealer with some good will from mb uk. 60000miles 5 years old, fsh @ same dealer)to remove an intermittant clonk when driving over uneven surfaces and "tilting "the wheel. ( pull at top towards self and push away at bottom or reverse)

This is fixed , however although all is good I suspect when I drive straight ahead on a level , un cambered road the wheel is perhaps about 10mm at the rim, off center.

would this be one spline out when refitting the steering wheel or is there a fine adjustment?

would much like to know as dont want to go off on one @ full bore when it could be due to fitting tolerances.

Many thanks in anticipation

 

[whitenemesis]

The wheel should be dead straight. There is an aligning mark on the column and a corresponding mark on the wheel, match up and all should be good... Unless MB have fitted the column off dead straight.

No need to "go off on one" , just politely ask the dealer to remove and re-align. I find one tends to get a much better response when one is polite and remains calm.

 

[djb]

Many tanks for reply,

Are the alignment marks visable in the assembled state?

 

[whitenemesis]

You need to remove the airbag and (not 100% on this) the securing bolt to see the two faces, wheel boss to column shaft.

 

[DougCLK320]

10mm at the rim must be much less than being one spline out. This is "fine adjustment" and could be easily by corrected with slight adjusting of the track rod ends.
Doug

 

[The Rock]

10mm at the rim must be much less than being one spline out. This is "fine adjustment" and could be easily by corrected with slight adjusting of the track rod ends.
Doug

Absolutely correct.
I had the FULL geometry check/setup and my steering wheel was not central by approx 15-20 degrees. The dealer did the job again and the wheel was still out by the same amount. Given that I was happy that the geometry setup was correct (I saw the results on the diagnostic screen with my own eyes) I asked that they centralised the steering wheel by turning the track rods equal amounts to bring it to the central position.

The dealership couldn't be more accommodating. They adjusted the rods one quarter of a turn which took the wheel approx the same offset in the other direction. So, one eighth of a turn back the other way on the track rods and it's now perfect.

If you think your wheel is 10mm out at the rim I'd suggest perhaps one sixteenth of a turn on the track rods.

Good luck.

Rock

 

[djb]

Thanks

Thanks for everybodies input.

It goes back on tuesday, for checking, and for a new horn as it makes a most weedy noise.

 

[djb]

fixed

10mm at the rim must be much less than being one spline out. This is "fine adjustment" and could be easily by corrected with slight adjusting of the track rod ends.
Doug

Thanks Doug, that is exactly what was done, and now it is spot on.