jkomar18447

I have a 98 ML320 that well gets funky handling, I don't know how else to describe it but I'll try.

Between 30 and 40 miles an hour on a dry flat road it will start wiggling and feel like the back end is crabbing hard to the passenger side. It will then straighten itself out and drive flat and firm. It's a little scary it feels like you have no control at that point until it stops.

When you maintaining the speed at which it occurs it will not continue doing it. It will go through this uncontrolled moment and then continue on as if nothing happened. Don't know what would happen at higher speeds it 's enough at lower speeds to make you think twice about going any faster.

The truck did sit for about a year with new tires that the previous own put on the truck and they are over sized for the ML320 they are 255/70 16.

I have had the truck over to the indie tech who reset the computer from a transmission fault (replaced conductor plate) other than that no codes related to transmission/traction/drive line etc.. I was with him when he hooked it up and read all the data and he walked me through it.

ALSO: There are no warning lights or errors on dash.

Has anyone ever experienced this before? or know what is occurring?

Maj. Dundee

Tires that have been sitting in the same spot for an extended period of time develop flat spots and thereby become damaged.

jkomar18447

I'm headed to the tire shop this morning to have tires checked and alignment.

jkomar18447

Well the tires are good and alignment was off bad but it came in, now the bad news.
The rear differential is locking on one side, passenger side.

Time for a new differential!!!! Oh boy

jkomar18447

Okay, don't believe everything you hear. I went to the tire shop Tire Kingdom and explained to them what the car was doing and I wanted an inspection and an alignment. As you can tell from my earlier post when I returned they said the differential was locking but didn't know why - hence - "Time for a new differential" .

WRONG!

I decided to get under the truck to see what was going on and I think my 8 year old helper would have found this. Check out the video - the rear control arm and joint are ready to fall off! To think I took it to a shop and they aligned the truck and inspected and found NOTHING.
I'll be at the dealer in the morning getting the control arm and joint and hopefully solve this problem.

jkomar18447

New control arm link and ball joint and it handles like a Mercedes, total cost $170, did it myself in under 1/2 an hour .
Time wasted 2 hours getting the first alignment.

They did agree to realign the truck for FREE - ya right FREE now that's BS

Just have to think of those other saps going to get it professionally inspected.

Don Yatchez