ML270 CDI (W163) Tracking completely off

[ngredmond]

I've recently bought a 2004 ML 270 CDI and the car is pulling to the left, a lot!
so much so that you have to hold the steering wheel to the right to keep it centered.

There is wear to the inside front right tire but not to the left front.

I've taken it into Kwik Fit and they confirmed that the wheel alignment is fine.

I guess next stop is a Mercedes specialist but wanted to know if anyone had any experience with a similar problem.

 

[Flackadder]

Assuming that the vehicle has not had a crash of any sort, then I would suggest a trip to 'Wheels in Motion' or similar. Really, Kwik Fit!!! I have no confidence in them.

 

[MisterMicawber]

I've recently bought a 2004 ML 270 CDI and the car is pulling to the left, a lot!
so much so that you have to hold the steering wheel to the right to keep it centered.

There is wear to the inside front right tire but not to the left front.

I've taken it into Kwik Fit and they confirmed that the wheel alignment is fine.

I guess next stop is a Mercedes specialist but wanted to know if anyone had any experience with a similar problem.

I would also suggest avoiding Kwikfit or any of the tyre fitting chains. You need to find somewhere that has a Hunter machine. Here's an old link to a place that I've used a couple of times. Even though they're not particularly close to me, I've made the trip a couple of times and found it very worthwhile as my W203 was hugely improved. Previously it was pulling to one side after a tyre fitter "adjusted" the tracking!

Like your car, there was also uneven wear on the inside rim of a tyre. That stopped too after the four wheel alignment.

I've heard people say that Kwikfit sometimes have Hunter machines now but I'd still be inclined to try and find an independent that has one.

 

[ngredmond]

Thanks for the replies!

Will book in for an independent next weekend and report back on the results.

 

[Deletedmember130310]

Sounds like the castor angle needs adjusting- somewhere like Wheels in Motion, in Chesham, can fix this with replacement adjustable bolts.

I just had my R172 done and the change is remarkable

 

[OneForTheRoad]

as a stop gap , try swapping the 2 front wheels

 

[ngredmond]

Booked in with them !