Need help very scary and rough day today in 300d
 

first time my mom goes on the highway in my benz in years. we are going back and the car started to scare my mom alot....we are in the right lane and the car moves by itself in the median and im flipping out because theres a truck coming. it would just keep on moving by it self. i get home alright, very nervous cant tell if my mom cant drive or is it the car. she says the alignment needs redone and the steering wheel has play in it. so theres about 3 inches of play in the wheel. and im not sure if thats the problem or its in need of an aligmnent? Thanks for reading. this day was pretty scary, for me and the benz. wouldnt want to lose her in a second.

Drive it and see
 

On a straight level piece of road take your hands off the wheel. If it pulls in one direction, you need an alignment. I would also look into the three inches of play in the steering. Three inches might be normal for a 1957 Chevy, but not in a Benz. There is an adjuster on the steering box that could tighten some of that up. If that does not work, then take it to a good shop and have them check out the steering.

The car should never be able to 'move by itself'. Are you sure your mother didn't have an inattentive moment? If the car does move by itself, it's most likely that there is a failed suspension component of some kind. Even with a bad alignment, the car will never move by itself.
Jack it up and start pulling on the steering and suspension components to see if anything is loose. I wouldn't drive it until a got an answer as to what happened.

Has anyone adjusted the steering box, or worked on the suspension lately? That sounds frightening:eek::eek:

she would have the hands on the wheel the whole time. but since there is play in the wheel it will move. when we went to the place we were fine it was coming back, it just wanted to move to the left for some reason. but i am getting the alignment done for sure, and i will take a look in tighting the play, all you do is loosen that bolt and turn that alan key i belive counter clock wise? could i use wd-40 to loosen that bolt by chance?

Sounds like a bad combination of a very loose steering and somebody driving it who is not familar with the car. Here is something I wrote in response to another loose steering gearbox issue. I would try adjusting the gearbox (and checking for any other loose components) before having the alignment checked. Hope it helps.



First step, check all tie-rod ends, steering idler arm, and the steering coupler between the steering shaft and gearbox for any looseness or damage. Replace any parts that are bad. While under there, check the steering shock/damper by unhooking one end and pushing/pulling to check for resistance. If none, replace it too as it does affect the driveability of the car.

If you have checked all the steering linkages and connections and still have 1" or more movement measured from the outside of the steering wheel at the centered position (around 1/2" is normal), then try adjusting the steering gear box. This is done by loosening the nut on the top of the box and turning the set screw with an allen wrench counterclockwise. This will pull on the pitman shaft and tighten the steering box. Best to jack the front end off of the floor and turn the steering wheel to check for any binding after each adjustment. If you feel binding, you have gone too far. This is the quick and dirty method, as the dealership method is with a torque measuring device on the steering wheel and the pitman shaft arm removed.

If that fails, then replacing the box is very easy on those cars, three bolts, loosen the steering coulper, and remove the tie-rod ends on the pitman arm. If you need to remove the pitman arm, you will need a pitman arm puller and those arms can be extremely tough to get pulled off. The only trick is getting the steering box and steering wheel in proper synch, as the coupler is splined. There is a plug you take out of the box and a special tool is screwed in to center the box, then you center the steering wheel and install. The tool is helpful, but not necessary, as you can visually line it up by looking into the hole. You probably should check the toe-in after a job like this.

nope my mom has been driving the 85300d for atleast 3-5 months, im on the 83 for now.

Odd Steering
 

You might want to check the steering box for broken bolts, too -- my father had trouble with that in his 115 ...

Broken bolts and rotted frame around steering box are common causes, along with a perished steering column coupling. An alignment problem won't result in 3" of steering wheel play.

Really?
 

If you guys can determine what this fellow is trying to say, you all are pretty smart dudes.

I think all of the responders understood the OP's message.

[quote=kbenjamin0106;1598496]but i am getting the alignment done for sure, and i will take a look in tighting the play, all you do is loosen that bolt and turn that alan key i belive counter clock wise? I think so. could i use wd-40 to loosen that bolt by chance? That nut is pretty tight. quote]
Check tires for uneven wear too.

