Still pulls to the right!

[Jmana]

I don't understand this. I replaced the ball joints, upper control arms, and tie rods. Then I had it professionally alligned. And it has 4 new tires on it. But it STILL pulls to the right. Something really doesn't feel right, it's as if I would go around a turn to fast that the drivers side front would dip down to the point that it would roll the car over! The shocks test fine. No corners seem higher than the others. What else could it be? The only other concern I have is there is an occasional clunking noise that I cannot figure out if it's coming from the driver's front or rear. And the front drivers tire vibrates horribly from 40 to 60 mph, but I think that the wheel (it was a spare wheel which I put a new tire on) might be bent, or the tire might be defective. Any advice would be appreciated, because I don't know where to start, and the local shops want a mint to drive it and tell me what's wrong, because they know that more than likely I'll fix it myself.

[Jmana]

Nobody here has any clue as to what is the problem? I thought for sure somebody would be able to figure it out, since I have received great advice here before.

[dannym]

Bilstein shocks will go bad andstill pass the bounce test. My shocks bounced fine but clunked over bumps and rode like crap. Replaced all 4 and the ride is so much better.
You may want to get your tires balanced.

Danny

[lietuviai]

The only thing I could guess in a situation like this is perhaps one of the brake calipers is dragging.

[Jmana]

I hope it's not the calipers, I just replaced them a couple of months ago.

[sokoloff]

Aligned by whom would be my question. Is it a shop that changes tires and aligns everything or is it a shop that uses the proper spreader bar and tool to lock the steering box as Mercedes specs require?

Len

[Jmana]

The place that alligned it seemed to know what they were doing. They attached these boxes to each wheel which relayed back to the computer what needed adjusting. I know it took a long time to do, because every time he'd make an adjustment it would throw something else off, but he did finally get everything right according to the computer.

[pawoSD]

I agree with the tire balancing, these cars are extremely sensitive to it. MB's are heavy and hard on the tires. I had some out of balance for a trip once, shook the #### steering wheel all 2,000 miles. Needless to say I almost went crazy. Got it balanced when I got back, vibration gone. How I wish I'd done it before the trip.

I'll be going with all 4 new shocks this spring probably as well. I want it to ride like our 83 does, though that one needs new rear shocks....

[dannym]

Originally Posted by Jmana

The place that alligned it seemed to know what they were doing. They attached these boxes to each wheel which relayed back to the computer what needed adjusting. I know it took a long time to do, because every time he'd make an adjustment it would throw something else off, but he did finally get everything right according to the computer.

W126 Alignment.. Dealer only?

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/search.php?searchid=620446

It's important to do reasearch before making repairs. Even with something as seemingly trivial as a wheel alignment.
"Seemed to know" doesn't equal "Does know".

wheel alignment DIY

Danny

[Pete Burton]

If the front sway bar is broken on the left it will pull to the right, especially when you apply the brakes. Those sway bar bushings (where they mount to the upper control arm) can be seriously beat on the inside and possibly cause some of that effect too.

[SD Blue]

Other possibilities: Rear subframe bushings, Rear trailing arm bushings

Do you have any looseness in the rear, such as a slight pull when going around a curve?

Mine would do an intermittent pull to the right and I found that one of the trailing arm bushings was shot. After replacement, it rides on rails.

[thorsen]

Originally Posted by Jmana

I hope it's not the calipers, I just replaced them a couple of months ago.

Did you replace the flex hoses for the brakes? These can fail internally and cause a caliper to drag.

[Mismost]

I think that the wheel (it was a spare wheel which I put a new tire on) might be bent, or the tire might be defective. your words

move that wheel and tire and see if your problem moves with it.

[Hatterasguy]

Originally Posted by Pete Burton

If the front sway bar is broken on the left it will pull to the right, especially when you apply the brakes. Those sway bar bushings (where they mount to the upper control arm) can be seriously beat on the inside and possibly cause some of that effect too.

Just what I was thinking, maybe a rusted out sway bar mount.

Also as a member said above did you replace the brake hoses? If not replace them.

How old are the shocks? If they are original write them off they are shot.