Help- advice jumpy erratic CLK

[simbad]

Help needed hopefully before the morning (long shot )

I bought a 2000 CLK55 AMG a couple of weeks ago. (privatley)
I love it but i have 1 problem and wanted advice before i go to either Mb dealer tomorrow or a specialist.

The car struggles to stay in a straight line when there is any bumps or grooves in the road, it tends to jump in and out of lorry wheel channels on the motorway. it pulls to the left, but then seems fine and then is doing it again. If i have it on lock and reverse the wheels seem to move around slightly you can feel something moving. The car almost feels like it skittles a little to one side momentarily.

But here is the wierd thing, i took it to a local performance specialist. AMD in Bicester. They did a four wheel alignment and found nothing, i told them to put it on the ramp as they had not checked all bushes, sterring rack etc, depsite asking, again, nothing. they gave it the all clear but there is definaltely something WRONG.

one final thing is if i have it on half lock i can move the steering wheel about 2 cm's each way before the actual wheels move. i am sure this is too much play?

So do i go to Mercedes and pay a fortune for diagnosis, or do i go to a specialist.
I don't want to waste more money so i cam thinking dealer, unless someone says...I know what it is or you need to go to XXX place becasue they are pros and will fix for less the MS dealer?
I'm based in Oxfrordshire, work in Reading for any specialist reccomendations.

Any thoughts ?

Simeon

 

[pluggers]

Hi Just a thought. Could possibly be the steering damper on its way out.Not uncommon,Usually cheap to replace,Even cheaper for the diy'er.Sorry can't be anymore help.

 

[Ian B Walker]

I agree with Pluggers here but am a little concerned about the steering wheel play. Could you put your car on a ramp, get someone to turn the wheel from lock to lock and watch the steering box drag link. My old Red Shed had a similar problem which turned out to be a worn steering box.

 

[C240Sport97]

I find that my CLK55 also follows groves in the road ...

More so since I changed to 18", but I don't get the steering play you have.

 

[KLP 92]

Agree, change the steering damper first. Costs about £30

Problem is that with the wide tyres it can't fit in the grooves in the roads so tends to bounce out of them.

I would change the above first before looking at other things like you front shocks, steering box etc.

Are the tyre pressure ok? What mileage has the car covered?

I use George fraser in Wembley, about 40 minutes from reading. MB will charge you an arm and a leg!

 

[sasha]

i have exactly the same symptoms

i have had a new steering rack, laser alignment and a full check at george fraser

problem still there, i have accepted it as normal

new warm tyres and warm tarmac take the problem away

the tramlining you can't do anything about (size of tyre vs. grooves on road)

 

[anarchy-inc]

Wow, I've never had any problems like that. Maybe because I don't have the wider tires?

BTW, welcome to the forum simbad!!

 

[simbad]

Well it has been visiting Osbournes in Maidenhead today (Specialist)
I didn't pick it up yet but spoke to them on the phone and nothing more than a slightly misligned sterring wheel apparently.
So i guess ijust have to live with the tramlining and feel good about the fact that depsite nearly 80k on the clock 2 garages now have told me that all bushes steering etc is fine and dandy- which i should be pleased about i guess.
Not inspiring for 350BHP in the wet though ;-)

Anarchy. I'm bicester too, will look out for you. Do you get the car serviced locally?

 

[anarchy-inc]

Anarchy. I'm bicester too, will look out for you. Do you get the car serviced locally?

No, not locally but through a family member in Wheatly who has their own garage. Unfortunatley he is not a huge CLK fan but at least he is honest.

 

[LeighW]

Help needed hopefully before the morning (long shot )

I bought a 2000 CLK55 AMG a couple of weeks ago. (privatley)
I love it but i have 1 problem and wanted advice before i go to either Mb dealer tomorrow or a specialist.

The car struggles to stay in a straight line when there is any bumps or grooves in the road, it tends to jump in and out of lorry wheel channels on the motorway. it pulls to the left, but then seems fine and then is doing it again. If i have it on lock and reverse the wheels seem to move around slightly you can feel something moving. The car almost feels like it skittles a little to one side momentarily.

But here is the wierd thing, i took it to a local performance specialist. AMD in Bicester. They did a four wheel alignment and found nothing, i told them to put it on the ramp as they had not checked all bushes, sterring rack etc, depsite asking, again, nothing. they gave it the all clear but there is definaltely something WRONG.

one final thing is if i have it on half lock i can move the steering wheel about 2 cm's each way before the actual wheels move. i am sure this is too much play?

