Weaving around all over the road...!?!
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 4
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C180K
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!
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!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,391
Likes: 2
From: VA
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.
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.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
C180K
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.
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.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,263
Likes: 169
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
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.
A tire shop or place like that should be able to get a look, and probably won't charge you to check the suspension.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 35
Likes: 1
From: Cape Cod, MA
'04 C230K 6spd
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.
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.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,391
Likes: 2
From: VA
e36 318i, 2004 sti
That should work! Keep us posted!
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
C180K
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
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
