C-Class (W203) 2001-2007, C160, C180, C200, C220, C230, C240, C270, C280, C300, C320, C230K, C350, Coupe

Weaving around all over the road...!?!

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Old 03-09-2012, 08:27 PM
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C180K
Smile Weaving around all over the road...!?!

Hi everyone, it's good to be here amongst fellow MB owners.

I have a C180K sports coupe and it is a fantastic car - bought s/h, and one of the things I must say is it doesn't seem very stable at even modest speeds on the motorway/freeway.

I'm talking around 50/60MPH - it's a constant job making small corrections to the steering to remain in lane. It feels almost like driving in severe cross-winds (yet there isn't even a breeze). Higher speeds just feel unsafe actually, as a bump or two on the road surface makes me feel as if I could lose control.

This is not what I expect from a C180k!

Even on ordinary roads, going over any small lumps or bumps, I feel the wheel pulling around in my hand quite a bit (especially if it is the left wheel)

Anyone any ideas what the problem could be? I'm thinking possibly the front left balljoint has gone - potholes are really bad around here and I did have to replace the tyre/tire on that wheel around a month ago due to hitting quite a bad one.

Cheers!
Old 03-09-2012, 08:35 PM
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e36 318i, 2004 sti
1. Have you checked your rims. My dad's cls55 came with 4 bent rims from the previous owner..
2. Tires have been balanced properly? Both have the same tire pressure? Both the same tires?
3. How many miles on it? You might need an alignment.
4. The ball joints could possibly be it. I would have a shop check them out to make sure before you buy another ball joint.
Old 03-09-2012, 08:44 PM
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Originally Posted by MBfinatic
1. Have you checked your rims. My dad's cls55 came with 4 bent rims from the previous owner..
2. Tires have been balanced properly? Both have the same tire pressure? Both the same tires?
3. How many miles on it? You might need an alignment.
4. The ball joints could possibly be it. I would have a shop check them out to make sure before you buy another ball joint.

Hey, thanks for the fast response.

34k mi on the clock just. Pressures are fine too.

I was going between an alignment or ball joints... there is a slight pull to the left so I'll get an alignment done and see what happens then.
Old 03-09-2012, 08:50 PM
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Better have it looked at. Sounds dangerous.
A tire shop or place like that should be able to get a look, and probably won't charge you to check the suspension.
Old 03-09-2012, 09:34 PM
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'04 C230K 6spd
Originally Posted by MBfinatic
1. Have you checked your rims. My dad's cls55 came with 4 bent rims from the previous owner..
2. Tires have been balanced properly? Both have the same tire pressure? Both the same tires?
3. How many miles on it? You might need an alignment.
4. The ball joints could possibly be it. I would have a shop check them out to make sure before you buy another ball joint.
This. All my 4 rims were bent from the previous owner as well. Get it checked.
Old 03-09-2012, 09:54 PM
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Originally Posted by MojoGlasgow
Hey, thanks for the fast response.

34k mi on the clock just. Pressures are fine too.

I was going between an alignment or ball joints... there is a slight pull to the left so I'll get an alignment done and see what happens then.
No problem!

That should work! Keep us posted!
Old 05-20-2012, 02:04 PM
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Forgot to update this - basically, thanks to everyone for their advice. I hit a pretty severe pot hole and now that damage has been repaired, the steering is far more stable.

Basically, one of the suspension coils was fractured, the ball joint was screwed on that same side, and the tracking was needing corrected. After all of that, there is still a tendency to pull to the side of the camber (in UK so left ordinarly, or to the right when on a motorway contraflow). It's liveable thoughl

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