Severe pulling to left after garage work

[Juddermeister]

Work required for Mot was two rear springs and a wheel bearing, which should in no way take three weeks to complete. I've returned the car to them three times now and it's still no better, pulls to the left and drives really bad.

Have taken car somewhere else to get it tracked and it was out so something garage said they did, it appears they did not!

When tracked at new shop toe was out so they corrected it.... Marginally better but still can't let go of my steering wheel or will be in the verge!

Does anyone have a 4-wheel alignment for a 2011 ML 350 that drives in a straight line so I can compare please? Have read one somewhere, which obviously didn't put everything into the green as its supposed to be.... But some were in the red to compensate for the ML characteristics... But which ultimately gave you a car that would drive in a straight line.... Garage are happy to adjust if I can tell them what to adjust it too!
Cheers all x

 

[BlackC55]

They should have the settings already on their equipment.

I would go back to looking at the suspension and steering for faults first.

 

[Juddermeister]

It has been set so all in the green...... Took it to Autotest in Norwich and have print out showing what they adjusted.
The garage who did the MOT work have had it back three times and everytime it's no better, last time they presented me with a bill for adjusting the tracking which they said was out.

Which is odd, because they told me after I returned it the second time that they had done the tracking, so I suspect they never actually checked it.

Therefore, the trip to Autotest which confirms the tracking was still out.

Have given up on the garage who did the mot work, am contemplating sending an email and a polite request that they refund me the 800 notes I gave them to do the work on my car, because since I've had it back from them it drives like it's been in an auto accident.... Terrible!!

 

[markjay]

Did you have full geometry alignment carried out? Or just tracking?

If you had full geometry done and the car is still pulling, I would look at the tyres (or wheels) as a possible cause.

 

[Juddermeister]

Have put four identical new tyres on the car and it still exhibits the strange pull to the left. The only thing I can think of is replacing bushes or that the garage bent something when doing the bearing. Which is odd because I am convinced they never actually replaced the bearing and just tightened up the nut on the bearing already in there.

Either way the car feels like the back wheels are not running true with the fronts for some reason, the drive is not anywhere like it was before the work was performed and I now hate driving the bloody thing anywhere.... Just annoys me everytime I get in it.

It's so bad I will probably sell the car just so I don't have to experience it anymore!!

 

[StMarks]

because I am convinced they never actually replaced the bearing and just tightened up the nut on the bearing already in there.

Couldn't that ^ be the cause right there ?

I'm thinking that perhaps if the bearing (that the MoT test flagged up as failing) is on the left, that may cause that.:
If the new bearing is faulty ( or has been damaged during installation),,,,,,
or
If your suspicion that the failing bearing has been over tightened to compensate for severe deterioration,,,
then
,,, perhaps when it warms up during use it starts to bind up, causing that corner to pull. If it is indeed on the left, and that did happen to be the cause, the geometry could be perfect & no problem with the bushes etc but the symptom could still manifest.??
Just a thought...
Good luck

 

[MSG2004]

Could it just be a coincidence, ie items replaced but something else packing up?
Have all of the suspension componts checked and if all is
well, have the alignment checked on a Hunter machine

My c-classes always pulled to the to a degree
My GLE that i bought brand new drove like my Jeep Grand Cherokee, ie straight, that is
until MB had a recall re steering rack - MB replaced the bolts etc on it - got the
car back and as I'm a cynical type of guy - i asked them if the tracking was done/cekced
and a big "YES, Mr M.... " bs. Driving home, I felt car was pulling to
the left and steering not straight - i doubted myself and thought, pull my
self together - drove short distance and car parks, certainly not straight - then rebooked
with MB (2 weeks wait) and this time they did do the tracking on a Hunter machine -
drives like new/straight

So get the suspension fully checked and then on a hunter machine - i hope
it's all sorted as I can relate to your pain/woes,

 

[BlackC55]

Take it to an MB specialist and get them to have a look. Is the ride height ok?

 

[Ted]

Reported