C220 front suspension...
Discussion
My 2015 C220 W205 Estate developed a squeak at low speed whilst manoeuvring around at slow speeds.
When checked by the local Dealership, I was told that a steering link had failed and needed replacing.
Car went in last Friday, 22/9/17.
Job was started but was told, late in the day, that a further part was required......I was to stay in the loan car over last week-end.
All week, I have been getting the same story that although the car has been re-assembled, they cannot get the geometry right and do not want to release the car to me as this will cause excessive tyre wear...
I don't want the car back if it is not set up correctly but I am baffled by the time it is taking for this job to be completed. I have looked on line at the nature of the front suspension and cannot see why the replacement of a standard part, on a standard car, should be so difficult.
The lady who is 'front of house' in the service department simply describes the problem as being like trying to get a square pin into a round hole! Not convincing!
It is a full main dealer but I am now becoming worried......I haven't had a chance to actually get back to the dealership to see if my car is still in one piece but am beginning to wonder if there is some other reason for the delay.
Is the front suspension that complicated?
Is re-tracking/geometry setting that difficult?
Welcome any comments or thoughts.....
When checked by the local Dealership, I was told that a steering link had failed and needed replacing.
Car went in last Friday, 22/9/17.
Job was started but was told, late in the day, that a further part was required......I was to stay in the loan car over last week-end.
All week, I have been getting the same story that although the car has been re-assembled, they cannot get the geometry right and do not want to release the car to me as this will cause excessive tyre wear...
I don't want the car back if it is not set up correctly but I am baffled by the time it is taking for this job to be completed. I have looked on line at the nature of the front suspension and cannot see why the replacement of a standard part, on a standard car, should be so difficult.
The lady who is 'front of house' in the service department simply describes the problem as being like trying to get a square pin into a round hole! Not convincing!
It is a full main dealer but I am now becoming worried......I haven't had a chance to actually get back to the dealership to see if my car is still in one piece but am beginning to wonder if there is some other reason for the delay.
Is the front suspension that complicated?
Is re-tracking/geometry setting that difficult?
Welcome any comments or thoughts.....
Basic alignment should take hour or so tops on a 4 wheel alignment at a dealer. That would be just adjusting tracking (toe).
If camber/castor needs to be adjusted, this can take maybe an additional 2-3 hours depending on the adjustment. (most mercs use bolts with groves cut in them that move 10* either positive or negative degrees, depending on which way round you put them in.
I would hazard a guess that if it's taking this long, something is up. Alignment machine is broken, can't get parts, somebody messed it up, it's not what they said originally or something else is wrong which means the alignment is not 'aligning into spec'.
If camber/castor needs to be adjusted, this can take maybe an additional 2-3 hours depending on the adjustment. (most mercs use bolts with groves cut in them that move 10* either positive or negative degrees, depending on which way round you put them in.
I would hazard a guess that if it's taking this long, something is up. Alignment machine is broken, can't get parts, somebody messed it up, it's not what they said originally or something else is wrong which means the alignment is not 'aligning into spec'.
I have now been to see the service department.
To cure the original squeak it was necessary to replace a ball joint but these do not now come separately but ready filled to the suspension arm. So far so good.
The dealer needs to replace the inner metalastic bush at the inner end of the arm. This about the size of a small tin of beans.
Normally the centre core of the bush is fixed in the centre but if it is necessary to adjust the geometry, Mercedes also supply a bush with the central core off centre and adjustable.
The dealer is struggling to get this optional bush into the arm. He has been through 4 so far and the seem to be the wrong size. When he presses them into the arm the outer casing of the bush is cracking.
He has tried a variety of bushes, presses and tools, all to no avail.
It is now with the technical department........
Not sure how long my car will remain off the road!
At least they have provided a loan car so can't really complain.
To cure the original squeak it was necessary to replace a ball joint but these do not now come separately but ready filled to the suspension arm. So far so good.
The dealer needs to replace the inner metalastic bush at the inner end of the arm. This about the size of a small tin of beans.
Normally the centre core of the bush is fixed in the centre but if it is necessary to adjust the geometry, Mercedes also supply a bush with the central core off centre and adjustable.
The dealer is struggling to get this optional bush into the arm. He has been through 4 so far and the seem to be the wrong size. When he presses them into the arm the outer casing of the bush is cracking.
He has tried a variety of bushes, presses and tools, all to no avail.
It is now with the technical department........
Not sure how long my car will remain off the road!
At least they have provided a loan car so can't really complain.
Gassing Station | Mercedes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff