Anyone experince nervous or edgy handling on their 03 CLK55?
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Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 62
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Anyone experince nervous or edgy handling on their 03 CLK55?
Hi guys,
I just bought a 03 CLK55 (pics to follow soon). The engine feels fastastic, my first experince with a V8. However, i'm a bit worried about the handling. For whatever reason, the car does not feel very stable. The rear seems to move a lot from side to side. I'm not sure how to describe it, but the rear end feels like its wiggling. It feels worse when its wet, whenever i change lane and drive over the painted surface on the road. There a lot of lateral shift, as though the chasis is sliding on the rear axles.
I know that owners of the e46 M3 have complained about the same problem, and it was diagnosed to suffer from some bushing problems on some of the suspension components. Could my CLK55 suffer from the same problem? I'm not very familiar with CLK's suspension set-up.
Any feedback would be great.
Thanks in advance.
P
I just bought a 03 CLK55 (pics to follow soon). The engine feels fastastic, my first experince with a V8. However, i'm a bit worried about the handling. For whatever reason, the car does not feel very stable. The rear seems to move a lot from side to side. I'm not sure how to describe it, but the rear end feels like its wiggling. It feels worse when its wet, whenever i change lane and drive over the painted surface on the road. There a lot of lateral shift, as though the chasis is sliding on the rear axles.
I know that owners of the e46 M3 have complained about the same problem, and it was diagnosed to suffer from some bushing problems on some of the suspension components. Could my CLK55 suffer from the same problem? I'm not very familiar with CLK's suspension set-up.
Any feedback would be great.
Thanks in advance.
P
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 932
Likes: 38
From: North of Boston
The first thing that I would ask is what is your tire inflation on the rears and two, what tires are you running? I have my PS2s at 34 front 37 rear with no problems like you describe. Now I'm not coming onto an off ramp at 70mph but like tend to drive the car hard.
Last edited by cindyclk; Sep 7, 2008 at 08:35 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,894
Likes: 8
From: Connecticut
2003 CLK55
Could there be some sort of suspension problem with the car. After all it is used. I've never felt these problems you describe. If I do I've never noticed it and from how it sounds I think I would notice. Maybe get some sort of safety inspection done at the dealership.
check your tire, I had similar issue with Pilot Sport All season..
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,289
Likes: 4
From: Indiana
2003 AMG SL55, 2002 AMG CLK55, 2002 AMG ML55, 2005 ML350, 1995 S320 LWB - totaled
My CLK55 was just like this with new Michelins on it.
Alignment was way off. Had it realigned fixed the problem.
Alignment was way off. Had it realigned fixed the problem.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 430
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From: LA
Uber 202
only bushing i can think of is the the top hat that holds the spring down, its rubber and is known to go bad and crack after time. stock suspension one this car is not very good tho, pss9's and sways and it'll handle like its on rails.
