Pulling to the left

[dsolds]

OK Ladies & Gents. I'm at my wits end with this one.

My S211 (2003 E class Estate) has started pulling to the left. Not hard but enough to bug me intensely.

So far the car has been to the dealer for a full geometry check. Result was nothing found.

So I swapped the tyres front to rear maintaining the same side. No change in the pull.

Took to an indy for a straight tracking check. It was within limits according to his book. He suggested new tyres despite the old ones having 4mm of tread left (2.4mm useable)

There is a little sign of excess wear to the inside edge of the fronts which the indy guy put down to power steering.

Do any of you have any ideas please? I do a lot of motorway driving and it is tiresome to have to hold the car straight all the time. It never used to do this but I cannot recall any incidents (such as a kerb strike) which would have triggered it off.

Thanks in advance

Dom.

 

[rf065]

Mine has a slight pull to the left which disappears when I fit my winter tyres and returns again after winter when the summer tyres go back on.

Russ

 

[BlackC55]

Do you have directional tyres fitted (an arrow type tread design)?

 

[dsolds]

Continental Sport Contact 2 tyres. They are marked OUTSIDE but do not seem directional (no arrows)

 

[mattc]

steering damper? was reading a Merc Enthusiats yesterday and their long term C43 had a similar problem which was cured by a cheap part (for once!)

 

[Dieselman]

Try swapping the tyres side to side and see if the pull stays the same. If so it must be geometry or brakes.

 

[Rory]

I have a C Class estate which are notorious for drifting left.

There's an MB bulletin which suggests that if the tyres are all the same size then swap them diagonally - even if they are directional (but as only as a test). If they're not directional then they can be left swapped.

If they are directional and swapping fixes the problem then MB suggest taking the tyres off and refitting them, ensuring that they're centered on the rim properly.

Mine has a staggered setup but simply swapping the fronts over made a noticeable difference, but that's probably due to the NSF outer edge being worn - now that sits on the OSF outer edge, I think it's tending to cancel out the pull of the car.

 

[dsolds]

OK, steering damper - will get that checked, replaced if it's cheap.

I'm getting the alloys refurbished next week so the tyres are coming off then. I'll mark them all and refit on opposite corners.

I was reading on some other googled articles that power steering valves can play a part in this. Is this anyone's experiece? Perhaps the PAS is making it pull left. Dunno. I'm more of an electronics bloke than nuts and bolts.

Definitely try the tyres swap over, may even get some new ones when the alloys come back all shiny. Which brings one last question if I may. When the alloys are refurb'ed, which parts do I need to keep for the tyre pressure monitor? Are the sensors actually in the valves themselves?

Thanks loads for all your help chaps.

 

[Dieselman]

OK, steering damper - will get that checked, replaced if it's cheap.

There is no exterior steering damper on your car it has dampers built in to the pinnion valve.

Unless the steering has been adjusted to be off centre it won't be the power steering, more likely a rear wheel alignment has gone out of spec or a dodgy tyre.

 

[Mactech]

My S211 had exactly the same trait when I first had it. I had it laser aligned and the tracking on one of the rears was adjusted very slightly. Problem solved. It was within spec. but not spot on. They are very sensitive.

 

[Matt45]

Could it be tyre pressure?

 

[dsolds]

My S211 had exactly the same trait when I first had it. I had it laser aligned and the tracking on one of the rears was adjusted very slightly. Problem solved. It was within spec. but not spot on. They are very sensitive.

Ah, is the MB one not laser then? I did have a MB full geometry check.

Deffo not tyre pressures though. Have a digital gauge and they are all spot on.

 

[Mactech]

The method used to track the cars is not that important. Lasers, string, bars or radar! What maters is that it is done accurately by someone who understands the equipment.
I tried two totally different sets of wheels on my car and both gave the same results before that very small adjustment to the tracking. It was sweet from then on.
‘In tolerance’ may not be good enough for sensitive drivers. Get it spot on or at least exactly the same side to side.

 

[wheels-inmotion]

I would "stagger" the front camber/ castor positions to belay the pull... The need for this is quite common on German cars in particular Audi.

 

[94mattda]

Hi, my partners car is a 1999 MX5 and that pulls to the left, after new tyres, new disc, pads, callipers and a full Tracking done twice which costs £125 on these as all 4 of the wheels are adjustable in some way it still pulls very slightly but not as much....next thing will be to change the suspension i think....

 

[Dieselman]

....next thing will be to change the suspension i think....

Nope. next thing is to take a trip to wheels-in motion.

I'd bet my shirt on them fixing it..having said that my shirts only worth about 50p so not too much risk there...

 

[dsolds]

OK, a couple of probably daft questions....Sorry, I'm no mechanic.

Staggering camber & castor. I know what the angles are (I read a book) but how would one go about getting them set to such a specification please?

I ask becasue the wheels are about to be refurbished and I have 4 new Contintental Tyres on order. Once these are fitted I want to get the whole thing set up as close to perfect as is possible.

Also, who & where are Wheels In Motion?

Thanks

Dom

 

[Dieselman]

http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk/

Adjustment is by installing offset bolts into the suspension arms.

 

[wheels-inmotion]

Hi, my partners car is a 1999 MX5 and that pulls to the left, after new tyres, new disc, pads, callipers and a full Tracking done twice which costs £125 on these as all 4 of the wheels are adjustable in some way it still pulls very slightly but not as much....next thing will be to change the suspension i think....

Probably not...... Workmanship relating to Geometry is dire out there... If you email me a copy of the report i will validate it for you

[email protected]

 

[94mattda]

Probably not...... Workmanship relating to Geometry is dire out there... If you email me a copy of the report i will validate it for you

[email protected]

Thanks alot... i can post a scanned copy on Saturday as home now so wont be able to get it until Saturday.... It only pulls ever so slightly now.... adn sometimes its when you break and come to a stop at the last point the whel turns to the left.... very odd