GLC Class (X253) Produced 2016-2022

Wheels crabbing

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Old Apr 17, 2016 | 12:44 PM
  #1  
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GLC 250D
Wheels crabbing

I have the 20 inch wheels and notice that on full steering lock whilst reversing the tires start crabbing? Does anyone else have this. Is it normal?
Is this due to the wheel size or the way the wheel alignment is set?
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Old Apr 17, 2016 | 03:28 PM
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I have noticed this once. I am no expert but I think its a feature of 4x4. I was familiar with this with my last 3 cars..VW Touaregs with full time 4 wheel drive. There was regular talk of 'stepper motors' and 'wind up' on the Club Touareg site. No idea if the GLC system is similar!!
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Old Apr 17, 2016 | 04:12 PM
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Originally Posted by tron786
I have the 20 inch wheels and notice that on full steering lock whilst reversing the tires start crabbing? Does anyone else have this. Is it normal?
Is this due to the wheel size or the way the wheel alignment is set?
Not sure what you mean by crabbing but I have noticed that when turning sharply from start (e.g. exiting my drive) the wheels feel like that they are skidding on the tarmac, almost like being on a Icy/frosty road surface
Is this what you mean? Greg
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Old Apr 18, 2016 | 03:13 AM
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Originally Posted by tron786
I have the 20 inch wheels and notice that on full steering lock whilst reversing the tires start crabbing? Does anyone else have this. Is it normal?
Is this due to the wheel size or the way the wheel alignment is set?
Full time awd can do this. I thought the GLC was rear biased but the system may send just enough power to the front end. Which case awd loaded front tires on sharp turns is common. My Subaru does it and my Landcruiser did it if the road surface had enough loose debri on it.

Curious if anyone else is getting front tire loading it can feel like the tires are biting unnessesary hard during slow tight turns. Tire size shouldnt matter.
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Old Apr 18, 2016 | 12:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Greg Meier
Not sure what you mean by crabbing but I have noticed that when turning sharply from start (e.g. exiting my drive) the wheels feel like that they are skidding on the tarmac, almost like being on a Icy/frosty road surface
Is this what you mean? Greg
Yes. Exactly this...
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Old Apr 18, 2016 | 03:16 PM
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Mine does exactly the same thing.

Attribute it to big tires combined with full lock or near full lock steering and the 4matic driving the front wheels.

I think its a peculiarity of the vehicle that we're going to have to get used to.

Common occurrence on Vettes, except much more noticeable. It feels as though the front wheels are actually skipping. Phenomenon caused by extraordinarily wide tires.

Last edited by larrypmyers; Apr 18, 2016 at 03:29 PM.
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Old Apr 18, 2016 | 03:18 PM
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Ok, then I have the same problem and thought it was due to the tyres being new.
I have had 4x4's before but never experienced this before
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Old Apr 18, 2016 | 06:22 PM
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I had same thing with my GL
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Old Jun 12, 2016 | 10:47 PM
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We have the same on our 20" Pirelli's.
Only noticeable on hard right turn around round about in slow. Ok on dry surface, really bad when road is wet.
Dropped into dealer, could not replicate on dry road, asked me to come back when wet.
On close inspection of tyres there is noticeable " feathering" to the front left tyre, looks like rubber is being pulled in a different direction compared to the other 3 tyres - on outside leading tread. My guess is front end align is out. Dealer no comment, other than tell me $240 for 4 wheel alignment.
Any ideas ?
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Old Jun 12, 2016 | 11:04 PM
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Photo of tyre crabbing, front left
Attached Thumbnails Wheels crabbing-image.jpeg  
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Old Jun 12, 2016 | 11:06 PM
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Photo of rear tyre, look fine. Same side
Attached Thumbnails Wheels crabbing-image.jpeg  
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Old Jun 13, 2016 | 06:25 AM
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I have the same issue. It is most noticeable when backing downhill at full steering lock, especially if the road is wet.

