Mookie1987

Hey I just replaced my spring control arm. I get in my car to test drive and after a few minutes the “ESP Visit Workshop”. I tried the cruise control and it still worked and the steering didn’t get heavy. I’m not getting an ABS or BAS just ESP only. I drove around a bit more and stop the car and then started it again and the warning is gone. I started driving again and it came back on. I noticed after replacing my spring control arms the steering wheel was off by a lot. Do you think if I get alignment the esp will stop coming on? I was thinking the bad alignment is interfering with the steering angle sensor. I’m scheduled for alignment tomorrow btw.

Fried Chicken

The alignment being out is causing the problem. Fix your alignment, the problem will go away.

Mookie1987

Thanks for the reassurance I’m about to get it done

Mookie1987

They said my car couldn’t be aligned at Firestone because of camber issues. My front can be calibrated because of the camber bolts but the rear cannot. What can cause this issue with the back? That is the same tire I get a loud thud from when I go in dips or over speed bumps too fast

tusabes

If you’re steering wheel was off by a lot, you did not reinstall the parts correctly, no alignment is going to fix that. The job needs to be taken apart and redone. Kmac sells rear adjustable, camber plates, but they are expensive.

Mookie1987

I haven’t touched the rear suspension yet. I can adjust the camber on the front. I got the adjustable bolts on all the control arms. I was just asking what suspension/control arms control the camber on the rear axle. Since it is fixed and non adjustable that means it has worned bushings that is not allowing it to hold its camber. I really don’t want to be throwing parts at it but I guess by the response. I might as well rebuild the whole rear like the front. My front is brand new. I’m going to take it to a real Mercedes mechanic for alignment it’s kinda obvious the people at Firestone are dumbasses.

Fried Chicken

Should have gone to a Mercedes mechanic from the beginning

Mookie1987

Yeah I should have. I’m going to have them check the rear out to find out what is wrong. I just hope it’s not the subframe. I really don’t know what the previous owner put it through and I don’t have an accident history.

K-Mac

Facts are since the 90’s because of ever increasing speed of new car assembly lines Front Camber & Caster, along with Rear Camber has been deleted.

The often quoted reassuring “Will carry out a Full Front & Rear ‘4’ Wheel Alignment” - is now only basic “TOE” - directional adjustment. New Car Industry’s Best Kept Secret !

Owners not being able to resolve costly, premature edge wear - Result of high cambered roads with excess passengers side wear. Altered height through load carrying or lowering. Or simply no longer having the capability of ongoing adjustment for curb knock damage.

Owners in frustration thinking must be the brand of tires or need to change to another dealer or alignment shop !

SEE SPOILER








AUDI to VOLVO - K-MAC Experience Of Resolving OEM Suspension Shortcomings Since 1964 !

Fried Chicken

In lieu of that, do a ride height calibration at the dealership.

Mookie1987

ok I’m going to do that but I’m going to do the whole rear suspension and replace my upper control arms on my front. The only thing I’m going to have trouble with is the the torque strut in the back. I heard you have to drop the subframe like 7 inches to get the bolt out 🤦🏽‍♂️

wallyp

You might try buying some metric threaded rod/all-thread and nuts to make dropping and pulling up the subframe easier and safer

Fried Chicken

No offense, but do you know what you're doing? The enthusiasm is good, but knowledge is better. What did the dealership that did the alignment say?

Mookie1987

no not really but I just been reading the w220 encyclopedia since it’s the only source i found the explain the rear suspension in detail. No one talks about the rear much on any forum. They said you must drop the subframe but who knows. When these parts come in I’m going to check it out. I built engines from a bare blocks. So I got the patience for this kind of project lol. I haven’t taken it to a dealership yet I feel I need to just replace everything since it’s 300000 miles now

Mookie1987

I found M12-1.5-250mm rods they should do a good job of holding the subframe.

Fried Chicken

You're going to need WIS

Mookie1987

Is this it?

Mookie1987

is it this one?

kraut56

FYI:
I think you are better off to buy/find the MB Star Service Model 215/220 DVD Part No, P-270-220/215-07
It has everything used in the SDS/Xentry, and much quicker to use.
I purchased it from the MB dealer around 2012, and got good support and updates from MB Germany for quite a few years when needed.
Still use it quite often when needing to find things.
BTW: Doesn't like Windows 10, so I run it on an old computer.

Mookie1987

I should be able to find it at the MB dealership? I’m going to call around and see. We got 3 here in Charlotte.

kraut56

Don't think so, but you can make them call or call/email them yourself in Germany.
They are pretty supportive for these old cars; MB dealerships are NOT.

Mookie1987

I will try I hope they have a heart to do it. They might try to convince me to get a newer model or let them do the service for an enormous few 😅

kraut56

Today the MB dealerships are not anymore owned by MB, but other organizations, i.e. they sell and service only under the MB Brand name.

Try contacting MB in Germany; they speak almost any language.

Mookie1987

That explains why our dealerships are so bad. Thank you for the info. I’m going to do that instead

kraut56

BTW:
I have been asked before for a copy of this DVD and always refused.
When I contacted MB Germany with questions or advice on the DVD, they always asked me for a copy of my DVD purchase which I had to provide.
But they are still good on these old cars (worldwide)