W210: Extreme Yaw/Sway or my overactive imagination?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Rosamond, CA
1999 E300 TurboDiesel
W210: Extreme Yaw/Sway or my overactive imagination?
Hey folks. I have a 1999 E300TD that feels a bit funny.
It feels like the rear end yaws, or drifts out just a bit when steering to and fro from 10 to 30 mph.
When around 50+mph the handling is better, but the suspension is rather sensitive to ANY road irregularities. Of course some of the roads I drive are pathetic, but I feel even minor divits on smooth roads.
The steering wheel points slightly right, but there is no steering drift if I let go of the wheel at speed.
There is no clunk, rattle, or nasty vibration that would signify any true issues.
I put the car on the rack:
- The end links of the front sway bar look okay, but will shift a bit on the bar.
- The lower control arm bushings look okay (no cracks) but I could move the front pivots of them a millimeter or two when I applied pressure with a pry bar.
- The ball joints are tight as far as I can tell (lightly, gently pried on them).
- The rear sway bar links are tight.
- Alignment was checked and given a thumbs up at MBZValencia in the past 7 months and no curbing or offroading has occured since.
Tried to check bearing play on all four wheels:
- Rear wheels are tight
- Front wheels are tight but emit a bit of a click as if there is some play.
- Tire pressure, on a set of Goodyear ComfortTreads is 2psi over MB spec.
Any clues, hints, advice?
Is this just characteristic of my 210 diesel?
Would any suspension upgrades help, and if so what would make the biggest difference?
I don't want a harsh ride, I just want to make sure all is well and the car will stay on the road.
It feels like the rear end yaws, or drifts out just a bit when steering to and fro from 10 to 30 mph.
When around 50+mph the handling is better, but the suspension is rather sensitive to ANY road irregularities. Of course some of the roads I drive are pathetic, but I feel even minor divits on smooth roads.
The steering wheel points slightly right, but there is no steering drift if I let go of the wheel at speed.
There is no clunk, rattle, or nasty vibration that would signify any true issues.
I put the car on the rack:
- The end links of the front sway bar look okay, but will shift a bit on the bar.
- The lower control arm bushings look okay (no cracks) but I could move the front pivots of them a millimeter or two when I applied pressure with a pry bar.
- The ball joints are tight as far as I can tell (lightly, gently pried on them).
- The rear sway bar links are tight.
- Alignment was checked and given a thumbs up at MBZValencia in the past 7 months and no curbing or offroading has occured since.
Tried to check bearing play on all four wheels:
- Rear wheels are tight
- Front wheels are tight but emit a bit of a click as if there is some play.
- Tire pressure, on a set of Goodyear ComfortTreads is 2psi over MB spec.
Any clues, hints, advice?
Is this just characteristic of my 210 diesel?
Would any suspension upgrades help, and if so what would make the biggest difference?
I don't want a harsh ride, I just want to make sure all is well and the car will stay on the road.
Last edited by anghrist; Mar 17, 2007 at 01:27 AM.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Rosamond, CA
1999 E300 TurboDiesel
Tire pressure, on a set of Goodyear ComfortTreads is 2psi over MB spec.
Alignment was checked at MBZValencia in the past 7 months and no curbing or offroading has occured.
I will see if I can edit my post to make it more reader friendly.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Rosamond, CA
1999 E300 TurboDiesel
I had a set of the GY Tripletreads on my '01 GTI and it was rock solid. It seems that either this car or the ComfortTreads or the combination is not really what I'm after as far as a stable yet soft ride.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,493
Likes: 0
From: Santa Clarita, CA
1987 E300 TD
Note: I live at MBZValencia
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