this past weekend I rotated the tires. While jacking up the car I raised both tires off the ground from the front jack point. Now the car has a slight pull to the right and when I "center" the steering wheel the car will drift off to the right.
Is it possible to warp the frame if the car is raised in this manner? Could I have done permanent damage by jacking it this way? I am going to take it in for an alignment and I am hoping that the problem is something that can be resolved. Don't worry - I will never raise it like this again.
thanks
engatwork

Try switching the tires you put on front side to side.If you do this and it now pulls the other way your tires are probably causing the pull.

If a the subframe could be bent that easily we would have some serious problems driving Benzes. I bet even money its your tires or wheels.

I agree with the tire/wheel prediction. Does the car pull harder to one side when the brake is pressed? I have had a tire with a broken belt react this way.

I assume that you picked up the car by the subframe which is just behind the oil sump. If you were to pick it up by any of the steering linkage you could do damage.

Good luck,

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Larry Bible
'84 Euro 240D, 523K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles

thanks for the replys ya'll. I feel like such a DA sometimes. I did not communicate very effectively. I picked up both sides (front and rear tires) by using the jacking point right behind the front tire. I am taking it to have the alignment checked this afternoon. Lord I hope I did not warp the frame.
thanks,
engatwork
'95 E320

Last year, I put new tires on the front of my car and it pulled to the right so badly that I literally had to "hold" the steering to the left as if making a left turn. Swapping the front tires helped, but the problem was still there. (I understand that this is called "radial pull".)

The supplier replaced the tires for me and all is okay again. You may have to either replace the tires or use them exclusively on the back.

Further, consider the amount of drainage "crown" in the road on which you are test driving. Some are worse than others and can cause the car to drift toward the edge.

Doubt that you damaged your frame. They are tough.

Good luck.


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Ted
1979 240D
160,000 miles

If you were going to damage the frame by twisting it under the load of its own weight, we all would be waiting in line at the frame shop!

My driveway is so steep, if you back out straight, you will slam the bumper into the pavement. If you back out at too steep of an angle, one wheel will be off the ground for about 1-2 feet of distance. If the frame could not take this much 'slight' twisting on a daily basis, I would have to junk every car I own after two or three impropper trips down the driveway.

Don't worry the frame is okay.
Get those tires checked soon.....

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William
76 240D (W115) - 550K miles
78 300D (W123) - 200K+ miles

If this unibody car (there is no frame) were so weak that what you describe could damage it, there is no way it would be strong enough to be quiet. It would sound like my POS Corvette, a rattle trap.

Don't worry, I believe that you will find that tires will get everything back like new.

Good luck,

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Larry Bible
'84 Euro 240D, 523K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles

[This message has been edited by LarryBible (edited 08-30-2000).]

Had the alignment checked and everything looked ok with only a slight tow adjustment necessary at the front end. Swapped the tires around and it seems to have helped.
thanks for the help everyone
engatwork