Why is my motor pulling to the Left?

[desrobinson]

84000, 1995 reg C200 Elegance.

I've recently noticed that my motor pulls to the Left and I have to steer slightly to the Right to compensate.

I originally had Continental (same brand) tyres all round until I got a irrepairable puncture in the rear near-side tyre last Autumn. The nearest tyre place only had a Firestone (£69 incVAT) equivelant which I accepted under the circumstances and have been driving on it ever since. I must admit that the ride didn't feel as smooth with the new tyre (or is it my imagination). Four weeks ago I noticed that near-side front tyre has about 3.5 mm tread and worn more on the outside while the off-side front has about 5.5 mm and is evenly worn. Both rear tyres are evenly worn.

Sould I replace all four tyres. what would be your advice be?

 

[Ade]

Des

Have you had the steering alignment (tracking) checked?. The symptoms you describe are typical for misalignment

I'm led to believe that only Mecedes can align your steering though and it is not something that doozies like Kwik Fit can do.

Ade

 

[desrobinson]

Thanks Ade,

What you say about the steering alignment does remind me of the unfortunate occassion when I hit rather large pot-hole on the near-side of the road at 40mph about 4 weeks ago. I didn't notice anything wrong with the steering at the time as the car drove as usual. Could that have pulled my steering out of alignment and it's only now I've noticed it?

The motor is due for it's annual service in October. Do you think I should leave the alignment until then, what damage can be done with driving with mis-aligned steering?

Des

 

[43622]

Hi Des,

I also have a 1995 C class (250d) by the way....

Driving with mis-aligned steet=ring can cause premature wear on the steering its self and on the wheel bearings, but most noticable is excessive wear on the outer or inner edge of your tyres, its also true that the likes of Kwik Fit cant align the steering on Mercs, however some will try for you.

I have had the same issue with an S class pulling to the left, I had the tracking checked (after new discs etc) and the tracking / alignment was out by quite a lot after the garage did the work on the brakes this, caused my two front tyres to wear below legal limit in under 500 miles. These have now to be replaced. It may be worth swapping the two front wheels around, as the tread can sometimes (especially when reaching the end of the tyres life) cause the car to pull, you may find it pulls in the opposite direction which is a clear indication that the tyres are causing the problem.

In short get your tracking done right away as it may cost you a pair of tyres !

Good luck !!

 

[Ade]

Des

As Andy says, get it done asap.

Ade

 

[Ade]

Des

As Andy says, get it done asap.

Ade

 

[desrobinson]

Right here we go.

I contacted MB Hertford and told them my problem. The Service Manager asked me a number of questions:-

Q1. Was the car jerking or drifting to the Left?
A1. Drifting. If I let go of the steering wheel while driving it eventually wanders towards the kerb.
Q2. Does it jerk over when accelerating?
A2. No.
Q3. Does it jerk over when braking?
A3. No.

Then it sounds like that what is happening is that the car is following the Camber of the Road and the reason that you've noticed it more than ever is that the near-side front tyre is worn more the others. But bring it in for a test drive and we can advise you further.

I took it to the Dealership. One of the mechanics took it for a spin on all sorts of Road surfaces. Even reached 70mph on a major A road for a couple of minutes. He said it was quite a nice drive for the mileage and the drifting was nothing to be concerned about. New cars they get can be worse. He could still check the alignment if I so wished but he didn't think it was worth it at 2 hours work at £98ph. He suggested just swapping the two front wheels instead. I may find that, as a result, the car may wander to the Right on a level surface. He couldn't swap the wheels round at the time cos they were very busy.

I took the car to my local tyre, brake and exhaust place (not Kwik-Fit) asked for the front wheels to be swapped (I can never under the wheel nuts). More questions:-

Q4. Why do you want the wheels swapped?
A4. I explained the situation and about my visit to the MB dealership.
Q4. Did the mechanic check the tyre pressures. He should have?
A4. No.
Q5. Did he look at the tyre condition because the front near-side tyre is more worn on the outside edges than in the middle which means it's under inflated?
Q5. No.

The chap checked the pressures. They were good. He then suggested that I needed a new tyre (how did I guess he would say that) because the tyre was probably the original but before that the wheels should be checked for alignment which they can do in 40 minutes for £47. I explained that MB takes 2 hours at £98ph to align wheels. He just smiled. "Well it's up to you mate. I can just swap the tyres over and you can bring the car back for alignment if you want". I drove off to think about it.

I'll let you know more.

