long story, please help

[bangerman]

Long Story please bear with me, any advice welcome.

W202 C280 est, 17 AMG mk 2 alloys ( replicas) 1998 car.

About 6 months ago i whacked wheel going to a car park ( about 10 mph )n/s/f
Steering /tracking was put out alloy took whack as well.
Had it tracked but car tends to wander and pulls to left abit.
fitted new steering damper, abit better.

n/s/f bottom ball joint was changed last week as well worn.
since then when you reverse out of car park space ( especially if on a slight incline ) with right hand down on steering, on full lock n/s/f wheel clonks like tyre is folding under itself or ball joint is gone !
Have had it checked at two garages and have been under car myself and cannot find any loose points or anything wrong. Well bemused.
Any ideas or suggestions ?
many thanks

 

[guydewdney]

Tracking doen - or full 'geo check'? A geo checkl is like 100 quid...

Also, bizzarely, grease the lock stops... If these are totally dry, they can cause issues..

Guy

 

[bolide]

ball joints

I'd replace the other balljoint for a start. Then I'd pull the front wheels off with the car on a ramp and have a good look in the inner arches. I suspect a tyre's fouling the inner wing or the chassis. You should see a polished clean mark on the car where that's happening

While the wheels are off I'd check the tyres for rub marks - the inner faces where the tyre bulges at the side and the outer corner between the tread & sidewall are favourites. Then I'd check the inside of the alloys for score marks in case they're fouling the calipers and the inner rim edge in case it's fouling the chassis

Are the wheels the correct offset? Has the car been lowered?

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[ADY1983]

Hi for the knocking i would check your springs, you may have a snapped one!!

Its happened to me before, I also hit a curb once, nacked my alloy replaced it. About 6 months later my shock snapped may not of had anything to do with it but i had all sorts of problems with the corner i hit, wheel bearings wearing out really quick, tyre wear, all sorts.
Good luck getting it sorted

 

[rajinder_1]

Hi,
Just a thought sometimes when it has been cold and the car is parked for a while the tyre can set in the position left, so when you turn you get the sound you describe. usually is ok after tyre warms up.
There was a thread on this before somewhere.
Regards.

Raj

 

[bangerman]

thanks for all the replies,

As long as weather is ok tommorrow, going to take stock of everthing mentioned here and get front wheels off.

I'll let you know the results

once again many thanks

 

[bangerman]

About a month later, after many test and trials i have finally sorted the problem.

Believe it or not, Tracking was set so wrong by garage that front wheel was scrubbing beyond belief.

In 5 weeks it has killed a tyre that had a liitle wear on inner edge to no tread on outer edge.

After checking with various garages ( including the one that did the work)
I was told that:-
The steering box had too much play
The track rod ball joints where u/s
The tyres where causing the problem.

The Fault was that the tracking was supposed to be 2.2mm toe in.
That i have found out, is a combined total between both wheels.
The muppet in the garage set the tracking 2.5 each side total toe in 5mm!!

And they wouldn't buy me new tyres....@ £ 90 each.

What other industry gets away with stuff like this.
If i run my retail electronics shop this way i would be in court before you knew it.

We live and learn.
Many thanks for all your help in this post.

 

[Rory]

Issue a Money Claim against them https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/csmco2/index.jsp
if you feel strongly about it.