W124 Alignment question
 

So i brought my new to me 33k mile 1995 E300d to firestone to have them do a lifetime alignment. I have used them for my other W123's before and was very happy. they do other work for my wife's cars and overall i am happy with their service.

However,

my E300d was pulling to the right a lot and they said taht the right tierod was shot, and had to be replaced. i chose to have them replace it (to have it back faster) and then do the alignment. i got the car back, and it pulled just the same. nothing different.

i bring it in, and ask them to check it again. they said that they have been adjusting it, and it is "Maxed out" on the passenger side, and they will play with the driver side to accommodated the passenger.

I am thinking to myself, why would a 1995 E300d with only 33k miles on it, and a new tie rod, even need to be adjusted like that. my 190d had 330k on the body and i can imagine having to "tweak it" if things are worn out.



At this point i am going to let them finish, and ask for the printout of what they ended up with (toe, caster, camber) alignment numbers. then i am thinking of taking it to the MB dealer and ask them to look at it. i might just have to have the Dealer to do the alignment on my W124 from now on.


what do you all think.

if adjustment is maxed out, two possibilities are available... one, the shop does not know how to properly do an adjustment... two, the car has been in an accident, and has damaged frame or other suspension parts.

well i know 100% that this car was not in an accident, as it is a freaking gem. it was a doctor's Wife's 3rd car that was only driven on Fridays to the San Antonio medical district.

I was afraid that they seem to have no idea what they are doing.

I was in the same boat with my 1990 W126. I took it to Sears for an alignment shortly after I purchased it. The car had only 62k on the clock and had never been in an accident. To be short, I'll just say the Sears alignment was a joke. I was embarassed that I even let them touch my car. I then went to the Mercedes dealer and got my $170 alignment and it has been great for nearly a year now.

I had replaced both tie rods, the center link and the steering damper before I brought it in for alignment at Sears. So, they couldn't tell me those parts were the problem.

Sort of like vstech said. There must be something else worn or out of spec.

I know on the 123 all the Suspension stuff is mounted on Rubber. There could be some rubber componet that is shot that is not visable to them so they do not know to replace it.

What I find odd about the statements in Red is that when the Car left them the first time with the new tie Rod everything was supposed to have been adjusted OK. They made no comment on having trouble getting it adjusted correctly.

And, now that you take it back they are having trouble adjusting it?

Alsi it would have been nice to get the Old Tie Rod back to see if it really was no good.

The right side is the side I oftem bump the Crub with when I am not doing a good job parking.

Is it possible the issue is being caused by the Rear Suspension?

switch the front tires or move them to the back. see if it still pulls.
tires can cause major "pulls" when something shifts inside the tires.

If some setting is "maxed out", I agree strongly with John/VStech's assessment.

Although the pull might be due to tires as mentioned above, it sounds like they're going to screw up other settings in an attempt to make it drive properly, get to a dealer before the tires are also ruined.

Well here is the scoop. i took it to the Sugar Land, Tx Benz Dealer and actually had a good experience. I had them do the alignment and when i got it back it still pulled the same. i went right back and asked to talk to the Service Lady again, and she suggested i talk with the tech.

He took me on quick ride, explaining all he did and we were discussing everything. He then offered to lift the car again and show me everything he did and what my future options are. He was saying that he did have to "Max out" on the Driver side to accommodate to the pull but believes it is the tires doing the evil. He said that he would redo the alignment after i put new tires on it.

I had a brand new set of tires stacked in my garage, and i just had them installed at a National Tire Battery (dealer had closed). The issue has disappeared. Car tracks straight.

On Monday i will go back to the dealer to have it rechecked. the alignment only cost me $95+Tax.

When it's up look at the bottom coil of both front springs for cracks, very common, and can affect the alignment settings (as in why the end of adjustment).

Another thing to check is the rear bushings on the dog bones.

So, thread closed, this was a bad tire issue.