Unstable on snow 2017 GLS AMG63
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
GL 450
Unstable on snow 2017 GLS AMG63
We have had our GLS for 2 years. It seemed fine with the All Season Tires last winter but this year with only one inch of snow it was quite unstable (felt like the back would come around at any time). Tires are new and alignment just checked; was minimally out of alignment in back. No codes, etc. appeared.. Any others who have dealt with this? I know many recommend snow tires but this was fine last winter and the amount of snow was minimal. Thank you
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
GL 450
Chassis - it's almost like driving a two wheel car with no limited slip on ice where the slightest acceleration would make the rear come around. It seems to come around both directions though instead of just one direction as the old two wheel drive vehicles would do. It has only occurred one day when we had about 1/2" of snow on the road and the temperature was about 30 degrees. Just had alignment checked and corrected yesterday. It was minimally toed out in the read but probably not enough to cause this. Thank you all again.
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 38
Likes: 5
From: Canton, Michigan
2014 Mercedes-Benz GL550
Chassis - it's almost like driving a two wheel car with no limited slip on ice where the slightest acceleration would make the rear come around. It seems to come around both directions though instead of just one direction as the old two wheel drive vehicles would do. It has only occurred one day when we had about 1/2" of snow on the road and the temperature was about 30 degrees. Just had alignment checked and corrected yesterday. It was minimally toed out in the read but probably not enough to cause this. Thank you all again.
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Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 14,679
Likes: 4,579
From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
From reading the GL posts, my opinion is M-B specs way too much camber, and a bit too much toe, and too little tire pressure on these vehicles. Additionally, tire tread design, compound and size play a role. I would say the reasons for this are ride quality and grip (safety). However the consumer pays a big penalty in tire wear.
Comments can be found on this site that "the GL is heavy". Yes, true. And that was an engineering choice by M-B. A Ford F-250 is heavy, and tire wear is excellent. The resulting GL weight requires certain characteristics of the suspension, wheels and tires. The combination of weight and other specifications chosen by M-B result in peculiarly fast tire wear, unfortunately.
Comments can be found on this site that "the GL is heavy". Yes, true. And that was an engineering choice by M-B. A Ford F-250 is heavy, and tire wear is excellent. The resulting GL weight requires certain characteristics of the suspension, wheels and tires. The combination of weight and other specifications chosen by M-B result in peculiarly fast tire wear, unfortunately.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 38
Likes: 5
From: Canton, Michigan
2014 Mercedes-Benz GL550
From reading the GL posts, my opinion is M-B specs way too much camber, and a bit too much toe, and too little tire pressure on these vehicles. Additionally, tire tread design, compound and size play a role. I would say the reasons for this are ride quality and grip (safety). However the consumer pays a big penalty in tire wear.
Comments can be found on this site that "the GL is heavy". Yes, true. And that was an engineering choice by M-B. A Ford F-250 is heavy, and tire wear is excellent. The resulting GL weight requires certain characteristics of the suspension, wheels and tires. The combination of weight and other specifications chosen by M-B result in peculiarly fast tire wear, unfortunately.
Comments can be found on this site that "the GL is heavy". Yes, true. And that was an engineering choice by M-B. A Ford F-250 is heavy, and tire wear is excellent. The resulting GL weight requires certain characteristics of the suspension, wheels and tires. The combination of weight and other specifications chosen by M-B result in peculiarly fast tire wear, unfortunately.
i know you ended up acknowledging this at the end of your post, I just thought that point was worth clearly making.
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,702
Likes: 178
Mercedes-Benz CLK 550
Yes and because OEM front - there is only basic Toe "directional" adjustment. We saw the need therefore to re - instate from the early 90's once again full, precise, ongoing adjustment capability
FOR THE FRONT:
1. Replacement bushings for the 4 lower arms. Advantage also is besides providing both Camber and Caster adjustment to resolve costly, premature edge tire wear and correctly fix steering pull. They also replace the 2 rear highest wearing bushings which are subject to premature failure (and OEM are expensive to replace).
KMAC kit also comes with bush extraction tools, so can be fitted without arm removal
#504016 M $595 Full set provides up to 1.5 degrees Pos or Neg Camber & Caster change.
#504016-1 P $695 provides up to 2 degrees Pos or Neg Camber & Caster change (lowered suspension)
2. Replacement upper arm inner bushings. This KMAC design provides up to 1 degree Pos or Neg Camber and Caster change. Also precise adjustment. With bush extraction tool so can be fitted without arm removal.
FOR THE REAR:
Replacement lower arm bushings (highest wearing). Comes with bush extraction tool. Fit without arm removal. Provides double existing adjustment range. Single wrench precisely adjustable #504026 K $480
Delivery $40 one kit ($60 front and rear)
Can pay by PayPal, Visa or M/Card
FOR THE FRONT:
1. Replacement bushings for the 4 lower arms. Advantage also is besides providing both Camber and Caster adjustment to resolve costly, premature edge tire wear and correctly fix steering pull. They also replace the 2 rear highest wearing bushings which are subject to premature failure (and OEM are expensive to replace).
KMAC kit also comes with bush extraction tools, so can be fitted without arm removal
#504016 M $595 Full set provides up to 1.5 degrees Pos or Neg Camber & Caster change.
#504016-1 P $695 provides up to 2 degrees Pos or Neg Camber & Caster change (lowered suspension)
2. Replacement upper arm inner bushings. This KMAC design provides up to 1 degree Pos or Neg Camber and Caster change. Also precise adjustment. With bush extraction tool so can be fitted without arm removal.
FOR THE REAR:
Replacement lower arm bushings (highest wearing). Comes with bush extraction tool. Fit without arm removal. Provides double existing adjustment range. Single wrench precisely adjustable #504026 K $480
Delivery $40 one kit ($60 front and rear)
Can pay by PayPal, Visa or M/Card