Don't ignore the fact that broken suspension parts on the rear wheels can also steer the car in unintended directions.

When you read a post like his first one, that should alert you to advise him to take it to someone and have the suspension checked out. Most young kids don't have the experience to properly diagnose something this potentially serious, and we really need to try and be aware of who we are answering by the verbiage they utilize.
Just my opinion, and certainly no insult intended to the original poster. :)

Thank you Jimmy L. but i know alot about mercedes, i do all the work myself. But the suspenion, not sure about it, i know the 2 rear shocks are worn, and it still a little too low. and i do know how to diagnose the problem myself and fix it myself. but this problem was a little wierd, so i got off hand and didnt think yesterday, but its a new day today and heres my theory.

i believe its sure that i need to tighten up my wheel, doesnt it make sense if there is atleast 3-4 inches of play, the car can move by it self atleast 3-4 inches and the driver doesnt feel it when he or she is holding the wheel, til the passenger notices we in the middle of the road?


About Alignment, what does the mechanic do, is there anything he does with the wheel or not.




Getting off hand but, i was looking when i took my tire off the other day, whats the deal with PLASTIC rear links. why are they plastic and not metal

FWIW,

My 84 300TD turbo has a sloppy steering gear with at least a couple of inches of play in it. The steering wheel is also not centered and it has a bit of toe in. The rest of the front suspension is all fairly new parts and is quite tight. Despite the free play in the steering wheel, the car does not wander on its own. You've got a bigger and much more dangerous problem than the steering gear. Wandering while driving is really bad.

Get the front end in the air and start looking for play. Don't drive it until you find it.

the links just provide rear antisway bars with a connection to the axles, they only have to support the weight of the opposite side against the force of the small 13mm bar. plastic is fine. older ones are steel, and they reduced it to lower the unsprung weight. ounces make a difference in handling that can be felt.

the problem isnt when im driving in the city, on the highway, i can go into the city fine. i am a daily driver and i do not have another car. and if i hold the brake in and put it in reverse it makes a wierd screech that have anything to do with it???

You gotta read this
 

About my little trouble a few days ago with the car moving to the left by it self on the highway.

Listen to this, friend of mine got himself a mustang and it did the same thing, hes like karn, you need to check your tire pressure and have them all equal. i go around and where my benz is moving to the left, i see a range of 37-38 all around except for one, the rear driver, so i set my mind and put them all too 37, now i hope that helps for tommorow.

it makes sense its a rear wheel drive car, if one is lower it will shift to the left.

Low tire pressure won't cause the sudden move to the left that you described. It could cause a consistent pull to the left.

how bout rear sway bar links, there bad i just checked now.

it wasnt a sudden move. it gradually moved to the left slowly

Replace the sway bar end links, they're cheap and easy (17mm wrenches and remove wheel). Why are your tire pressures so high? I only use around 30 for the front and 34 for the rear at max. Above that I get a wandering feeling maybe this is why you feel the car's wandering sometimes and coupled with the single low tire pressure it might contribute to the car gradually moving to the left.

Your wandering feeling is attributed to the high tire pressures you have on your car.

With 3 inches of play in your steering an alignment is probably the least of your worries.

[quote=toomany MBZ;1598775] CCW the alen screw when you get that 17mm nut loose. That nut is pretty tight as he said, i would throw everything i got at it WD-40, torch if needed But not too hot, because the case is Cast iron. the cast iron will crack/become real brittle if its heated too much.

tommorow after my alignment appoint ment, i have them already bought, today i checked it and they were bad. is it hard to take them apart?

good news about it, i didnt need no wd-40, just muscle and i got it, bigg improvement, atleast mabey 1-2inches of play now.

what is a good amount of tire pressure so i can do it tommorow.

mbiege do you did this problem ever happen to you? how is just wanders left a little bit? so far now i tightened wheel, and tommorow im gonna reduce the tire pressure, what is the best ratio, im thinking all around same pressure or no

No particular preference, I happen to have 28 and 30 F/R right now. Slightly under pressure compared to what is recommended so I'll bump the rear pressures up when I get the time. I haven't had this problem but the wandering feeling is exactly what happens when the tires are overfilled. I happen to have new tires and the dealer who mounted them put 40psi on all four. I thought this must not feel right it feels like I cannot find my center line it feels like it's floating. True enough I checked the pressures and they were way too high. Reduced the air and that solved it.

