Floaty loose steering feel
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Super Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 568
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2007 E350
Floaty loose steering feel
Hey fam,
I was wondering if anyone get loose floaty steering when going over 100mph. Right @120 and above the steering get floaty and loose. I recently drop 63s coupe for a steering rack recall. Before this the steering tightens up considerably at higher speed especially 120 and above. My steering also goes off center to the left after 1 or 2 weeks of getting an alignment. Not sure if that has anything to do with this. Speeds below 100 the steering is pretty tight and responsive. Anyone ever experience this? I had the dealer check to see if anything is loose or bent and was told everything is 100% fine. Is this something to be considered normal? Never had this kind if problems with my other cars before
I was wondering if anyone get loose floaty steering when going over 100mph. Right @120 and above the steering get floaty and loose. I recently drop 63s coupe for a steering rack recall. Before this the steering tightens up considerably at higher speed especially 120 and above. My steering also goes off center to the left after 1 or 2 weeks of getting an alignment. Not sure if that has anything to do with this. Speeds below 100 the steering is pretty tight and responsive. Anyone ever experience this? I had the dealer check to see if anything is loose or bent and was told everything is 100% fine. Is this something to be considered normal? Never had this kind if problems with my other cars before
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Joined: Jan 2020
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17 C63S coupe
He mentioned it was fine before dropping it off for a recall. Although a functional/active splitter would be very nice to see, don't know of anyone offering them for our platform? Regardless, would love to be a fly on the wall during this convo with their SA, haha!
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2016
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2007 E350
I drove the sedan on the autobahn a few years back at V max and experience none of the loose floaty steering at triple digit speeds. I’m not sure if this is a bad steering rack, maybe loose parts such as sway bar, suspension something to do with the rubber bushing. Regardless this is something I’m hesitant to bring to the dealer. I mean what can I say to them? that the steering is floaty/loose at above 120? Lol
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
I'm guessing pre-FL. Certainly doesn't sound normal. I would start with the steering wheel going off center after 1-2 weeks. That's something they can verify and take a look at. The steering wheel shouldn't go off center unless the alignment goes really bad after 1-2 weeks and then you have another issue. I'm assuming the alignment is still good at that point, so something is not right with the rack. As for loose steering over 120, that's a tough one. How do you want them to go reproduce this and then test it that it is fixed afterwards? They obviously would have to rent a track somewhere to do this legally. If it was my car, I certainly wouldn't want them to go do it on public roads and risk a crash with another car. I had the pleasure of driving my coupe on the German Autobahn for 2 months during my European Delivery trip. It's a FL, though, but FWIW the steering certainly wasn't loose even at 180 mph. I won't admit this publicly :-), but I've inadvertently hit 100 mph and above w/o even realizing that I was going that fast, so the steering is definitely rock solid as it should be.
Last edited by superswiss; Mar 11, 2020 at 01:42 AM.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 568
Likes: 132
2007 E350
I'm guessing pre-FL. Certainly doesn't sound normal. I would start with the steering wheel going off center after 1-2 weeks. That's something they can verify and take a look at. The steering wheel shouldn't go off center unless the alignment goes really bad after 1-2 weeks and then you have another issue. I'm assuming the alignment is still good at that point, so something is not right with the rack. As for loose steering over 120, that's a tough one. How do you want them to go reproduce this and then test it that it is fixed afterwards? They obviously would have to rent a track somewhere to do this legally. If it was my car, I certainly wouldn't want them to go do it on public roads and risk a crash with another car. I had the pleasure of driving my coupe on the German Autobahn for 2 months during my European Delivery trip. It's a FL, though, but FWIW the steering certainly wasn't loose even at 180 mph. I won't admit this publicly :-), but I've inadvertently hit 100 mph and above w/o even realizing that I was going that fast, so the steering is definitely rock solid as it should be.
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Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,467
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
Off center steering is something I complain to the dealer service a few month ago. First dealer got someone to drive with me. He said it was completely centered lol and everything including alignment is 100% good. Went to a second dealer and immediately they noticed the off centered steering and check alignment. Did an alignment and problem corrected. After 1 to 2 weeks of smooth road drive steering goes off center again. Came back to same dealer again and was told it was the road i’m driving on. Going to try my luck with an independent benz repair shop
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Super Member
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From: NYC
18 E63S
Originally Posted by koifysh
Off center steering is something I complain to the dealer service a few month ago. First dealer got someone to drive with me. He said it was completely centered lol and everything including alignment is 100% good. Went to a second dealer and immediately they noticed the off centered steering and check alignment. Did an alignment and problem corrected. After 1 to 2 weeks of smooth road drive steering goes off center again. Came back to same dealer again and was told it was the road i’m driving on. Going to try my luck with an independent benz repair shop
At the time it was brand new car .
In the Subaru community we called it memory steer.
Problem solved with after market polyurethane bushings on rack and pinion mounts.
Not saying this is the problem with the op but something to look at .
Or could be a corrupt file ( programing)for the electric steering box motor.
Or faulty steering box motor.
Just something to give the op help with.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2012
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From: Pearland, Tx
2020 AMG GTC Coupe & 2018 Macan Turbo
Suggest the mechanic review his work. Then, step 2: Have a 4 wheel alignment. And make VERY SURE you ask for and receive copies of the before and after measurements.
Thread Starter
Super Member
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2007 E350
How are your front tires? Have you checked them for irregular wear, etc.? If your alignment has been off for too long, then the tire wear pattern will be off and that can ultimately affect your steering and potentially cause a pull to one side and account for the steering wheel to be off center. It might be a good idea to get a fresh set of tires first and have them road force balanced and then see if the issues are still there.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 568
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2007 E350
I had this same issue with a Subaru WRX in 2002 or 2003
At the time it was brand new car .
In the Subaru community we called it memory steer.
Problem solved with after market polyurethane bushings on rack and pinion mounts.
Not saying this is the problem with the op but something to look at .
Or could be a corrupt file ( programing)for the electric steering box motor.
Or faulty steering box motor.
Just something to give the op help with.
At the time it was brand new car .
In the Subaru community we called it memory steer.
Problem solved with after market polyurethane bushings on rack and pinion mounts.
Not saying this is the problem with the op but something to look at .
Or could be a corrupt file ( programing)for the electric steering box motor.
Or faulty steering box motor.
Just something to give the op help with.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 568
Likes: 132
2007 E350
I got one a few weeks before changing to the ps4s then another one after changing it. One thing I forgot to mention is that right after I got the alignment, steering was dead on center after. Then I use launch control and that threw steering off center again. So could a be the bushing?
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From: Pearland, Tx
2020 AMG GTC Coupe & 2018 Macan Turbo
Have you tuned the car? Or is it stock? If you're torqueing the car that much and it's throwing the car out of alignment, something's definitely wrong there.
Thread Starter
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2007 E350
yep I had an ecu tune. I ask the service guy why the car goes out of alignment after 2 to 3 weeks and he blame it on the road im driving in. Told him I only drive on smooth roads with no pot holes. Going to make a list of what could be wrong and have then dive deep into this. I had a w204 c63 before this and never had a problem with the steering. So something is def wrong
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 568
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2007 E350
haha no worries for me. The service guy immediately know that it was tune without me saying anything. The dealer was super cool with it and is very mod friendly
