Car pulling to the left

[JerryC200Cdi]

Hi all

I've had my C200 Cdi 3 weeks now and 1 or 2 minor points have surfaced, one being that on straight A-Road/Motorway driving the steering wheel is not central and the car pulls a bit more to the left than I would expect in that I need to make definite slight steering compensation to the right to keep straight.

I have checked tyre pressures and they are OK. I'm assuming tracking to be the main culprit here, and ideally I would like the steering wheel to be straight if the car was tracking in a straight line.

As it's under warranty I'm getting MB - Leeds to look at it this weekend, but any ideas on any other areas or known problems. I also read on other threads about tread wear on the outer edges of n/s front so want to avoid these types of problem. I also don't want to get fobbed off that everything is fine by the dealership.

Cheers

Jerry

 

[portzy]

I wont say that you will get fobbed off by the dealers but they may well tell you something like:

"its all within tolerance sir, they are a bit like that though anyway"

Which is partial boloney. Some, not all, C's are prone to this as are other models but the C's moreso and its down to castor angles and British roads, (crowns of!), I'm informed. My 1st Mercedes, which was a 2003 C200k Coupe was very bad in this respect and MB Harrogate eventually ironed it out by about 90% by making changes to the castor angles of all four wheels. I had to sign a bit of a disclaimer about tyre wear etc but to be honest, that was not ultimately a problem.

The fix? well, I would say again that I was about 90% happy with outcome, at least I could live with it then. How old is yours?

Portzy.

 

[Baron_Samedi]

I'd be looking at threads on here about Wheels in Motion.

Presuming they are too far away, I'd be finding someone local to you with the same Hunter wheel alignment equipment.

If they are talented they will get the job right.

 

[Stratman]

Read this, then look for Wheels in Motion on the 'Members Offers by Traders' heading on the Forums listings. If they're too far away they'll put you in contact with a suitable place nearer to you.

 

[Gareth]

My car is also pretty bad for pulling to the left, but I'm pretty sure it'll need a complete new set of tyres soon enough, so once fitted I'll be taking it straight to WheelsInMotion to get it sorted out properly once and for all.

 

[JerryC200Cdi]

I wont say that you will get fobbed off by the dealers but they may well tell you something like:

"its all within tolerance sir, they are a bit like that though anyway"

Which is partial boloney. Some, not all, C's are prone to this as are other models but the C's moreso and its down to castor angles and British roads, (crowns of!), I'm informed. My 1st Mercedes, which was a 2003 C200k Coupe was very bad in this respect and MB Harrogate eventually ironed it out by about 90% by making changes to the castor angles of all four wheels. I had to sign a bit of a disclaimer about tyre wear etc but to be honest, that was not ultimately a problem.

The fix? well, I would say again that I was about 90% happy with outcome, at least I could live with it then. How old is yours?

Portzy.

The car was registered Nov 2006 so just 3 years old.

Overall it drives nicely, no steering wobbles or anything that would lead me to suspect anything more untoward than what I said in my OP that I suspect tracking. BUT if the MB has more adjustments than other types of car, you mention castor angles, then I will definitely want them to minimise any possibility of the scrubbing of the outside edges as other threads elude to.

I do want the steering wheel to be centred nicely when driving straight, it sort of looks odd otherwise.

 

[JerryC200Cdi]

Read this, then look for Wheels in Motion on the 'Members Offers by Traders' heading on the Forums listings. If they're too far away they'll put you in contact with a suitable place nearer to you.

Hi thanks for the link they are a bit too far but will give them a ring before I take the car in to MB anyway to get the lowdown on the issue. Interesting that their webpage describes exactly the problem, off centre steering wheel, pulling to th left etc, so clearly there is a solution.

 

[JerryC200Cdi]

Car is going in today for full geometry and alignment under warranty.

Hopefully will see later on if anything has truly been adjusted and I don't end up in a hedge when letting go of the steering wheel!

If this fails the WiM will be next port of call.

 

[JerryC200Cdi]

Sorted - I can now drive straight but will continue to see how things go:bannana:

 

[ams]

tracking

you need to do the tracking for the wheels if its pulling to the left

 

[garystu1965]

Hi all

I've had my C200 Cdi 3 weeks now and 1 or 2 minor points have surfaced, one being that on straight A-Road/Motorway driving the steering wheel is not central and the car pulls a bit more to the left than I would expect in that I need to make definite slight steering compensation to the right to keep straight.

I have checked tyre pressures and they are OK. I'm assuming tracking to be the main culprit here, and ideally I would like the steering wheel to be straight if the car was tracking in a straight line.

As it's under warranty I'm getting MB - Leeds to look at it this weekend, but any ideas on any other areas or known problems. I also read on other threads about tread wear on the outer edges of n/s front so want to avoid these types of problem. I also don't want to get fobbed off that everything is fine by the dealership.

Cheers

Jerry

My C270 CDI was the same. Honest you get used to it after a while. The car is camber sensitive and will pull to the right on reverse camber road.

 

[JerryC200Cdi]

MB Leeds had the car back and did a full geometry job. It is a much nicer car to drive now. Still a bit camber sensitive but I understand that to be a trait of the chassis.

 

[peapod]

How do you know if they have tracked it correctly - wait for another set of worn tyres? Buy yourself an infra red thermometer from maplin and measure the temperature at points across the tread. If they are not even tracking is out. You need warm tyres to do it. My steering wheel was to the right, sorted it with the thermometer after a few runs that was 15k ago and Yokohama advans are wearing perfectly, brilliant tyres just so smooth running, but dont go in the snow. Back to the temperature business. high temp inside you are toe'd out - lengthen tie rod(s) to toe in. To get the steering wheel set more clockwise toe in the right wheel and toe out the left wheel . To adjut it anticlocwise, vice versa. It is very satisfying beating the laser alignment gadgets and getting the steering wheel spot on after some tyre dealer has messed it up.