A subframe question (just the beginning ...) - Page 12 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

hanno · #1 03-04-2011, 08:19 AM

If you want to really lose sleep and create self-doubt, take it over the grating on the South Market St. bridge. Due to my worn bushings and resulant tire wear, it redefines the word "squirrelly"

vstech · #2 03-04-2011, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hanno

If you want to really lose sleep and create self-doubt, take it over the grating on the South Market St. bridge. Due to my worn bushings and resulant tire wear, it redefines the word "squirrelly"

to really appreciate this test, you need to do it in the rain on bald tires!

TimFreeh · #3 03-07-2011, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hanno

If you want to really lose sleep and create self-doubt, take it over the grating on the South Market St. bridge. Due to my worn bushings and resulant tire wear, it redefines the word "squirrelly"

Don't feel bad, my C230 has a virtually new front end and every time I drive over that bridge I check my lane alignment - it kind of feels like you're flying a plane in bad weather!!

Bodhi: If you wanted to try a tire swap I could set you up with a set of almost new Michelin Exaltos in stock 195/65 size from a car in my extended fleet. Drop me an e-mail if you want to give it a try.

BodhiBenz1987 · #4 03-04-2011, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

... rear swaybar or front?
the rear swaybar bushings really hold the suspension in line...
front does very little to keep the car straight.

I was thinking of the front, but I guess I should take a careful look at the rear, too. The rear sway bar, bushings and links were all replaced in 2004 (70k miles ago) and I thought they looked excellent at the time of my subframe job so I did not replace them. But I'll take another close look while I'm swapping the tires around.

hanno, now I'm morbidly curious.

I hate driving over grating, in any car!

layback40 · #5 03-04-2011, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BodhiBenz1987

I was thinking of the front, but I guess I should take a careful look at the rear, too. The rear sway bar, bushings and links were all replaced in 2004 (70k miles ago) and I thought they looked excellent at the time of my subframe job so I did not replace them. But I'll take another close look while I'm swapping the tires around.

hanno, now I'm morbidly curious.

I hate driving over grating, in any car!

There is an old New Zealand Toyota advertisement that you may get a giggle from, I have posted it on the video forum in the past, you can find it on youtube.

Stretch · #6 03-05-2011, 03:15 PM

Sorry to chip in again - and I'm doing so without reading the entire thread - but has anyone suggested to check the friction allowance on the steering?

And X2 on the wheel bearings - simple check.

Yak · #7 03-05-2011, 04:42 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by BodhiBenz1987
To be honest I have a hard time imaging the tracking would be that affected by the tires, even though now both my indy and this dealer adviser have said that.

From GSXR:
With used tires, definitely. With new tires, very unlikely, but possible. I've had used tires cause problems before, but never new ones. (I usually just have balance / wobble issues with new tires, lol!)

I had a brand new set of tires with a bad belt in one that caused handling concerns on a FWD car. The retailer blamed the car, the local Firestone shop diagnosed the bad tire as a "radial pull" caused by a broken/misaligned belt. Armed with that info the retailer simply provided me a brand new tire. Problem solved.

Good discussion of what to check for when swapping tires here: http://www.aa1car.com/library/tires2.htm

gsxr · #8 03-07-2011, 09:16 AM

The 123 steering box is simlar in basic design to the 124 box, in that they are both recirculating ball type, but that's it. The 124 box is far, far more robust than the 123 and almost never needs adjustment (I've never heard of a 124 box ever having enough play to need 'tightening', which is practically part of standard maintenance on a 123, lol). Checking the friction is really only needed during a steering gearbox rebuild, and since Bodhi hadn't done that, I'm pretty sure this would be a non-issue.

Bodhi, your front-end parts are all pretty recent, and 80k on the LCA bushings ain't bad either - a few little cracks are meaningless. The wandering you describe is either tires or alignment, or a combination of both...

Stretch · #9 03-07-2011, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsxr

The 123 steering box is simlar in basic design to the 124 box, in that they are both recirculating ball type, but that's it. The 124 box is far, far more robust than the 123 and almost never needs adjustment (I've never heard of a 124 box ever having enough play to need 'tightening', which is practically part of standard maintenance on a 123, lol). Checking the friction is really only needed during a steering gearbox rebuild, and since Bodhi hadn't done that, I'm pretty sure this would be a non-issue.

...

That's good to know!

So if it is more likely to be alignment then I guess it is time to make up your own slip plates Bodhi!