'72 280se 4.5 pulls hard, not brakes or front end
 

I need some help here.
My wife's 280se 4.5 sat over the winter in a garage. When I first took her out, she pulled hard to the right at any speed. I replaced a couple tight calipers and now the brakes are all fine, no tightness, all wheels spin nicely, but the problem pursists. It doesn't matter if you're at slow or fast speeds, if you let go of the wheel she starts turning to the right, and pretty much instantly. Doesn't do it while up in the air, only while moving. Front end is fine. Steering pump seems fine.

I used to have an old Lincoln that developed a pulling problem after sitting for a couple years, (you could put her up in the air on a rack, start the engine and the front wheels would quickly turn all the way to the right by themselves!) Does the Mercedes have a similar steering valve that could be sticking?

Thanks for any help!
Jeff

no. that is an 'merican car thing. mb centers the steering through alignment of the wheels. specifically caster. lots of it. this is the angle of the pivoting point of the front wheels. like the fork on a bike, the more it lays back the more the vehicle wants to go straight on its own.

if your benz is pulling, first check tire pressure, then if the brakes arent dragging, the only other thing i can think of is a tight wheel bearing. but the only thing that would make sense if it didnt pull when parked in the fall is the tire thing.

alignment could do it but it wouldnt go out of alignment while sitting.

tom w