My previous vehicle a W164 ML 500 did the same thing to a much lesser extent.
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Old Jun 23, 2016 | 08:52 PM
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Just had front end alignment $250.
Tyres much better.
Looking at data, I'm not sure if they were checked pre delivery, given rears also out.
I'm not a mechanic so unsure if prior data was just out a little or a lot ?
Hope this hepls you with OEM Database figures.
Attached Thumbnails Wheels crabbing-image.jpeg  
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Old Feb 26, 2017 | 05:14 AM
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This has just been a released, not sure if it's genuine...https://www.mercedescrabbing.org/201...hd-difference/
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Old Feb 26, 2017 | 07:04 AM
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Sorry wrong thread, I can't find a delete option on the edit screen.

Last edited by RickZ; Feb 26, 2017 at 07:18 AM.
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Old Sep 12, 2017 | 04:57 PM
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thats sorta unacceptable. sorrry to hear this. Are only RHD models effected?
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Old Sep 13, 2017 | 06:28 PM
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Hey mate,

Yeah thats a "problem" for the australian delivered models.

After purchasing mine, MB Sydney advised me of the so called issue and signed a waiver to acknowledge it.

Shouldn't be a fault but yes I understand it gets annoying seeing as we spent over 100k AUD for ours.

Hope all goes well.
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Old Sep 14, 2017 | 08:25 AM
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Originally Posted by NARC 43
Hey mate,

Yeah thats a "problem" for the australian delivered models.

After purchasing mine, MB Sydney advised me of the so called issue and signed a waiver to acknowledge it.

Shouldn't be a fault but yes I understand it gets annoying seeing as we spent over 100k AUD for ours.

Hope all goes well.

Goodyear are expecting commercial delivery of the new tyres (20") I have had fitted around 24 Sept, They will them start moving them to retail outlets, based on demand.

Hope this helps.

Found this following article on UK MB site. See below......

http://www.glcforums.com/forum/322-g...g-lock-75.html

Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Melbourne View Post
Glc43 crabbing melboune my story... happy ending i hope. The blokes at MB Melbourne were onto my crabbing problem from day 2. Took delivery of my car in the rain on 28 June 2017. It was crabbing/ skipping at every turn. I was so dissapointed. The next day I complained and they order me new continental 21" XL fronts did a wheel alignment. They took about 6.5 weeks to arrive. So far so good, its been 1 day and im starting to get confidence back. I will update again next time it rains. Fingers crossed. Thank you to the guys on this forum, without you i wouldnt know what to complain about and how to explain my situation. Good luck.
Mercedes Melbourne also resolved the issue on our GLC43 with 255/40/21YXL Contiseal (star rated BMW OE) tyres which they replaced under warranty. I've had the new tyres not for around 3 months and 5000km. No aggressive wear, where the OE Conti's were worn to the bars at 10,000km. I've also not had an instance of any crabbing during that time and can happily zip around inner suburban roundabouts. Also, the car rides much smoother and compliant on bumps than before.

Some of my opinion and notes that I've made (GTIspeeder
Junior Member):

1. The issue was caused by the OE (orig. equip.) tyre tread flexing in an opposing direction to the track of the car with high steering camber on tight turns. This pulls the sidewalls sideways and the thumping is the tread slipping back under stress. In warmer weather, the crabbing is replaced by severe lateral stress, literally grinding the tread down instead of slipping. My opinion is that the OE Conti tyres were just poorly constructed and the 21" wheels amplified the issue.

2. Mercedes can't go public with the fix because the YXL tyres provided are BMW OE tyres (STAR rated) and they'll have to wait for a MO stamped tyre of the same construction to be produced. There's obviously some commercial OE supplier contract with Continental to resolve this issue.

3. Try fitting Michellin Pilots next time. In Australia they offer a 30 day money back guarantee, so if you have them fitted and the crabbing occurs, ask for your money back. Merc are sticking with Conti as my point above.

4. You can make a warranty claim at any dealership. If the muppets on the front desk in service tell you it's not an issue and a "characteristic of the car", ensure they escalate the issue to Mercedes HQ and get the ticket number as proof. If they're no help or refuse, go to another dealership.
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Old Sep 14, 2017 | 11:21 AM
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Has anybody on here with a GLC43 with 19 or 20 inch tyres had all weather tyres fitted to their cars, In the UK the dealers and MB customer services are saying they aren't available.
I have 19 inch tyres and am having all sorts of hassle with MB to get them changed, the only ones they are changing are for cars with 21 inch wheels and I believe it is only the front tyres that are being changed.

Any information would be appreciated.
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