 

[Ade]

Des

So why was your nearside worn unevenly? Bet no one explained that one. Methinks MB bloke talking out of his porthole.

Keep us informed.

Ade

 

[robert.saunders7]

Mine pulls to left too - went to MB dealer. "Oh they all do that sir, very common on the C-class".

Right.

Bit like the roll bars going too "Oh yes sir, very common. Would you like them replaced under warranty?"

Er.. yes. :lol:

 

[190]

Mine pulls to left too - went to MB dealer. "Oh they all do that sir, very common on the C-class".

Right.

Bit like the roll bars going too "Oh yes sir, very common. Would you like them replaced under warranty?"

Er.. yes. :lol:

All C class mercs pull to the left it,s the way mercedes manufactured them so they could not pass a fuel station.
Only joking try the front lower arm bushes at the front they are bad for wearing on the w203 models (arond £300 to replace in mercedes dealers)

 

[Howardr]

Right here we go.

I contacted MB Hertford and told them my problem. The Service Manager asked me a number of questions:-

Q1. Was the car jerking or drifting to the Left?
A1. Drifting. If I let go of the steering wheel while driving it eventually wanders towards the kerb.
Q2. Does it jerk over when accelerating?
A2. No.
Q3. Does it jerk over when braking?
A3. No.

Then it sounds like that what is happening is that the car is following the Camber of the Road and the reason that you've noticed it more than ever is that the near-side front tyre is worn more the others. But bring it in for a test drive and we can advise you further.

I took it to the Dealership. One of the mechanics took it for a spin on all sorts of Road surfaces. Even reached 70mph on a major A road for a couple of minutes. He said it was quite a nice drive for the mileage and the drifting was nothing to be concerned about. New cars they get can be worse. He could still check the alignment if I so wished but he didn't think it was worth it at 2 hours work at £98ph. He suggested just swapping the two front wheels instead. I may find that, as a result, the car may wander to the Right on a level surface. He couldn't swap the wheels round at the time cos they were very busy.

I took the car to my local tyre, brake and exhaust place (not Kwik-Fit) asked for the front wheels to be swapped (I can never under the wheel nuts). More questions:-

Q4. Why do you want the wheels swapped?
A4. I explained the situation and about my visit to the MB dealership.
Q4. Did the mechanic check the tyre pressures. He should have?
A4. No.
Q5. Did he look at the tyre condition because the front near-side tyre is more worn on the outside edges than in the middle which means it's under inflated?
Q5. No.

The chap checked the pressures. They were good. He then suggested that I needed a new tyre (how did I guess he would say that) because the tyre was probably the original but before that the wheels should be checked for alignment which they can do in 40 minutes for £47. I explained that MB takes 2 hours at £98ph to align wheels. He just smiled. "Well it's up to you mate. I can just swap the tyres over and you can bring the car back for alignment if you want". I drove off to think about it.

I'll let you know more.

Excellant , any news.. .I have the same problem... but its just miraculously appeared !!!!!!!

 

[Howardr]

THis cant be !

I cant see how this is characteristic of a C class... thats just not on. I have this problem and I have only recenlty noticed this... Surely the millions of C Class buyers arent stupid and havent noticed this from new. A MB Service Manager told me to try a new c class to prove it does the same thing... He didnt realise I had just had one and that it did not do this mystery pulling to the left... The theory I was given was... We make them this way so if you fall asleep you dont drive into oncoming traffic!!!!!!!!!! OH MY GOD I MAY HAVE HEARD IT ALL>>> Oh dispair what to do .... ( sheds tear ) ((

 

[teky]

the car will always follow the camber of the road regardless of which company makes the car

 

[190]

the car will always follow the camber of the road regardless of which company makes the car

I have a 190 and it dosen't pull to the left also my friend has a c220 n plate and it dosen't pull to the left i think your's must have a problem. I know the w203 C class have problems pulling to the left.

 

[desrobinson]

The saga continues. I took the <a href="http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=car&v=56">car</a> back to the local Exhuast, Brake and Tyre garage (not Kwik-Fit, hell no). He checked the tyre pressures again, Fine.

