Uneven tire ware. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

blau · #1 08-18-2002, 01:22 PM

Gilly and other ML owners,

I have a 2000 ML 320. It has about 15,000 miles on it.

I notice the other day that there is more ware on the outer side on the tires. This is happening on all four tires. The difference is ware thickness between the most inner side and the most outer side of the tires is not that big less that 1/8", but very noticiable by visual inspection. And also inaddition to the outside edge of the tire having more ware, the outside edge has a slight wave patten.

History on this vehical. At about 5,000 miles. I complain about the vehical pullin to the right (very slight can't really tell it is there and you would wounder if it is cause by the road tilted to the right for drainage). Brought it into the dealer twice they rotated the tires and said they aligned my vehical. But I don't think it got any better.

I want to know

1. Is this normal?

2. Has anyone else have this problem? Could you good folks out there check on your ML. You may need to use a ruler.

3. Is the ML 4 wheel alignable?

thanks

blau

Gilly · #2 08-18-2002, 05:13 PM

No I wouldn't consider it normal. Yes you can make adjustments to it, why else would the dealer clain they aligned it?
It's not really been a problem. Given the "choppy" look on the outside edges of the tires, I would assume the steering is toed in a bit.

Gilly

blau · #3 08-19-2002, 04:09 PM

Gilly,

Since the rear wheel are wearing the same way as the front ones.

Do you think I need a 4 wheel alignment as appose to 2 wheel.

Also could the ML be align by someone other than the Dealer. Because I am not to happy with the Dealer since I took it in two times already and to me it seems like they did not do it right. Or does it require some sourt of new equipment.

blau

Gilly · #4 08-20-2002, 01:04 AM

Any chance the fornt ones got rotated to the back, so the rear ones now look worn like that from being up front? Or maybe even all 4 look like this from being out of align prior to the repairs? Just a thought, especially if this is your only concern right now.

IMO an independent shop could do this, especially if they specialize in alignments. YES, 4 wheel align it, it's hard anymore to find someone doing front wheel only.
To do it "by the letter" there is a height measurement tool which should be read and the measurements fed into the machine, which will alter the camber readings (specs) somewhat, but this can be bypassed if they don't have the tool, it's not that critical on a car without self-levelling suspension like an S class or CL class, etc (Airmatic or ABC car).

If you took it to the dealer and showed them what's going on I would think they would try it again, but I know what you're saying about being disgusted with them.

Gilly

blau · #5 08-20-2002, 12:26 PM

Gilly and all?

I took the ML in today and told my SA that I have uneven tire ware on my my vehical. He imediately said that It is normal and that mercedes almost never ware the tire evenly and it always ware the tire on the outside edge or the inside edge.

I ask him to have someone look at it so he called the shop forman. And he came out and look at the tire and essentially said the same thing. He describe the problem as "capping" and he said that more or less it happens on all mercedes. He saids that it happens more on tires with wider side relief threads and more on softer threads. It happens more on the front tire because it is
usually more stable in the back. And that is why people rotate tires.

He said he see worst on softer tires for example on the clk and the General Tires put on the 2000 ML would have less of this capping ware because the Tire was harder.

But he saids it is normal.

It may be normal but it certainly it is not perfect. You know 1 year ago I took the ML in because it was pulling/drifting slightly to the right they never did fix it, but it was not that bad and I let it go because it was to much work taking it back time after time. So It looks like I have to settle for normal this time.

If other have this problem too I like to hear about it. So, I don't feel that alone.

thanks guys

blau

p.s. I don't have this problem on my Merkur, or the Honda.