steering wobbles on uneven pavement
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 549
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
'97 c36
This picture was taken with the intake manifold removed and from the top of the car looking down. It's very tight in the area where the steering box lives and hard to take a picture of.
If your steering is loose, the gear box is the last on the list of things to replace/adjust. Check the drag link, tie rod ends, idler arm ect.. After making sure those are 100% then you might want to adjust the gear box. But honestly if the box is wore out enough to warrant a sector shaft adjustment and for the amount of work it takes to get at and adjust the box. Might as well throw a rebuilt gear box in it with new seals and be done with it.
If your steering is loose, the gear box is the last on the list of things to replace/adjust. Check the drag link, tie rod ends, idler arm ect.. After making sure those are 100% then you might want to adjust the gear box. But honestly if the box is wore out enough to warrant a sector shaft adjustment and for the amount of work it takes to get at and adjust the box. Might as well throw a rebuilt gear box in it with new seals and be done with it.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,566
Likes: 421
05 c55 silver, 98 Imperial Red C43
I lifted the car yesterday and was able to check the play in the wheels.
Horizontally and with a little bit of effort I can move the front wheels back and forth an inch or two which also causes the steering wheel to move but within those few inches there is also something else loose because the steering wheel doesnt feel solid, it just kinda flaps back and forth and makes a clunking noise :/
Im gonna start by replacing the steering shock today and then look into the steering box.
Im just surprised because ive only put 20 or so thousand miles on those new parts. They should last longer shouldnt they?
Horizontally and with a little bit of effort I can move the front wheels back and forth an inch or two which also causes the steering wheel to move but within those few inches there is also something else loose because the steering wheel doesnt feel solid, it just kinda flaps back and forth and makes a clunking noise :/
Im gonna start by replacing the steering shock today and then look into the steering box.
Im just surprised because ive only put 20 or so thousand miles on those new parts. They should last longer shouldnt they?
Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
From: Ocala, Fl
1996 C36 AMG and 1999 BMW e46
Have someone sit in the car while you hold one of the wheels. Have the person wiggle the steering wheel and see if you feel it in the wheels. If you don't feel it in the wheels, move your hand to the pitman arm, do you feel it there? Do this with every moving part of the front end till you find where the play is coming from.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
2007 E350 4Matic
No, it is stock. And I wonder if it's just the tires (Bridgestone Protenza), as it seems to be better once they are warm. But when starting off in the morning, it feels like I am driving on ice. And if I get on an uneven road (rutted), it feels like it might throw me into the other lane.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,566
Likes: 421
05 c55 silver, 98 Imperial Red C43
I was told its because of too much toe and camber that comes with lowering the car. Stock suspension components dont allow for enough adjustment i was told.
Now that you tell me you have the same problem and you are not lowered i dunno if i believe it
Also a friend looked into my suspension and my steering box and he says everything is tight
It makes no sense. Could be tires tho i dunno.
Now that you tell me you have the same problem and you are not lowered i dunno if i believe it
Also a friend looked into my suspension and my steering box and he says everything is tight
It makes no sense. Could be tires tho i dunno.
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Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 407
Likes: 10
From: Walnut Creek, Cali (sf bay area)
(For Sale 03 G55), 08 G55K, 99 C43, 04 E55, 05 E63, 91 BMW E30, 05 BMW M3, 05 Audi USP Avant
This happened to me with my E92 BMW, the car would literally jerk itself
hard left usually when braking to a light. After a lot of homework i found
that it was my tires.
I had swapped my wheels out and ended up with someone elses tires (long story)
18 Bridgestone run flats 90% tread and evenly worn, they looked new.
BUT
When I swapped back out the tires to my own, exact same bridgestone run flat 18s
Problem solved instantly. It had something to do with how my car wears the tire opposed to someone elses.
hard left usually when braking to a light. After a lot of homework i found
that it was my tires.
I had swapped my wheels out and ended up with someone elses tires (long story)
18 Bridgestone run flats 90% tread and evenly worn, they looked new.
BUT
When I swapped back out the tires to my own, exact same bridgestone run flat 18s
Problem solved instantly. It had something to do with how my car wears the tire opposed to someone elses.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
2007 E350 4Matic
I was told its because of too much toe and camber that comes with lowering the car. Stock suspension components dont allow for enough adjustment i was told.
Now that you tell me you have the same problem and you are not lowered i dunno if i believe it
Also a friend looked into my suspension and my steering box and he says everything is tight
It makes no sense. Could be tires tho i dunno.
Now that you tell me you have the same problem and you are not lowered i dunno if i believe it
Also a friend looked into my suspension and my steering box and he says everything is tight
It makes no sense. Could be tires tho i dunno.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
2007 E350 4Matic
This happened to me with my E92 BMW, the car would literally jerk itself
hard left usually when braking to a light. After a lot of homework i found
that it was my tires.
I had swapped my wheels out and ended up with someone elses tires (long story)
18 Bridgestone run flats 90% tread and evenly worn, they looked new.
BUT
When I swapped back out the tires to my own, exact same bridgestone run flat 18s
Problem solved instantly. It had something to do with how my car wears the tire opposed to someone elses.
hard left usually when braking to a light. After a lot of homework i found
that it was my tires.
I had swapped my wheels out and ended up with someone elses tires (long story)
18 Bridgestone run flats 90% tread and evenly worn, they looked new.
BUT
When I swapped back out the tires to my own, exact same bridgestone run flat 18s
Problem solved instantly. It had something to do with how my car wears the tire opposed to someone elses.
