Handling Woes.

[JohnnyW202]

My car seems to be getting worse...

At motorway speeds, the car will be fine just had the tracking done drive nice and straight, then it will steer itself into the next lane, usually left! but can go ride too... the steering will become very light, correct, over correct, then continue to go straight.

The ride quality is poor at low speeds also...

Well I'd at least expect my W202 to Handles as well as my Previous Octavia and Mondeo which were superb... This car also span out on a roundabout in the wet at about 25mph (Full 180, felt a twitch beforehand, shouldn't the ASR of sorted this!)... I have brand new Events on the front and Brand New Conti Premium Contacts on the back so it's not a tyre issue, the events were fine on my Octavia... same size etc.

The MOT found slight play in the steering joints? What could this be, Drag links, anti roll bar bushings?

I think it's the back end that's problematic.. is 89k alot? I've seen rear suspension rebuild kits. Which replace the multiple arms and linkage...

How about the wishbones, can they be rebushed cheaply and effectively?

Why does a Mercedes Wishbone cost £100+ when a Mondeo one is £20? To be fair you can justify their engineered better... but they're both made out of the same alloy roughly the same shape and come with a ball joint, so I think that's just BS to try and justify the bull**** of Mercedes-Benz ownership. Just like using their own brand fluid in the transmission is... 15k later on Millermatic DM ATF and my Autobox is changing like a beaut!

I'm thinking of replacing the shocks, but is there anything common to look for?

 

[BlackC55]

Just had another thought after re reading your thread. It does seem like you have the incorrect wheels fitted.

 

[JohnnyW202]

Incorrect Wheels? As in Rims or Tyres?

Currently on 195/65/15's on W203 2002 CDi Rims.

 

[jefrs]

An idea. I had a Volvo 245 that developed a desire to swap lanes on the motorway - the monkeys had confused toe-out with toe-in. But it had no desire to spin, it was the TR7s that liked to swap ends. This was an easy fix.
Otoh too much toe in causes over-steer, tries to scrub the fronts sideways, just as too much toe-out make it under-steer and it doesn't want to corner.
You want toe-in to keep in a straight line on the straight bits but progressively toe-out as you corner because the wheels have to be at different angles (draw a rectangle for the car with the fronts steering at tangents to concentric circles, the inside radius has to turn in more)

Imo most tyre fitters don't have suitable equipment to set up tracking on a Mercedes
ESP should have sorted it out but I'm not sure ASR would, mind you if the geometry is out then ESP fights the car.

Wishbone? - apparently it is easier to change the inboard bushes complete with wishbone, and probably accounts for the extra expense, they come with bushes fitted. The bushes are alleged to be a real pig to fit and so probably cheaper for a wishbone kit fitting than pressing-in bushes to the old one.

 

[andy27168]

My car seems to be getting worse...

At motorway speeds, the car will be fine just had the tracking done drive nice and straight, then it will steer itself into the next lane, usually left! but can go ride too... the steering will become very light, correct, over correct, then continue to go straight.

The ride quality is poor at low speeds also...

Well I'd at least expect my W202 to Handles as well as my Previous Octavia and Mondeo which were superb... This car also span out on a roundabout in the wet at about 25mph (Full 180, felt a twitch beforehand, shouldn't the ASR of sorted this!)... I have brand new Events on the front and Brand New Conti Premium Contacts on the back so it's not a tyre issue, the events were fine on my Octavia... same size etc.

The MOT found slight play in the steering joints? What could this be, Drag links, anti roll bar bushings?

I think it's the back end that's problematic.. is 89k alot? I've seen rear suspension rebuild kits. Which replace the multiple arms and linkage...

How about the wishbones, can they be rebushed cheaply and effectively?

Why does a Mercedes Wishbone cost £100+ when a Mondeo one is £20? To be fair you can justify their engineered better... but they're both made out of the same alloy roughly the same shape and come with a ball joint, so I think that's just BS to try and justify the bull**** of Mercedes-Benz ownership. Just like using their own brand fluid in the transmission is... 15k later on Millermatic DM ATF and my Autobox is changing like a beaut!

I'm thinking of replacing the shocks, but is there anything common to look for?

Hi,
Sounds to me like you have worn Castor/Camber bushes in the lower wishbones to me.
The tracking you have had done will of been a complete waste of time, replace the bushes and get a full geometry check done after and it will transform the handling. Get them done ASAP or your tyres will suffer.

 

[Uncle Fester]

Also may be worth replacing the dampers, as faulty ones will affect the handling (more so if the various steering and suspension bushes are worn too)

Replacement rear shocks (and springs) stopped my rear end from skipping out when going round bumpy corners and roundabouts.

The "tramlines" on motorways can pull a car all over the place, especially if your steering joints arn't up to scratch, and although 89K isn't a lot of miles, it does depend on how the car has been driven in that time.

My car has done 170,000 miles and drives fine (now)

The dampers (shocks) help keep the wheels on the road, instaed of bouncing, if the wheels ain't touching tarmac you will have serious handling problems....

 

[JohnnyW202]

Got the car up high on the axle stands... Well as high as you can get it....

Got a bar and gave everything a good wiggle... There's no play in the bushes, they look pretty sound still.... no play in the balljoints either looks all to be in good condition... but aha!

Lots of play in the steering, upon further inspection it's not the drag link, but the idler arm on the passenger side, I understand a common wear and tear... bought a new bushing off ebay for the bargain price of £12.50 or so!

Hopefully this will cure the wondering.

Am I right in thinking Idler arm on passenger side and nothing on the driver side as it's connected to the steering box there?

I know the 190E I had, had an idler arm and a pitman arm, but this seems more compact and basic.

Still going to swap the shocks, there is a guy breaking a W202 with Bilstein shocks on so I might get them...

Can I use these uprated shocks with standard springs and I don't want to lower my car! just firm it up and prevent lean!