I just had my lower ball joints replaced at the local Midas and had the car aligned. Took it back on the highway and....absolutely no difference!
The car still pulls sharply to the left at high speeds 80 mph.
Anyone know what could be wrong?

I do not think there is a pat answer to your question. If this is what you took it to the shop for and they did the work they are supposed to warrenty it any you should take it back to them.
One of the reasons I say there is no pat answer is because it could be as simple as an under inflated tire or a draging brake caliper. Best to take it back.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

True. However, if the shop gave you a sheet with the alignment numbers (fairly standard practice these days), we'd like to see them.

Also, which lane of the highway did you try? Road crown can make a vehicle pull.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

Rotate the tires.

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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

I had to take my 240D back to the dealer for a 2nd alignment - first time it continued to pull right. They got it right (at no additional charge besides my diesel and time).

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Current Mercedes
1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed

Gone and fondly remembered:
1980 orient red 240D 4-speed

Gone and NOT fondly remembered:
1982 Chna Blue 300TD

Other car in the stable:
2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT

OK: will rotate tires in the morn and report back.

btw: I have started nticing a distinctive shallow 'thud' noise coming from right below the 'dead pedal'. When I move off from a stop light, I get this thud. Not a loud noise...the passengers never notice, but I can feel it through my left foot (wne it is on the dead pedal). Any ideas???

only take your Mercedes to the dealership for an alignment. They are the only people that can and will do it correctly. Midas probably tried to compensate for not having the "spreader bar" that the dealership uses to put a constant 13(or 11) lbs of outward pressure on the front wheels as its aligned.

They also use laser which is far more accurate than the mirrors, rock , and string midas uses ...


I bet when they removed the tie rod they did not unbolt the tie rod mount from the spindle.. By unbolting the mount with the rod still attached you will not mess up your alignment.

tell me.. did they remove the spindle from the car, clean it with brake cleaner, press out the old, press in the new, then regrease the spindle and reinstall properly?

I've been pleased with the alignment I got at Sears. Got a print out. The dealer wanted to replace everything up front, parts the don't carry, before they would even attempt. That was on the 126, Firestone did the 123, I did not put enough miles on it to determine if it was OK, but they have a warranty.

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83 SD

84 CD

TheDON,
I was not 'allowed' to watch...but had to wait patiently in the waiting room. Was a little annoyed at that. So I do not know if they used a spreader bar or did any of the things you mentioned in your email.

I think I will get my money back from Midas and go to the MB dealer.
Any clue about the 'thud' noise I have when moving off from a dead stop?

Thanks!

For starters there is just too much fraud as a component of auto service. On most modern cars the easy alignment is confined to basically setting the toe measurement. Anything more can mean work as there are no adjustments. Do not be suprised if castor and camber are not adjusted. Even if the machine indicates they are out of speck. Whoever the guy is doing an alignment is also supposed to quickly check the front end for worn components as well.
If he does not have a bar or very large screwdriver in his hand he can miss stuff. In cars constructed especially in the fashion of these older mercedes. I would measure from the rear of the front rim to the front of the rear rim and compare to the other side. Just to confirm a control arm is not bent or something else. Takes only a few minutes and a twenty year old car may have hit a curb hard or have been in a prior accident and not fixed properly over the years.