Car pulling to both sides
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 70
Likes: 6
2010 E550 4MATIC
Car pulling to both sides
Hi Guys I have a 2010 E550 with 74k miles on it. About a month or so ago I put my summer wheels and tires back on and went to Belle Tire to get them balanced and an alignment done because the car was pulling to the right. They do the alignment and all values were green except for 2 at the front, when I asked whether these were out of spec for a certain reason they stated no and that it could be because of uneven wear on tires or airmatic somehow, I asked if they were sure no suspension components needed replacing and they said no. I take the car home and as i'm driving if i let go of the steering wheel the car pulls slightly right or left and continues, if i hover my hand for the wheel holding it straight i can feel a slight resistance before it pulls. This happens at highway and city speeds and on roads that are fresh paved and old pavement. I've taken the car back to belle tire ad told them its pulling again, they do another alignment, change some values, test drive and say its fine, when clearly its not. I also had an alignment done 2-3 months ago when I did a airmatic sensor re-calibration at a MB dealer and they did not mention wear on any suspension components.
Thoughts?
Thanks!
Thoughts?
Thanks!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,123
Likes: 1,288
From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
Hi Guys I have a 2010 E550 with 74k miles on it. About a month or so ago I put my summer wheels and tires back on and went to Belle Tire to get them balanced and an alignment done because the car was pulling to the right. They do the alignment and all values were green except for 2 at the front, when I asked whether these were out of spec for a certain reason they stated no and that it could be because of uneven wear on tires or airmatic somehow, I asked if they were sure no suspension components needed replacing and they said no. I take the car home and as i'm driving if i let go of the steering wheel the car pulls slightly right or left and continues, if i hover my hand for the wheel holding it straight i can feel a slight resistance before it pulls. This happens at highway and city speeds and on roads that are fresh paved and old pavement. I've taken the car back to belle tire ad told them its pulling again, they do another alignment, change some values, test drive and say its fine, when clearly its not. I also had an alignment done 2-3 months ago when I did a airmatic sensor re-calibration at a MB dealer and they did not mention wear on any suspension components.
Thoughts?
Thanks!
Thoughts?
Thanks!
Ask them what they aligned as the ONLY thing you can adjust is the front toe. There are no slotted bolt hole of any kind in this suspension to change alignment. You need some special after market off-centric bolts to move anything and I understand these can only be used in the rear.
They may have moved the toe and if it is not done correctly you may end up with a car where the toe changes around zero depending on car's ride height. Ride height changes toe and it must be set with the ride height at correct position. I don't know what this is on the car you have (like I have) but I have been present when alignment was done for my previous car and the shop who obviously knew what they were doing pulled the front of the car down with a strap for the proper ride height before they measured anything.
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 909
Likes: 64
2007 cls550
So, they did alignment.
Ask them what they aligned as the ONLY thing you can adjust is the front toe. There are no slotted bolt hole of any kind in this suspension to change alignment. You need some special after market off-centric bolts to move anything and I understand these can only be used in the rear.
They may have moved the toe and if it is not done correctly you may end up with a car where the toe changes around zero depending on car's ride height. Ride height changes toe and it must be set with the ride height at correct position. I don't know what this is on the car you have (like I have) but I have been present when alignment was done for my previous car and the shop who obviously knew what they were doing pulled the front of the car down with a strap for the proper ride height before they measured anything.
Ask them what they aligned as the ONLY thing you can adjust is the front toe. There are no slotted bolt hole of any kind in this suspension to change alignment. You need some special after market off-centric bolts to move anything and I understand these can only be used in the rear.
They may have moved the toe and if it is not done correctly you may end up with a car where the toe changes around zero depending on car's ride height. Ride height changes toe and it must be set with the ride height at correct position. I don't know what this is on the car you have (like I have) but I have been present when alignment was done for my previous car and the shop who obviously knew what they were doing pulled the front of the car down with a strap for the proper ride height before they measured anything.
I had a pull to the right from the factory with a cls550 as many Mercedes do and adjusting caster forward on passenger side fixed it along with reducing camber on both sides.
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 909
Likes: 64
2007 cls550
Hi Guys I have a 2010 E550 with 74k miles on it. About a month or so ago I put my summer wheels and tires back on and went to Belle Tire to get them balanced and an alignment done because the car was pulling to the right. They do the alignment and all values were green except for 2 at the front, when I asked whether these were out of spec for a certain reason they stated no and that it could be because of uneven wear on tires or airmatic somehow, I asked if they were sure no suspension components needed replacing and they said no. I take the car home and as i'm driving if i let go of the steering wheel the car pulls slightly right or left and continues, if i hover my hand for the wheel holding it straight i can feel a slight resistance before it pulls. This happens at highway and city speeds and on roads that are fresh paved and old pavement. I've taken the car back to belle tire ad told them its pulling again, they do another alignment, change some values, test drive and say its fine, when clearly its not. I also had an alignment done 2-3 months ago when I did a airmatic sensor re-calibration at a MB dealer and they did not mention wear on any suspension components.
Thoughts?
Thanks!
Thoughts?
Thanks!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 70
Likes: 6
2010 E550 4MATIC
Do you think that adjustment bolt needs to be replaced? I've attached 2/3 printouts... As you can see the first time things were definitely off and it became better but not 100%, then the 2 times after that the front camber was still in red and car still pulls... As much as I don't want to take it to MB may have to...
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 909
Likes: 64
2007 cls550
Everything looks normal and won’t cause car to pull right and left like you describe.
if you are the original owner than you won’t have the camber/caster “adjustment” bolts.
You should look for a recommended independent shop in your area. Check suspension components.
if you are the original owner than you won’t have the camber/caster “adjustment” bolts.
You should look for a recommended independent shop in your area. Check suspension components.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,123
Likes: 1,288
From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
Actually not true. Mercedes makes caster/camber bolts that offer a fixed adjustment front only. The arms themselves have “nubs” where the bolt goes through. The replacement bolts have slots so you pull old one out, adjust arm inward which shifts the nubs, and then the slotted bolt goes in and holds arm there. Does that make sense? Hard to describe but easy once you see the parts.
I had a pull to the right from the factory with a cls550 as many Mercedes do and adjusting caster forward on passenger side fixed it along with reducing camber on both sides.
I had a pull to the right from the factory with a cls550 as many Mercedes do and adjusting caster forward on passenger side fixed it along with reducing camber on both sides.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,123
Likes: 1,288
From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
Do you think that adjustment bolt needs to be replaced? I've attached 2/3 printouts... As you can see the first time things were definitely off and it became better but not 100%, then the 2 times after that the front camber was still in red and car still pulls... As much as I don't want to take it to MB may have to...
Have you tried using different settings on ride height if it makes any difference to pulling? You could drive at sports mode and compare to the Comfort with raised position that should stay on at city speeds. On highway the raised position automatically drops off.
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2007 cls550
