zheka

It was raining, and I hit a curb, first with my front right rim, then hitting with my rear right. My right rim got chipped of on the side, about 10 inches wide. Tire wasn't inflating. My right rim just a little scratch, but it looks like it screwed up my alignment, or something. This is what the steering looks like now, when going straight. look at the pic below. When I drive (reached 85mph) the stering wheel doesnt shake or anything, quite strange, but its making the strange noise, like if somebody would say "owl" into a big pipe, and keeps on owling. Sound is not really loud, but really noticible.


Please help me on what to do next

Should I see the dealer? Im sure there is a cheaper way out

saintz

My local Sears has a great alignment shop. The tech will actually come speak with you if you are a car enthusiast and let you verify the specs on the machine. They will generally be cheaper than the dealer, and their equipment I have found to be top notch.

I would call both and get a quote for a basic alignment. I think you're looking at $100 to $150.

You probably have a toe in issue which is causing rubbing (the howling). This will kill your tires fast, so get it aligned pronto.

zheka

You think its possible just an alignment issue? Cause I really hope there is nothing else damaged.

ohlord

that or wear on a bushing are the only ways to get it out of alignment (or lowering,but that is not germane to the issue)
Sears is the last place to get a Mercedes aligned they don't have the bars nor the hunter machine.Or the knowledge to start pulling the parts that need to be replaced.
You might want to contact your auto insurance company.

saintz

I think Sears does use Hunter machines, actually. Regardless, they have 4 wheel computerized laser alignment systems, which are going to be accurate regardless of brand.

The tech at a Sears does alignments day in and day out. I doubt most dealerships gets that kind of alignment volume. The dealer tech may have more Mercedes experience, but the Sears tech is likely to have more alignment experience.

Of course, it's a crap shoot either way. I just know at my local Sears, the tech is an amateur racer and really knows what he's doing (in addition to being reasonably priced). I have been totally underwhelmed by my dealer service department. No harm in calling both and asking for price quotes and trying to get a feel for whether they can tell their elbow from their knee.

I didn't mention in my previous post, but you probably want to get them to put it on the rack and bring you the readout before they try aligning it. I agree with Ohlord that you bent something (probably the rod that controls toe). If it's close to spec, they might be able to realign it anyway. If it's really bent, you'll need parts. Then you're better off either going to the dealer or going to an indy to fix the rod and then going back to get it aligned.

saintz

If you want to eyeball to see how bad it is, park the car on a level surface, point the steering wheel straight (where it should be), and check each wheel. It should be basically straight up and down (camber) and front to back with the car (toe). If it's way out of whack, you can probably see it.

zheka

I really couldn't see the difference between two front wheels, and the pics are below. I'm gonna go to my indy mechanic on Thursday, have him look at it, maybe he can tell me exactly whats wrong with it, and then probably have it aligned somewhere where they do take Mercedes.

cbpeck

Last I heard Firestone tire shops were offering Lifetime Alignment for around $150. It's more expensive than a single alignment, but if you're planning on having your vehicle for a while it may be a good bet.

MG

knocked the crap out of your fog light too I see.

Get it aligned. Indy shop is usually the best bet for a car out of warranty. Ask members in your area and I'm sure you will get a couple good recommendations on an Indy, but for an alignment, just get it done ASAP before that bent rod decides it's really a broken rod.

zheka

Fog light s zip tied, because of a damn racoon on a highway

desired_speeds

have an indy check for suspension damage. if you can get away with only an alignment, consider yourself lucky!

zheka

Heres an update:
Alignment fixed the front end of the car, steering wheel is back to the center, and its all good. But the howling noise is still there. Firestone (where I did alignment) said it sounds like the bearing, on the rear right wheel.

Hirnbeiss

I had a bad rear wheel bearing that would growl or drone, not howl, but I think the most evident thing is that it was clearly wheel related as opposed to tire or tranny. I think it was a $700 job, since I didn't want to do it myself.

zheka

The thing is, I dont know if it is a wheel bearing or not. Anyway to tell for sure? Or its more of a guess game

Hirnbeiss

On mine, the only symptom was the noise that varied only with speed. Some wheel bearings fail and produce a louder noice on turning, but that may be more common with tapered rollers, which the rears are not. Chassis ears can localize the noise to a wheel, and then it pretty much has to be the bearing

Peter Guenther

I dont know about Sears and Firestone, dont go cheap let Mercedes do it, its not that much more.

zheka

My indy shop quoted $420 for labor and part (to replace bearing) dealer charged $780.

When I'm driving straight, and I turn right, so there is no force on the rear right wheel, the noise disappears, and when going back straight, noise re-appears. I tried to jack the car up, and spin the wheel as fast as my hands could spin it, but I couldn't hear the noise that I hear when I drive.

zheka

according to the post above, can it be the wheel bearing, or the differential bearing, because it seems like when I make a sharp right, noise goes away.

ejsheltra

[QUOTE=zheka;4506840]I really couldn't see the difference between two front wheels, and the pics are below. I'm gonna go to my indy mechanic on Thursday, have him look at it, maybe he can tell me exactly whats wrong with it, and then probably have it aligned somewhere where they do take Mercedes.

[

Your bad wheel I can see the front is toed in more than the opposite side. You have something bent. Go to your Indy or dealer and have them do a visual inspection before your alignment cost. Here in Pittsburgh the dealer alignment was the same charge as the local tire shops (NTB). I felt better with the dealer as this is the brand they see most often. Cost was not the deciding factor. Check for bent first before investing the money into multiple alignments. And BTW stay well under 85 until after you have had the front end damage assessed. best of luck.

zheka

The front end wasnt bent or anything, I just messed up the allignment, and all good now, i have problems with the rear end. I am not sre if it is the wheel bearing, and the differential bearing.

ejsheltra

Did the real wheel make contact with anything?

zheka

Yes, as far as I remember, I think the rear wheel hit the curb first, and then the fron, but I might be wrong, it happened too fast. But I hit the rear pretty bad, it chipped off a lip on my rim.

n42w88

You can jack up the rear wheels and try turning it by hand - if it feels rough as it turns or you can wobble the wheel then it's the bearing.

It's the bearing anyway (99% certainty). I would not drive very fast on it until it is fixed. The independent mechanic can do the job just as well as the dealer (it's not like the dealer has magic bearings) for less money.

zheka

My indy quoted me 400 something to change the bearing (including the part). The thing is, I dont wana spend 400+ to replace the bearing, only to find out its some other bearing. When I jack up the car, I dont hear anything. And I only notice the howling sound when I reach around 40 mph, then as I get faster It disappears, then I hear it again, at about 60mph, and then at around 90mph

RobertG

Spinning the wheel by hand is not enough the wheel has to be loaded.
Get your friend to drive and you sit in the back to investigate the source of noise (inside the rear or outside the rear)