[230k00]

The first being fairly complicated. I do not know if it is one problem or several but I will try to explain as best as I can and any help I get would be greatly appreciated. I have no interest in playing the "lets change one part at a time until we find the problem" game with my mechanic. Here it goes...

There seems to be a stability issue (?) with my car (c230k, eibach pro kit, bilstein sport shocks, 17'' amg reps and mich tires). The problem is much more noticeable when going very slow or braking. The car seems to sometimes, not always, pull very hard to one side. Originally I thought it was the alignment or the tires, but I've noticed it doesn't pull to one side consistently. One time it will pull to the right, next time to the left. While braking, I sometimes have to hold the steering wheel very tightly because the car feels like it wants to do a 45 degree turn. Also, when I turn the steering wheel while going slow, once it turns past a certain point, it all of a sudden looses the tight feeling and it feels as if the wheels are not aligned with the steering wheel anymore. When going fast (ie highway driving) the steering feel seems fine, but it becomes as if the car needs alignment. Sorry for the essay guys but I wanted to make sure I get all the facts in there.

Second question... more of a request then a question, can anyone please take a pic of their trunk spring so I can see how it is attached. Mine popped off and id like to put it back on but can not figure how its mounted.

Thanks

 

[bmeister]

alignment or wear

Has the alignment and suspension parts been inspected lately?
Ball joints are a common wear problem as well as the lower control arms.
I am assuming the tire wear is even and all the same size.
The bushings for the bar upfront may be dried out. Have you tried jacking the car up and checking for wheel bearing slop? shaking wheel to check for play. 6-12.
The grabbing sounds like possibly air in brake lines, uneven pads, or a stuck or leaking caliper.
I would check your p/s fluid level as well.
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w202-c-class/1403338-c280-broken-trunk-release-need-help.html
Do a search for "trunk spring" there is a halfway decent pic for that.
Post back, interested in knowing the outcome.

 

[230k00]

wheel bearing

I always had a feeling it might be something to do with the wheel bearings. In the winter, when it gets really cold, the car makes an extremely loud high pitched whining sound until it warms up. I took it to my mech but by the time I got there the sound had stopped so he couldn't hear it. How do I check the bearings? By checking for play in the wheels?

 

[bmeister]

Sure sounds at least the bearings are one of the problems. Jack the front of the car up and try rocking the tire from vertical then horizontal, should be no clicking or slop.
I think you may have more than problem going on, It would be a good idea after you do the bearing test to pull the tire and inspect the caliper and pads. You'll also get a better look at the ball joint etc.
Here is more info that may pertain to your issue.
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w202-c-class/1415666-wheels-tires-installed-but-seems-unbalance.html
B

 

[00_230_K]

steering damper make sure u check that , i had a very similar wandering problem on uneven roads and thats what helped me, good luck

 

[230k00]

gonna check it out

Thanks for the input guys, if the weather is nice tomorrow im gonna check it out. I changed my steering damper must have been two years ago. Maybe it went out again, so many potholes where I live. Ill update once I do a thorough inspection.

 

[liquidusculade]

bmeister and 00_230_k beat me to everything. the only other thing i can think of that isnt mentioned is the tread on the tire. what are the tires exactly? sometimes the tread can cause a tire to pull in a certain direction. do some research on your tire tread, there is probably some place which discusses this, i read about it when i was searching for what tires to put on my car.

 

[230k00]

checked it out...

To answer liquidusculade's question first, its stupid but I have different tired on the front and back. Back are michelin mxm4's i think, front are bfg g-force sport. Couldnt afford to change the fronts at the same time. However I know its not the tires because I had my winters on till a couple weeks and it does the same thing. The summers just amplify the feeling.

Now, I just checked out the car, passenger side wheel, rotates freely for at least 30 seconds.Theres barely any play when i shake it on the verticle axis. Drivers side however, the wheel makes barley one turn when I spin it, and when I shook this one, there was a noticible play, and it clicks loudly. Guess I need new wheel bearing. Can I change just one or do I have to change both? Is it a safe/doable DIY?

 

[liquidusculade]

sounds like you found your problem im going to let someone else comment on the specifics of it though. ive never had to do it and dont know much about the wheel bearings.

 

[00_230_K]

wheel bearing, did someone call for me, lol , let me explain, yes u can do one ,go to the delaer or any bearing shop, get ur bearings and the seal, pop the rotor off, pull ur hub nut off u need a 5mm allan key i think, if u felt looseness the hub will slide off very easily, if not there is a tool u can rent to get it offf, anyways outer bearing will come off by itself sleeve wil stay in the hub, get like a flathead screwdriver with no handle and start beating the sleeves and bearings out, no need to explain u will see the hub and bearing and it will make sense how they come out , put new bearing in pack with grease, when tightening the hub, dont tighten just yet, throw rotor and wheel back on , now tighten the hub nut with a adjustable wrench or something very very gently, roll the wheel until u can only do about 4-5 turns with no play, make sure u check for play , tighten allan key bolt, pop cover on, drive around for a bit then pop cap off and spin tire and retighten if needed just a bit more, u don't need the wheel rolling way too freely, u need it just snug, good luck

 

[230k00]

Thanks for the info, I will order the bearings this week and hopefully ill get them before the weekend so i can install them. Just one more question: as i mentioned before, the other front wheel spins for a long time. Do you think I should tighten that one so that they are both the same?

 

[00_230_K]

just jack the other side up pop the cap off and check for a bit of play , if any or even none maybe tighten just a bit u don't need em spinning way too freely , just spining 3-5 turns but make sure not to overtighten , good luck