Potholes and potential issue with steering alignment C63

[sgregory124]

My C205 was pulling to the right, or when driving straight the steering wheel was off centre. Got it aligned and it's perfect now, so yes I think you need to get the alignment checked. Mercedes dealer did mine, a bit overpriced but they had the car in for the day so justified it for the convenience, and they did a good job.

Interesting to hear of someone else who's car pulled to the right, i've only ever had pulling to the left (on previous cars) - which is making me think as you and others have said, get it checked anyway, even if its ok its about piece of mind.

 

[whitenemesis]

Do these cars have electric or hydraulic power steering?
I as k as from the get go my RC's steering wheel was very marginally of centre. Not immediately noticeable but after driving for a while it just didn't feel right.
Got the dealer to do all the geometry checks, everything spot on. Even the steering wheel was dead centred during the tests. Drive off and it wasn't!
Turned out to be the electric power steering ECU needed to be recalibrated for the zero (centred) position.

 

[sgregory124]

Car booked in at WIM for Friday 25th. I have a driving course at Millbrook the following Thursday so would rather the car was given a clean bill of health for that! So even if WIM tell me there's nothing wrong, I can chuck it around at the track and not be concerned a broken/bent component is going to pitch me off into the scenery

Will update with the outcome of next weeks visit on my return.

 

[sgregory124]

By way of an update on this. I was out in the car yesterday and whilst negotiating a mini-roundabout on hard right lock, I heard what can only be described as a very pronounced 'twang' or 'ping' sound coming from underneath the car. It happened twice within a few seconds and hasn't happened since.

From what i've read this is could potentially, be one of two things; either a broken spring or a knackered strut bearing, the first of which would seem entirely possible given my recent pothole shenanigans

Once again, on the way home I put the car through its paces in terms of listening out for 'the noise'/any noise, loaded up the suspension both sides with a few low speed swerves to the left and right and once again, nothing - quiet as a mouse and no wayward feel to the car at all. Also looking at the car from the front, it looks like it sits level on flat ground - I also checked what I could see of the springs with a torch and they looked intact, but I realise the damage could be out of sight toward the top mount (if there is any).

So i'm going to try and get the car booked into my local indie before my alignment visit on Friday (could be a tall order!) to get them to give it the once over as i've lost confidence in the car somewhat, which given my pending driving course isn't a great position to be in. With any luck i'm being completely paranoid, but i'd rather spend the money on being told there's nothing than the alternative!

More news as I get it.....

 

[sgregory124]

Update to this, my car is currently at my local (very accommodating) indie for an inspection. Between the weekend and today i've had no choice but to drive the car (due to my father having been taken into hospital unexpectedly), whilst on the road i've come to the conclusion that aside from needing the alignment checking, there doesn't appear to be anything mechanically wrong - i.e the springs are fine. Last night I drove it on a 75 mile round trip on A's and B's and wasn't hanging about, the car felt planted and taught as i've come to expect.

So i'm hoping this morning is just a formality and i'm being paranoid. After which I can get down to Wheels-in-Motion on Friday, have the alignment sorted and stop worrying!

Slight correction to the road I was on when I hit the pothole, I incorrectly said it was the A346, it was actually the A343 and the pothole was (rather ironically) in or around Middle Wallop.....enough said about that, the better I think!

 

[Paradroid]

If it's any consolation, I had a similar-sounding spring boing noise hitting a pothole on a hard left turn years ago in an MG ZS (the proper one - V6 petrol saloon not that Chinese electric SUV thing that stole the name). Aaaaanyway... apart from getting the council to fix the pothole, nothing happened, all fine. Probably just the spring moving in it's mount., maybe your alignment being a bit out allowed it to happen.

 

[sgregory124]

Right then - so I got the dreaded call from the garage.

It seems that whilst the springs are ok, I did manage to comprehensively wreck a lower ball joint which needs to be replaced at not inconsiderable cost, which is more than a little annoying. After which they will 4-wheel align the car, but they can't get the part(s) until tomorrow. Whilst i'm glad I got it checked, i'm extremely annoyed it happened in the first place, so i'm going to enquire with Wiltshire council and see if I can get anything out of them - a long shot I know but worth a try.

You live and learn I suppose

 

[Bellow]

Your diligence has paid off. Finding that the ball joint is damaged in the workshop is a whole lot better than finding out on the road.
Normal service will be resumed soon - with perfect peace of mind.

