Veering to the left - remedy ?

[Styria]

I am looking for advice. Gleaming Beauty shows reasonably strong tendencies to veer to the left whilst on the move, but also even when stationary and turning the steering wheel to the right, there is a tendency for the wheel wanting to turn back to the left.

All this in spite of the fact that a wheel alignment was carried out after the installation of a rebuilt Steering Box. This was rebuilt by my usual steering specialist. I have of course previously referred to the difficulty in centralizing the steering in relation to the splined shaft for the steering box, the coupling and the shaft that runs to the interior. I do know that the installation of the box is not completely central, and even though I asked my wheel aligner to adjust the toe in and toe out, he merely repositioned the steering wheel itself. There is not a lot in it, but just off centre enough to slightly affect the indicator function, and I would also assume that there would be a difference in turning circle between left and right.

The question that I have, or the advice I am looking for is this: With the box being slightly off-centre, is this likely to cause the car to veer slightly to the left ? Regards Styria

 

[braminator123]

Strangely enough my car does a similiar thing.

After wheel alignments, steering box rebuild, changing the control arms etc, the problem is still evident.

Any suggestions?

 

[Styria]

Yes, where are all our wise men ? I do think that, in my case, the possible incorrect centering of the steering box may be instrumental in the car pulling to the left. One can even notice it when stationary, but about to move, and the steering automatically seems to start wanting to turn to the left. Do you experience something similar ? Regards Styria

Hi Braminator 123, did you have your steering box properly centred ? Did you refit the box yourself after having it resealed ?

 

[BenzBoy]

Mine doesn't!
Hmmmm.....
Regards,
Brian

 

[WGB]

As you can see by a previous posting I centralised my box with a bolt and then centralised the wheel to that setting and then had the wheel alignment done.

I am assuming that all your front suspension components have no accident damage and you have good bushes.

It would be better to get the alignment done with the centralising bolt in place as it sounds like you are trying to work against the natural hydraulic centreing of the steering box.

Bill

 

[braminator123]

My reputable Benz mechanic in the inner eastern suburbs of Melbourne tightened the components in the steerng box but doesn't seem to have made a difference.

I suspect given the age of these cars I'll need a complete front (and rear) suspension rebuild and maybe even a new steering box!

 

[Helmet]

Common for W116's to pull left. My remedy has always been the set the alignment with one degree more caster on the LH side

 

[kunbarrie]

in my working lifetime,cars,light commercials pulling left,always set driver front wheel to +1deg camber ,left front to odeg.

 

[Afro107]

As much as it may seem unlikely, swap two front wheels an see the effects. Swap rears too if first attempt does not yield success.
Older tyres may have difference in cross section shape affecting steering. I had that issue on my Commodore VE with 2yo Bridgestone's, both about 30% of tread left.

 

[carl888]

Styria, a bit late on this, perhaps you can post the alignment report, its just conjecture at this stage, I'll have a look at it (Since that's my background).

Sometimes if the box is not centered you can have the valves in the power steering slightly open one side causing an asymmetric load.

If it's something that has come on recently then it's probably not the above, rather, you've clobbered a kerb in a drunken stupor OR it's a tyre issue

Of course, the tyre issue may have come on because of the alignment.

Regards,

Carl.

 

[SEL_69L]

If there is only a SLIGHT tendency to pull to the left, it should be normal. It should be due to the crossfall in the road. And that should happen with a perfectly centred steering.

From my road design experience, the minimun crossfall for a concrete road is 1%, for a bituminouis concrete road it is 1.5%, for a prime, two coat and double seal road with a crushed aggregate surface it is 2%, and for a well made unsealed road it is 3%.

The crossfall is needed to allow the road surface to drain.

I know it is illegal, but if the steering is centred correctly, and you drive down the wrong side of the road, the car should respond to crossfall with a tendency to pull to the RIGHT, not the left.

Perhaps one of our American members can confirm this.

 

[carl888]

I think the problem is more than a slight pull, Styria mentioned that when stationary the wheel has a tendency to turn left. Sounds like a power steering issue?

 

[Styria]

Hi Carl888, I tend to think that your assessment is more than likely the most correct diagnosis.As you clearly observed from my post, the "pull" is evident even when stationary, or more obvious even when the car commences to move forward. Immediately the wheel has a tendency to veer to the left.

I haven't used Gleaming Beauty much because the 420 has been such an excellent stalwart. It is my intention to rebuild the front suspension completely in the not too distant future -time is somewhat of an issue, but all parts are ready and waiting. Not that Gleaming Beauty's front end is worn out - there is just a worn bush and both bottom ball joints have torn rubber boots. Obviously, even to replace those requires a certain amount of dismantling. Incidentally, nice to have you on board after some absence. Regards Styria