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  #1  
Old 09-04-2002, 01:01 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Ottawa, Canada
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need some advice

I need some trouble shooting advice. I have recently noticed a shimmy or vibration in the steering wheel. The vibration is reminicent of a tire out of balance. It only seems to occur when I am in long curves such as those on the interstates at 60 to 75 mph. It is more noticeable on left hand curves than on right curves, but it is noticeable on both. The car tracks fairly well in that it doesn't pull on the straights. If I take my hands off the wheel it will slowly drift to the right shoulder in about 8-10 seconds before correction is needed. I am going to have the balance of all the tires checked because this is the cheapest and easiest. Do these symptoms scream out that there are other front end problems? It is a 1984 300d and I am fairly certain the suspension is original. Thanks.
Schooner

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  #2  
Old 09-04-2002, 03:50 PM
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Location: Canton,Texas
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Mine pulls to the right like that too, it also pulls to the left when the road is sloped to the left. I think that may have more to do with the crown in the road than anything else. Your shimmy or shake sounds like a balance problem to me or possibly a tire that has a small lump.
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1985 300D Turbo ~225k
2000 F350 (Powerstroke) 4X4, SWB, CC, SRW, 6spd ~148k
1999 International 4900, DT466e (250hp/660 ft/lbs), Allison MD3060 ~73k
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  #3  
Old 09-04-2002, 07:45 PM
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Location: Evansville, Indiana
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Check tires first -- may just be a tread separation, but look for uneven wear caused by a weak shock, too -- if the shock is bad, the new tire will go fast, leaving you just where you are.

Then check steering damper. Cheap and easy to replace, no reason not to if it is original.

Next, check tie rod ends, replace tie rods if there is any play in them. Easier to replace the entire tie rod on each side than just ends. Also check center tie rod (drag link) and bushings on idler arm.

Last, check the control arm to track rod bearings and track rod to body bushing -- if the latter is bad, you usually get groans going out of the drive, over speed bumps, etc.

Peter
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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!
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  #4  
Old 09-04-2002, 10:13 PM
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same prob on my 190D-happened overnight. also, steering wheel is turned about 1 inch clockwise (to the right), but no pull. also a shimmy at about 80 mph (fine at 78 mph). what in heck??
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  #5  
Old 09-04-2002, 11:07 PM
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Location: Evansville, Indiana
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Piotr:

You probably have a belt coming loose in a tire, with the result that it is larger on one side than the other at highway speed. Happened to me in Canada, had the car aligned after replacing a cracked crossmember, was in spec, but still pulled left a little.

Went away after the tire fell apart -- I noticed it was wearing funny (the main reason I had the front end done), and got worse -- when the belt started showing in spots, I replaced the tire. Magic -- no pull, no vibration!

Peter
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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!
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  #6  
Old 09-05-2002, 12:22 PM
NIC
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I have a question related to this line of thought.....

My car has completely new suspension stuff front to back. As these repairs were done, I could feel an improvement in the ride at each stage. I have absolutely no complaint with the car's ride or cornering. Extemely solid.

But....it still seems that my car doesn't "track" like it should at speed. By that I mean it still wants to wander a bit and won't hold a straight line long if you let go of the wheel. Also, wind seems to push me around more than it should and if I drive on a bridge that has those small parallel groves cut in the roadway, the front end moves back and forth more than it should.

By comparison, my '98 subaru outback goes straight as an arrow and my '93 chevy pickup also tracks better (but neither of those vehicles rides better).

What could be causing this? steering box a little loose? the wheel doesn't have much play. the tires are aligned and new.
Could it just be the nature of the car? It is kind of boxy up front.

Nic
'85 300CD @ 153k miles
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  #7  
Old 09-05-2002, 06:57 PM
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Location: Evansville, Indiana
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Most likely toe-in out of adjustment (you also need to have ride height at the rear checked and fixed if off, toe at the rear is controlled by height). If the rear is moving around if feels like the front, causes you to have to steer to correct.

Could also be the tires -- some tread designs wander a lot more than others, and some are very sensitive to things like the metal grids on bridges.

Peter
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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!
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  #8  
Old 09-06-2002, 08:51 AM
NIC
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Thanks for advice Peter. I'll ask my shop to check the rear. My car is high in the back but all the coupes seem that way I think.

May well be the tires. Whatever it is I can live with it, just want to cover all my bases as I continue to improve the car.

Nic

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