The question I should not ask - is this safe? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

tivoliman · #1 10-24-2010, 07:41 PM

OK - the car is a 1990 Mercedes 300E 2.6 with unknown milage

The car is running fine, the tires are in great shape. The tires have about 10,000 miles, with no wear.

Well, today I rotated the tires, and 'tested the front tires.

Pulled top and bottom - slight wiggle (a bad thing)

Pulled the sides (right and left) and - there was a wiggle.

So my my diagnostic skills - the car need tie rod and ball joint.

But the tires show no wear, and the car drives straight.

Is the car safe to drive, or should I just have the tie rod and ball joint replaced immediately. or can I wait a few months?

IMSam · #2 10-24-2010, 08:20 PM

Top to bottom is an OK check for wheel bearings. Side-to-side and you may get a wrong impression. Or; am I missing how you are taking the measurement.???

I would think that on a rack or elevated so you can take a timber and pry to see how much play there actually is in a joint. Someone can correct me; but, I have heard of no other valid methods.

Maybe someone else will add to this.

gregs210 · #3 10-24-2010, 09:48 PM

Hard to tell, depending on how much pressure/force you were using. A small amount of play from light to moderate force? All you might be feeling is the wheel bearing. That is particularly true if the play you perceived was the same top to bottom and side to side. Some play is obviously normal in that case.

When's the last time you repacked and adjusted the wheel bearings?

tivoliman · #4 10-24-2010, 10:09 PM

good point - I have not adjusted the wheel bearings - ever.

And the top bottom play and the side ways play - both about the same.

Could be the bearing - good thought.

I'll adjust them and see.

Good point - thanks.

gregs210 · #5 10-26-2010, 12:29 AM

How many miles you have on the car?

If you're over 100K it's probably a good idea to pull, clean, inspect and repack them. True, it's a whole lot more work than just checking adjustment, but better than losing one.

Good luck, hope it's nothing expensive.

tivoliman · #6 11-08-2010, 09:09 AM

The removed the front bearubg, and saw some green grease and some black - burnt grease.

The bearings seemed OK

Cleaned out the green grease, and repacked with Mobil 1 red grease.

The ball joint tested good now, wiggled tire top and bottom, no movement.

There was some slight tie rod movement - pull tire right left.

Seems I have a tie rod replacement project in my future.

Mileage on the car is unknown. The odometer is working now, but wasn't when I purchased the car, some 30K miles ago

ngarover · #7 11-09-2010, 10:15 PM

Here is a perfect example of bad ball joints...

http://www.youtube.com/user/NGARover#p/a/u/2/iwepgAH7pBk

On my 96 Rover, not my 300d...

SD300 · #8 11-10-2010, 07:51 PM

going across train track at 30-40 miles does it change direction?
or take her to a front end shop, but becareful onetime these dude wanted to sell me a set of BJs, looky I took her to another shop where the mech I knew was a bit more honest, he did the alignment w/o mentioning the BJs were bad, so I knew it was a scam!
He for sure was not falling asleep on the job, i watched him while the car was being worked on, if it's necessary he would have told me.

#9 11-11-2010, 01:04 PM

Use the 4P's to diagnose suspension looseness: Push, Pull, Pry and Prod. Safely suspend each front wheel off the ground to do this.

Merkey · #10 11-11-2010, 06:39 PM

If my memory is correct, one of the best ways to eliminate the wheel bearing from the test is to get someone to apply the brakes.. this clamps the rotor in a fixed position and any other slack you have is in the suspension.