 

[whitenemesis]

so i'm going to enquire with Wiltshire council and see if I can get anything out of them - a long shot I know but worth a try.

I believe if the council were aware of the pothole but hadn't actioned it within a prescribed timescale you should be compensated but did they know?
Around here the council will yellow circle notified potholes and they usually fill them (often poorly!) within 48hrs of being marked.

 

[sgregory124]

I believe if the council were aware of the pothole but hadn't actioned it within a prescribed timescale you should be compensated but did they know?
Around here the council will yellow circle notified potholes and they usually fill them (often poorly!) within 48hrs of being marked.

Not sure yet. The road is actually in Hampshire (not Wiltshire as I thought) so i'll be making a claim to them, but you are quite right, it seems they are only liable if they were aware of it in the first place. Given the size of the thing (going by the impact sensation alone) I would be surprised if it hadn't already been reported. It seemed the part of the A343 between Andover and Salisbury I was using was so bad, there were pock marks, craters and holes literally everywhere - so I think I was lucky not to do more damage than I have, which is actually the lower control arm assembly that is being replaced, not just the ball joint.

 

[st13phil]

I believe if the council were aware of the pothole but hadn't actioned it within a prescribed timescale you should be compensated but did they know?

Councils will nearly always deny that they knew about a pothole even when it has been reported to them, because it offers them a "get out of jail free" card.

It's worth searching the location on the FixMyStreet website to see if (a) it's on there which means it's easier to tell the relevant council where the hole that did the damage is, and (b) if it's already been reported to the council - in which case any "we didn't know about it" defence they may try is likely doomed to fail.

 

[sgregory124]

Councils will nearly always deny that they knew about a pothole even when it has been reported to them, because it offers them a "get out of jail free" card.

It's worth searching the location on the FixMyStreet website to see if (a) it's on there which means it's easier to tell the relevant council where the hole that did the damage is, and (b) if it's already been reported to the council - in which case any "we didn't know about it" defence they may try is likely doomed to fail.

I'll have a look but given its remote location, coupled with the fact that anyone walking down that road to take photos is dicing with certain death due to the lack of a foot path, its unlikely its already there Good shout though. I'm under no illusion how unlikely it is they'll cough up, but i'd be happy with 50% reimbursement at this rate...

 

[st13phil]

I'll have a look but given its remote location, coupled with the fact that anyone walking down that road to take photos is dicing with certain death due to the lack of a foot path, its unlikely its already there

Assuming it's not on there, don't give up straight away. It's still worth asking the question as to whether it's been previously reported by way of a formal written request.

Also, the relevant highways authority are required to carry out regular inspections of their roads, the frequency of which will be dependent upon the road type so, for example, a motorway or trunk road will be inspected more regularly than a residential side road. They must publish what that schedule is, and must also answer a request as to when the road in question was last inspected. If they haven't kept to their schedule you've got 'em

 

[sgregory124]

Assuming it's not on there, don't give up straight away. It's still worth asking the question as to whether it's been previously reported by way of a formal written request.

Also, the relevant highways authority are required to carry out regular inspections of their roads, the frequency of which will be dependent upon the road type so, for example, a motorway or trunk road will be inspected more regularly than a residential side road. They must publish what that schedule is, and must also answer a request as to when the road in question was last inspected. If they haven't kept to their schedule you've got 'em

Very useful, thank you for that. I'll see how I go about asking the question(s).

 

[sgregory124]

To close this off, I got the car back today, it having had a replacement lower control arm fitted and being realigned (geometry was well out, unsurprisingly). The car feels much better and now makes me realise that in hindsight, it did feel a little 'loose' at the steering, as well as the pull to the right. Needless to say it is once again in rude health (after a bill I could have done without!). Talking with the garage and seeing just how meaty the control arm is, also puts into perspective just how deep the pothole must have been to damage it and also what would have been the outcome if I was travelling any quicker than 50mph!

I've just put my claim into Hampshire County Council, including photos of the damaged arm and joints/bills etc. I'm not hopeful at this stage as I have no photos or specific evidence of the pothole but, I do now have details of their maintenance schedule and inspections for that bit of road since the beginning of the year (put a FOI request in last night and got it back this morning) in case I need to argue with them - again not sure at this stage if I have a chance but if you don't ask you don't get!

So we will see how we go...thanks all for the suggestions and advice, it is very much appreciated.