PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - What else to check if car drifts right but alignment OK?

bodyart27 · #1 01-09-2007, 09:34 PM

Well I'm stumped. This is the 84 300SD.

Car was pulling right on a long road trip last week and I stopped at an NTB to have it checked (I have a 5 year alignment with them). The guys were helpful in spotting some issues.

One issue was that the right side upper control arm boot was split (not dry, still had grease, but split). Second, my idle arm was pretty shot - a lot of play.

I figured the idle arm was the culprit. My tie rods had been replaced last year and the steering box was a new "rebuilt" unit so it was tight. No wheel bearing play.

I swapped upper control arms on both sides (did the sway bushings that attach to the arms as well since I was there), and did an idle arm repair kit as well. Now the idle arm is solid.

Had the car realigned and everything was set to spec (rear was fine - front needed only minor adjustment tweaks to both tie rods). Technician didn't identify anything else "loose."

Car still pulls right. I've swapped tires (which are new michelins - only two months old) left to right and front to back. Pull does not follow the tires.

Also, at low speed (cruising around neighborhood less than 30mph) and under braking, the car tracks pretty straight. The pull seems to really make it self known at speed above 40mph.

The only thing that looks suspect is the bushing on the right "brake support link?" (not on the end where it connects to the lower control arm - the side that attaches to the chassis). With the front end up on a jack, I couldn't figure out how to jiggle/push/pull the suspension correctly to see any movement or play on the brake support link. Any good way to check this?

What should I check next? Only thing I can think of right now is to take it to another NTB (since I have a warranty), and get another set of eyes on the suspension and see if they can spot anything else and recheck the alignment setting.

Thoughts?