He then checked the Alignment using the newly calibrated super-duper <a href="http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=laser&v=56">laser</a> alignment system. He said that the wheels were a fraction out and that it was nothing to be concerned about. He than swapped the two front tyres rechecked the alignment (good of him) still a fraction out nothing to worry about. "Take it for a drive and if the <a href="http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=car&v=56">car</a> drifts to the Right then you will need a new tyre for sure". Off I went to give it a <a href="http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=test&v=56">test</a> drive. The <a href="http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=car&v=56">car</a> didn't drift to the Left as much and it certainly didnt drift to the Right, mind you the road I was on had quite a Camber to it. It took it to my local supermarket car-park (flat surface) and drove around there for a bit. No drift either way. Mind you was only doing 10mph but that still should have produced a result.

BUT something occurred to me which could be the turning point of this thread. I normally have a quarter or less of petrol in my Chariot (cos I don't use it much). About 4 weeks I ago nearly drove past a BP Petrol station that was selling rediculously cheap unleaded (76.9p/litre) fuel. I could not miss that offer so I joined the queue then eventually filled the tank up. Right up. So as I lumbered around with my bargain basement load of petrol I noticed this pulling to the Left thing going on. Now as I near a quarter mark on the Petrol guage the Left pull was becoming less prominent (even before the wheel swap).

The only <a href="http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=time&v=56">time</a> I tend to have so much weight in the <a href="http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=car&v=56">car</a> is when I'm off on my hols and even then I only have about half a tank full as It's usually a trip to the airport. By then I'm probably so excited at the prospect of going away that I don't notice any out-of-character behavoiur from the <a href="http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=car&v=56">car</a> as it's weighed down with extra bods and <a href="http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=luggage&v=56">luggage</a>.

I'll let you know what the <a href="http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=car&v=56">car</a> drives like when it gets to the usual Fuel level.

 

[mjtray]

http/www..whats going on with your post?????...search>..http/www. :?

 

[Ade]

Des

I was wondering too but was too polite to ask! What is going on?

Ade

 

[desrobinson]

Sorry Chaps,

One of the Tech guys here thought it would be helpful to include automatic search links in messages. As you can see it's made my message difficult to read. I've asked for this feature to be removed from my computer and hopefully you wont' see any of that again.

Well here is my last post, minus the gibberish. I've made some slight amendments to the message too.
--------------------
The saga continues. I took the car back to the local Exhuast, Brake and Tyre garage (not Kwik-Fit, hell no). He checked the tyre pressures again, Fine.

He then checked the Alignment using the newly calibrated super-duper laser alignment system. He said that the wheels were a fraction out and that it was nothing to be concerned about. He than swapped the two front tyres rechecked the alignment (good of him) still a fraction out and still nothing to worry about. "Take it for a drive and if the car drifts to the Right then you will need a new tyre for sure". Off I went to give it a test drive. The car didn't drift to the Left as much and it certainly didnt drift to the Right, mind you the road I was on had quite a Camber to it. I took it to my local supermarket car-park (flat surface) and drove around there for a bit. No drift either way. Mind you I was only doing 10mph but that still should have produced a result.

BUT something occurred to me which could be the turning point of this thread. I normally have a quarter tank or less of petrol in my Chariot (cos I don't use it much). About 4 weeks I ago nearly drove past a BP Petrol station that was selling ridiculously cheap unleaded (76.9p/litre) fuel. I could not miss that offer so I joined the long queue and then eventually filled the tank up. Right up, adding substantial weight to the vehicle. So as I lumbered around with my bargain basement load of petrol I noticed this pulling to the Left thing going on. Now as I near the half way mark on the Petrol gauge the Left pull is becoming less prominent (even before the wheel swap).

The only time I tend to have so much weight in the car is when I'm off on my hols and even then I only have about half a tank full as It's usually a trip to the airport. By then I'm probably so excited at the prospect of going away that I don't notice any out-of-character behavoiur from the car as it's weighed down with extra bods and luggage.

I'll let you know what the car drives like when it gets to the usual Fuel level.

 

[190]

Re: THis cant be !

I cant see how this is characteristic of a C class... thats just not on. I have this problem and I have only recenlty noticed this... Surely the millions of C Class buyers arent stupid and havent noticed this from new. A MB Service Manager told me to try a new c class to prove it does the same thing... He didnt realise I had just had one and that it did not do this mystery pulling to the left... The theory I was given was... We make them this way so if you fall asleep you dont drive into oncoming traffic!!!!!!!!!! OH MY GOD I MAY HAVE HEARD IT ALL>>> Oh dispair what to do .... ( sheds tear ) ((

They are talking out of their porthole get on To customer complaints tell them what you have been told and ask them if foreign cars pull to the right to save them veering to the middle of the road and I bet you the
Answer will be NO hope you get a good response.

 

[190]

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