Go for factory recommended ratings 28F, 32R see if that suits you or makes it any better.

After the alignment drive it first see if it goes away. If not then reduce the tire pressures to recommended levels. See if that works.

you think since ive tighened the wheel now, it will be fine also?

all of them were 37-38 then i see the rear driver site its 35, could that one 2 pounds under on that side make it move to the left as well?

Can't conclude based on the condition of your car since you will still take it in for an alignment.

2 psi wouldnt do that. Have the alignment checked.

what do they exactly do on an alignment. and after that im gonna do the rear sway bar links, is that any hard?

im gonna go with alignment tommorrow at 830, if that doesnt do it, im replacing the sway bar links, i saw the right one was bad. would that make it go off to the left?

i think your problem does not just a bad alignment. you need to look at your tie rods, ball joints, steering damper and other steering components. if you jack the front of the car up, can you wiggle the tires or move them with your hands? if they are not firm and stiff then that is where your random highway movement is coming from. this will not be fixed with just an alignment. you might want to hold off on the alignment and save your money until after you have replaced the bad steering parts.

Listen kid, you can put more than one sentence in a post. Granted, when you put a bunch of them together it can get hard to understand, but you aren't "playing right"........ :rolleyes:
Geez, and I didn't even have a bad day.....:)

I run 35psi year round all the way around... but still, tire pressures and misalignments and stuff wouldn't cause such radical movement, I don't think.

Jack the front up and see if the front wheels wobble... it could always be something really bad like a wheel bearing or something.

ooooooooooooooo jimmy havin a bad day

jimmy must not like me that much...

Have you conducted this experiment yet? I don't see any results posted.

too late the car is done from alignment. all i need to do now is put in the new swaybar links. mom said its alot better for her since i tightened the wheel. mabey it was just the 4 inches of play in the wheel. so when she would turn right there that gap and she doesnt like to turn the wheel alot. Making things short, 300d not made for females. Too many complains. im happy enough to let her drive one of my benz and she keeps on complaining. new car now are junk. all the damn part are chinese imported garbage that breaks fast. nothing like a 300d. there tanks, king of tourque, and not a gas hog "im at the gas station atleast every 20 days" im thinking of some good mpg alright!


One thing i saw on my insurance car it has w124 not 123 for some reason. ill look into that. im confused because the car is pearl black and it looks like anthracite. whats up with that?

careful about this statement, others will disagree.
personally, I don't think ANY cars are made for females... they should all stay home or be driven.
wait, no females will be reading this right?... uh oh...

john im totally with you. i was praying when i was in the car with her. im not even kidding. i wish i was able to drive that day, never take pills that get you sleepy...when you have someone who cant drive a mb on the highway without the car drifting to the middle.

CONCLUSION TIME. went to the shop got it looked at and the alignment got done. still too much play in the wheel. my 83 is fine. this was all a loose steering wheel problem...well and i need to get under the car tonite to put the links on so it doesnt make that damn noise. well i thank you all for your time. but one last question. i just looked atthe car now, but waht is the correct safe temperature of the car...im feeling of a new problem coming on...

CONCLUSION TIME. you gotta read this
 

Alignment outcome.

Got it aligned the guy said theres still too much play in the wheel but mom said it got alot better but, ill throw up the hood again and tighten up the wheel some more.

I think the only problem was the wheel cause it was too loose, and it can turn by itself when there alot of play in it. i remember when we were on the highway she said theres a gap in the wheel when going to the right side. that gap is the play in the wheel. you know what i mean everyone?

Im so ready for them linkages out and ready for the new ones. anything i should look out for when doing that?

Be careful of what you remove, or else you will be paying for an alignment again. Also be carefull of how much adjusting you do for the steering. IIRC, specs are 1/2 to 1 inch of steering wheel play.