So do i go to Mercedes and pay a fortune for diagnosis, or do i go to a specialist.
I don't want to waste more money so i cam thinking dealer, unless someone says...I know what it is or you need to go to XXX place becasue they are pros and will fix for less the MS dealer?
I'm based in Oxfrordshire, work in Reading for any specialist reccomendations.

Any thoughts ?

Simeon

I'm just dragging up an old thread here, as my clk has similar symptoms. It folows ruts in the road quite a lot (I have the same AMG wheels as the CLK55), but the more noticable problem is when using full lock. It feels as if the front wheels aren't following the same line, which causes one wheel to 'skip' across the tarmac back into line. I can't feel any undue play through the steering wheel, the alignment was recently checked, and the steering damper and balljoints have also recently been changed. The problem seems worse when it is cold and wet for some reason. Looking at this thread, I'm thinking it's maybe something I have to put up with, but I've had the car a couple of years now, and I'm pretty sure it's getting worse. I will get it checked out, but I was wondering if any other owners had experienced something similar?
Thanks
Leigh

 

[BlackC55]

Thats normal behaviour Leigh.

 

[LeighW]

Thanks very much for the reply mate, I have to say you're one of the most helpful people I've encountered on any car forum, always giving solid advice.

Good to know my wheels aren't about to fall off anyway...

Have you any idea what causes this? Is it just the design of the steering/geometry?

 

[comports]

Sorry to drag this up again. I have a CLK with AMG wheels and have the same issues.

Had a new steering damper and new track rod ends but still the same. I can also move the wheel slightly and have a small know when I "Giggle the wheel" a few cm's each way.

Could the rack need tightening (I think I have seen a thread like this before but can't find it now)

If so - Anyone know how to tighten it a bit and is it a DIY job..?

Many Thanks

 

[jaymanek]

the box does have some adjustment but i can confirm that the AMG wheels do cause this effect... even my W123 is doing this with its wider carat d wheels...

 

[dickchailey]

My 2000 CLK 55AMG is now quite good except on rutted inside lanes of M25! When I got it I found the wheel bearings loose (easy if you can get the caps off), replaced the track rods and steering damper and lower ball joints. Watched the tracking being done to ensure outward pressure was applied to the front wheels when the tracking was done. With the standard 17" AMG wheels and tyres the car is better than my previous Porsche and way better than the 300ZX I once had the misfortune to own.

 

[comports]

Thanks folks - I've had a new steering damper, new track rod ends, new wheel bearings and nothing seems to make much difference. Is there anything else it could be..? Perhaps new drag link. (I think that the part in between the track rod ends..??)

I understand the tramlining issue is probably more due to the size of tyre and indeed my Range Rover suffers quite a lot as well but it does not "skip around" on normal roads like the clk.

If I turn the clk steering wheel half way round one turn then feel the play there is about 2-3cm of "loose" movement in there..

Suggestions..

 

[dickchailey]

Are the wheels and tyres the standard setup for your car?

 

[comports]

They sure are - as standard from factory.

Getting to be at a bit of a loss now as my local MB dealer said "that's what they are like" but I'm sure there something that can be done/changed to cure most of this. I can't believe any car would be made to be so vague when driving.

Should I try the drag link next. As I said, I've changed track rod ends, wheel bearings and steering damper. Is it likely to be more this than suspension stuff. I get no nasty noises when driving or on bumps though.

Thnks

 

[dickchailey]

It will not feel the same as a rack & P steering but should not "jump". Any wear on the inside joints on the drag link should be easy to check (you have new joints at the other end). I wonder if the back end is loose? lots of bushes there to wear - roll bar rubber?

 

[pluggers]

Is there anything else it could be..?

I understand the tramlining issue is probably more due to the size of tyre and indeed my Range Rover suffers quite a lot as well but it does not "skip around" on normal roads like the clk.


Suggestions..

What are your tyres wearing like,are they quite low on tread? I recently thought my steering box had gone,Loads of tramlining on rough roads also noticed it when going over the white lines in the centre of the road or worse still when braking and going over the white lines the car would really pull to one side until I put new tyres on.Not had a problem since