Noticed a bit of an issue on the new-to me 83 300D. The front end seems to wander ever so slightly at speeds below 45MPH, and at speeds above 60MPH, the front end seems to get very light and floaty.

Tires were rotated with no change. Car has new control arms, and bushings. Looked at the shocks and didn't see any leaks. Tried the bounce test and all four corners bounce twice before settling. Tie rod ends feel tight.

What do you think.....steering damper, shocks or???? No idea if the shocks are original or how old. Car has 231K on it.

Thanks for any advice

__________________
2012 Mercedes ML350 Bluetec 91K (hers)
2005 Corvette 55K (fun car)
2002 VW Jetta TDI 231K (mine)
1998 Volvo S70 T5 Turbo 196K (kids)
1994 Ford F150 4WD 249K (firewood hauler)
1983 Mercedes 300D 376K (diesel commuter)

Might need upper control arms, tie rods....etc....

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

shocks, steering dampener, alignment

__________________
1981 300SD 512k OM603

Well, like I said, I know the upper control arms and bushings are new with less than 10K on them. I'm going to order a steering damper and try that, then have the tie rod ends and alignment checked, and lastly I guess is shocks.

Glenn

__________________
2012 Mercedes ML350 Bluetec 91K (hers)
2005 Corvette 55K (fun car)
2002 VW Jetta TDI 231K (mine)
1998 Volvo S70 T5 Turbo 196K (kids)
1994 Ford F150 4WD 249K (firewood hauler)
1983 Mercedes 300D 376K (diesel commuter)

Lower control arm bushings, guide rod bushings....

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

... sway bar bushings. If you can see the bar shift in its mounts at all when you rock the front of the car, it's due.

You may want to take it in for an alignment, first thing and ask them to inspect the entire front end, especially all the bushings.

I have had cars that did this, and drove flawlessly after an alignment

Torie

__________________
1983 300D, the "Avocado"
1976 240D, 4-spd the "Pumpkin", SOLD to Pierre
1984 190D, 2.2L, 5-spd, my intro to MBZ diesels, crashed into in 2002