Suddenly the car feels like a boat '90 300E - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Andy_M · #1 12-23-2009, 10:53 AM

Yesterday at lunchtime I got in my car and drove down the road to the DD to get a coffee. The car felt like it was getting blown all over the place in a bad cross wind, but there was no wind. It feels like a boat and seems to railroad track or wander constantly. This happened all of the sudden too, because the car seemed fine bringing it to work that morning. I don't recall hitting any big potholes or anything of the sort. I should add that I replaced all the tie rod ends, ball joints, rack bushings,shocks, struts, strut mounts, and sway bar bushings about a year ago, so most all of it is fairly new. Tire pressures and lug nuts all appear to be fine.

Paying close attention to it on the way in to work this morning, I can add a couple of comments: The car feels fine in the corners, it is only when running straight that it is wandering all over; It has a feel like the toe is set at 0 or slightly negative and it is railroad tracking...but it seems to be doing that in response to something that is going on in the rear end of the car,the rear end feels very loose and sloppy; I can't put my finger on it but there is something about the rear suspension that sometimes feels "harsh" and at other times feels fine.

I haven't been able to get it in the garage and get under it yet, but anybody have any ideas what to look for? I was thinking maybe a drop link or sway bar end broke? Maybe a broken shock in the rear ?

silverteam · #2 12-23-2009, 01:17 PM

Check the roundness from your tires and torsion bar links. That's the first test. There's a lot of other things that can be wrong.

Andy_M · #3 12-23-2009, 03:46 PM

This onset kind of suddenly......car was fine in the morning and driving like crap starting at lunch hour. Nothing memorable happened on the ride in that morning either......

Doubt it would be tires, but roger that on the torsion bar links.....thanks

ps2cho · #4 12-23-2009, 05:47 PM

Rear control arms? Does the car go straight when you accelerate on freeway or does it go left/right?

hanno · #5 12-23-2009, 05:51 PM

Tie rod end, steering shaft coupler, rear suspension link, loose wheel? I'm assuming a non-catastrophic "let-go" of something there based on your description that allows limited movement, otherwise you'd be into the curb. Let us know what you find.