Steering wheel not centred

[Walt Jabsco]

Happy New Year everyone!

After many months of happy motoring in my E500 (W211) it came time to change the tyres.

I had already had to change the passenger front side tyre a towards the end of last year so I made sure that I tracked down and matched that tyre with 3 new ones. (Dunlop Sportmax 245/45/17)

Since I had the new tyres fitted last week I have noticed that the steering wheel is not ecntred when driving directly ahead. It is offsetr slightly to the left and if I level it out the car goes to the right.

I had the tracking and allignment done when the tyres where changed.

I seem to recall having a similar problem years ago with my CLK320 and wanted to check the wisdom of the forum to see if this is a known problem.

I only discovered it properly yesterday when I did a fairly long run and got up to motorway speeds. Going to go back to the tyre depot that fitted them and did the T&A but would welcome any insight from the forum.

Thanks, and have a safe 2011 behind the wheel.

 

[x332race]

If tracking and alignment is done correctly, then the steering wheel should be centered.

Your best bet is to take the car to Wheels in Motion in Chesham who are the acknowledged experts in this field...they will sort you out.

I had a similar problem after a tyre fitter adjusted the tracking.....took it to Wheels in Motion and they sorted it for me......there equipment also revealed that the tyre fitter had not done a very good job either!

 

[0ptic]

Hi

I've had this in the past. Sloppy work by the garage I think. They probably just set the toe in/out by adjusting one trackrod end. If it's done by adjusting both by equal amounts you don't get this. Take it back.

 

[johnsco]

I agree.
It's bad practice and laziness on the part of whoever did the tracking.
I would recommend a 4-wheel alignment for this car ... Done by someone who really knows what they are doing.
I wouldn't have much confidence in a garage that adjusted the front-wheel alignment as you described.

 

[Walt Jabsco]

Thanks for the advice guys - I took it back to them and they worked on it, suggesting that the tracking was fine but that a sensor was making the steering think that it needed to correct itself, hence the wheel not centring.

So, they had a fiddle about for an hour or so and played with some Bosch diagnostics box.

I then took it for a run and the problem is still there.

Solution – they taking the car over to another branch where their expert is going to work on and fix it.

Update to follow.

 

[Sp!ke]

It sounds like a load of tosh to me.

If you're in Bedfordshire you might want to consider booking an appointment with Wheels-in-Motion, who not only fully understand Mercedes alignment intricacies, they are also fellow forum members and jolly good eggs.

 

[AdamG]

It may be the tyres that are causing the off centre steering.

I've had this problem with a set of Kumho tyres. They pull to the left and I have to hold the steering wheel slightly to the right.

I have had my car aligned at wheels in motion and it is all in spec.

The pull only started when I fitted the kumho tyres. Thankfully they have nearly worn out (only did about 10000 miles) and I'll put on some decent tyres.

Adam

 

[lxi]

a sensor was making the steering think that it needed to correct itself, hence the wheel not centring.

what a load of complete nonsense!!

 

[jaymanek]

Once they get the steering straight they will need to reset the steering angle sensor by disconnecting the battery for 10 mins, reconnecting and then going lock to lock 3 times with the engine running.

 

[Walt Jabsco]

Once they get the steering straight they will need to reset the steering angle sensor by disconnecting the battery for 10 mins, reconnecting and then going lock to lock 3 times with the engine running.

That's a new one.

Saga update:

The local garage/tyre shop will not be getting the chance to discon the battery and go lock to lock 3 times...

They called after lunch and invited me in to test the car. By their own admission, it's not 100% but they have certainly got it straighter than it was.

They have refunded me the cost of the original balance and alignment job and held up their hands to say that they can't get it better than it is.

Have to respect their honesty and integrity in giving me my money back with no quibbles, but I am now left with an E500 that pulls to the left slightly over 50mph.

So, off to a specialist I go...

Thanks for the previous recommendations for WiM in Chesham. The garage have also suggested STS in Bedford - anyone any experience with them?

 

[jaymanek]

Its pretty difficult to remove all of the left pull from Mercedes - see WIM's own posts on here..

If you want it perfect then there are only a few that I know of that can do the work.

WIM are one of them but anyone who has Hunter equipment is a good start in my book.

See: www.AlignMyCar.co.uk

 

[Walt Jabsco]

Its pretty difficult to remove all of the left pull from Mercedes - see WIM's own posts on here..

If you want it perfect then there are only a few that I know of that can do the work.

WIM are one of them but anyone who has Hunter equipment is a good start in my book.

See: www.AlignMyCar.co.uk

Jaymanek - thanks for that.

Interestingly, the people recommended (STS Alignment) in Bedford, are listed on that site.

 

[Setanta]

I would love to know who did the work on my old CL500 - that was straight as an arrow, without any vibration whatsoever, up to 155mph.

Other cars I have been in have been like that scene from "Contact" as the thing starts shaking to bits.

Call me Chuck. Chuck Yaeger.

 

[wheels-inmotion]

Setting the angle censor by going lock-on-lock will not work. It may set the ECU's calculation of the lock angles but the actual reference point for the censor is the rear thrust angle.

If during a calibration the rear thrust is changed the angle censor needs to be set to the new position. Fundamentally the front wheels don't know where forward unless told.