Perfectly aligned 85 300D still pulls to the right... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Carrameow · #1 10-17-2003, 04:11 PM

had my 85 300D perfectly aligned, and I replaced the Ball Jointsa nd some other front end components. I watched the guy, who I know is good, but not as good as Joe Hansen of Hansen's Bear Safety in Delaware, use the new Laser Alignmnet machine with individula sensors on the each tire align it.

I know the car is aligned, but it still pulls. Is this the so called "Radial Drift" whre you must swap the front two tires?

Or is this steering gear box wear?

The only thing I dont like abou the the new shop is that the guys dont do a Road Test, which Hansen always does....
Perfectly aligned 85 300D still pulls to the right...

engatwork · #2 10-17-2003, 04:23 PM

Find an alignment shop that test drives that is familiar with these cars

and will work with it till it is like you want it.

sokoloff · #3 10-17-2003, 04:34 PM

Did he use a spreader bar between the front tires and lock the steering box with the special tool/bolt? If not, then it's not perfectly aligned.

Len

The Warden · #4 10-17-2003, 05:28 PM

What about the brake calipers?

If one front brake caliper is not working properly, the brake pad could still be making contact with the disc even with no pressure on the pedal, slowing that wheel down slightly and making for a pull to the right.

I have this (among other front end issues) problem with my car; the next time I do the brakes, I'm replacing both calipers (rebuilding the bad one wasn't enough)...

If you pull the wheels and find that one or both pads on one side are more worn than the other side, there's your problem.

Just something worth checking out...good luck!

mikemover · #5 10-17-2003, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Warden
What about the brake calipers?

If one front brake caliper is not working properly, the brake pad could still be making contact with the disc even with no pressure on the pedal, slowing that wheel down slightly and making for a pull to the right.

I have this (among other front end issues) problem with my car; the next time I do the brakes, I'm replacing both calipers (rebuilding the bad one wasn't enough)...

If you pull the wheels and find that one or both pads on one side are more worn than the other side, there's your problem.

Just something worth checking out...good luck!

I was thinking the same thing...My 82 300D has a caliper that sticks sometimes, so it occasionally pulls to one side, even though the front end work and alignment is 100%.

Mike

#6 10-17-2003, 08:30 PM

I had mine aligned. It still pulled to the right with the steering wheel at 10 o'clock. When I did a balance and rotation I noticed feathering on the front tires. When I was done, the steering wheel is held straight but pulls left insted of right.

mikemover · #7 10-17-2003, 08:58 PM

Unevenly worn tires can also be the culprit...If you rode on a pair of tires for a long time with the alignment way off, and now you're riding on the same tires, it can make the car pull off-center.

Mike

#8 10-17-2003, 09:32 PM

Sorry, I forgot to mention I got new tires at the same time at the same shop.

mikemover · #9 10-18-2003, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 82-300td
Sorry, I forgot to mention I got new tires at the same time at the same shop.

In that case, I'd check the brake calipers, and possibly the wheel bearings?

bjcsc · #10 10-18-2003, 01:50 PM

Let's not forget that a perfectly aligned car should drift to the right most of the time, but not pull. How severe is the "pull"?

haasman · #11 10-18-2003, 05:04 PM

I think sokoloff's comments are correct.

I have been through the expert, super expert, incredible electronic laser super alignments etc etc etc..... an no matter which alignment system, the tech that uses the spreader bar, especially on older cars, provides the best alignment. As a matter of fact, none of my cars will be aligned without it.

I have been to famous shops that claim their new computerized system compensates for everything .... but they refused to use a spreader bar. Afterwards my car would drift, the outside of the tires would wear rapidly and the handling was a little twitchy. In one particular alignment, I drove from one Alignment Guru straight to a Mercedes Dealership and had it aligned. The tech said it was a good alignment but needed the spreader bar to be excellent.

There has been alot posted about using Spreader bar check it out.

Haasman

dieseldiehard · #12 10-18-2003, 08:58 PM

Since the tires were new it is unlikely they are causing a pull, but stranger things have been known to occur wieh it comes to tires!

I believe the trend for modern tire shops is to trust their calibration too much. I had an '83 with a complete new front end All bushings, tie rods, steering link, track rod ends etc had been replaced, and the car really was pulling even after the first alignment so I took it back> I had to suffer through riding the train another time and picked up the car and it now drifted the other way and now the steering wheel was not centered. Lest I start an issue with a sponsor I won't mention the chain but they were buying up independant tire shops and slapping up their sign on them if that means anything.
I had a heated discussion with the shop manager and he suggested I take the car to "their expert alignment technician" at another shop which I did, and that fellow nailed it down perfect the first try. Therefore I assume the first guy was a learner, or the equipment was out of cal. (or both!)

On another car I once used a shop quite some distance away because they utilize the laser system (Hunter I believe) and were highly recommended. They only did the initial tweaking and when they hit the tires with a big rubber mallet the setting changed, an indication that the upper control arm bushings were shot. I was only charged a half hours labor instead of the full amount. And they pointed out what suspension part was the problem, something that other shops would never do, because they want to get in on selling you expensive parts and labor to fix it!
Actually the car was much better than before bringing it in, but I eventually had the bushings replaced and carried it back for the final adjustments. And it did not drift following that!
Even though the bushings had been replaced about one year previously, something was bad. I attribute that to the mechanic that did the work, using the old bushings on a new arm or something.
When it comes to alignment, you want to use a shop that really knows their stuff and cares. Plus have someone that is impartial examine the bushings in the W123, they tend to wear and will not hold the alignment, no matter how good the person doing the work is.
Dieseldiehard
1971 220 (gas) 4-spd manual 104646
1979 300TD w/ ’85 turbo engine 290820
1983 300D 238890
1985 300TD 207980

Peyton300TD · #13 10-18-2003, 09:36 PM

Our SL had uneven tires and we had it aligned and balanced and it pulled hard right. we switched the front two and it helped. but the ultimate cure is to get new tires.

also, has the car been in a wreck? the frame may need to be pulled.

eric

Carrameow · #14 10-18-2003, 10:26 PM

No way!! come on, this is CARRAMEOW!!! (just kidding, I had too much coffee)

I rebuild my brake calipers every couple of years, and I just did this past summer. To me its as important as regular brake maintenance.

dieseldiehard · #15 10-18-2003, 10:38 PM

Taking a car in for alignment just after replacing any components in the front end can present a real challenge to the inexperienced alignment tech! The reason is they have to crank on the various adjustments in the right order then recheck each spec and then make fine adjustments. If they are in a hurry or something they just let it go at the final camber setting and forget to recheck toe-in and without a road test that is what you get, an untested uinfinished job!
That may be what you have experienced, Carrameow.
Just give them another chance (after telling them to put their best man on the vehicle!)
Dieseldiehard