Bent Tie rod???? Please help
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 32
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From: Rockville MD
2006 CLS 500
Bent Tie rod???? Please help
Dear All:
I took my car into NTB near my workplace for an alignment and to get my wheels balanced. When I went into pick it up, the manager told me that they were concerned about my front passenger wheel. It is off center in the wheel well. It sits back closer to the back of the wheel well, so there is more space in the front than back. I will upload pictures tomorrow. I assume I did damage in a recent snow 'storm' where I couldnt stop and rolled into the curb.
He said that the tie rod is slightly bent, which is causing the wheel to sit back. The drivers side front wheel is fine. This issue is causing my car to pull right, hard. Thats why I brought it into them in the first place. I hate, totally hate HBL Mercedes, and I can take it to EuroMotors in Germantown.
Should I take it to a collision place or should I let NTB repair the bent tie rod?
I apologize for not uploading pictures now, I will later tomorrow so everyone can have a better look.
I took my car into NTB near my workplace for an alignment and to get my wheels balanced. When I went into pick it up, the manager told me that they were concerned about my front passenger wheel. It is off center in the wheel well. It sits back closer to the back of the wheel well, so there is more space in the front than back. I will upload pictures tomorrow. I assume I did damage in a recent snow 'storm' where I couldnt stop and rolled into the curb.
He said that the tie rod is slightly bent, which is causing the wheel to sit back. The drivers side front wheel is fine. This issue is causing my car to pull right, hard. Thats why I brought it into them in the first place. I hate, totally hate HBL Mercedes, and I can take it to EuroMotors in Germantown.
Should I take it to a collision place or should I let NTB repair the bent tie rod?
I apologize for not uploading pictures now, I will later tomorrow so everyone can have a better look.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,189
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From: Albuquerque
'10 CL550, '12 GL550
You should take it to a dealer.
You have now learned lesson #1 about wheel alignment--you don't need it unless you've been in an accident and independent alignment shops don't have parts for or much experience working on Mercedes.
Alignment shops are a ripoff.
There is no "repair" of a bent tie rod--it must be replaced.
You have now learned lesson #1 about wheel alignment--you don't need it unless you've been in an accident and independent alignment shops don't have parts for or much experience working on Mercedes.
Alignment shops are a ripoff.
There is no "repair" of a bent tie rod--it must be replaced.
Last edited by lkchris; Jan 9, 2008 at 01:00 PM.
TR Moderator & Tire God
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,545
Likes: 5
From: SouthBend, IN USA
depends on the weather
a bent tie rod will not alter the position of the wheel in the wheel well opening .... all it could alter would be the angle at which the wheel is turned compared to the other wheel.
most likely whay you have is either a bent control arm or a thrust arm issues
most likely whay you have is either a bent control arm or a thrust arm issues
Last edited by Luke@tirerack; Jan 21, 2008 at 10:24 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: San Jose area
'19 E63S sedan
Saying that a bent tierod is the cause of a mispositioned wheel is so fundamentally "unclear on the concept" that I would not let these guys do any more work on your car. A bent tierod can cause tire scuffing because alignment will be off during turns (assuming toe is dialed in straight ahead), but that's relatively subtle compared with the damage you're describing. As Luke has said, your problem is elsewhere. You need someone competent to diagnose and repair your chassis. I'd recommend the dealer.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,433
Likes: 5
From: SFV CA
2008 Black Out C350 Saks Edition / 87 VW GTI
Saying that a bent tierod is the cause of a mispositioned wheel is so fundamentally "unclear on the concept" that I would not let these guys do any more work on your car. A bent tierod can cause tire scuffing because alignment will be off during turns (assuming toe is dialed in straight ahead), but that's relatively subtle compared with the damage you're describing. As Luke has said, your problem is elsewhere. You need someone competent to diagnose and repair your chassis. I'd recommend the dealer.
