Hello, everyone! How many have experienced the dreaded "Steering Wheel Drift"? Is this normal in most XF's? My 'free play' is about an inch whenever I drive. I never have a good sense of what the wheels are doing. Has anyone replaced the stabilizer with positive results?....LOVE the car, but this continued 'non-tight' steering appears to be my only reservation.

Monty

 

Search stabilizer, steering dampener etc. and you'll find answers, lots of answers.

 

"Has anyone replaced the stabilizer with positive results?"
answer= yep.

 

yes, but ready for the 3rd one or do something else because I have a loose condition again...

 

heres the fix

Steering Dampner Mercedes Benz SLK Chrysler Crossfire - JoeTLC

 

Just put the new steering damper on, and the car drives like brand new. No wander, no sudden twitches to either side, man I'm glad I put this on. same tires, same everything so I know what the result was from. My old one wasn't leaking or anything that I could tell, so I really don't understand why it would have been so sloppy. But the new one made it right. I'm happy.

 

Kinda off topic but you think the dampener would have anything to do with a metal to metal knock when i turn my wheel for the first time after start up? It happens every time. I took it to the dealership and they said everything was tight and ok, blamed it on my Eibach Pro kit.

 

wait Andrew had the same knock? My dealership told me if was because i didnt put these little flat washer things under the front springs. But i looked at them and see no way how they could help at all.

 

I doubt the stabilaizer has anything to do with your knock. Someone who is familiar with lowering their car may be able to help you here. One of the reasons I am hesitant to lower mine. I know Andrew had Eibachs on his when he had it, you might want to PM him and see if he can enlighten you.
The steering damper is very easy to replace. With the money I save on oil changes I'll probably do mine every spring when I'm under the car doing the oil change, its very easy and it does make a difference.
Pat

 

I wouldn't go crazy replacing the damper for no reason. Mine is oem at 34k miles (roadster) and is still tight. Any steering wheel movement translates immediately into change of direction. Replace IF NEEDED, I say.

 

I replaced my stabalizer becuase my stock one would move about a inch each way with out and resistance. But it looks like a regular shock. So couldn't you replace it with a better brand like blisten or something or even a load adjusting one.

 

That's a very good question. I wunder if the attachments are the same as a regular shock absorber? I wunder if a regular shock may be too stiff?
Stan

 

Gee I have 16000 miles and autocross lots and my front end is tight. I have a spare damper but dont want to tighten up the resistance of the steering during racing.

THere is no play in mine and I really have to ask how a damper could reduce backlash??????? I mean the damper would reduce chatter or flutter in the wheel, I do not see how it is possible for it to effect the lost motion or backlash??

Could there be loosness in the linkage itself??

Woody

 

Waldig I don't think there is backlash in the steering. I think that the damper has a weak spot in it. Mine did the first time and you would turn the steering wheel a little and it feel like there is nothing happing. My car did this so I replaced the damper and it fixed it now the steering feels better. The flutter was also fixed. But now again the flutter in my steering has come back.

 

Thanks for this lead. JoeTLC = $20, while a Chrysler US dealer just quoted me $650..... ( $876 at a dealer in Canada, although the C $ is at par!)

I'll buy a pair from Joe as he quotes " meets or exceed OE" so it is worth a try.
Also, a local shop had said that the Xfire damper differs frmo the SLK 320 which does not seem to be the case as the compatibility list of Joe is 2 pages long for most if not all M-B. I cannot think they would have devised a specific one for the Xfire while all M-B use same. Locally, I can get an SLK replacmeent for $60. I'll try it now and cmopare when I get the ones from Joe and will report...at least on how they compare, by looking at both.

Le Chat

I'll see which fits and report

 

Le Chat, dont worry about it... I installed the JoeTLC damper a couple of years ago and it is exactly the same as the one I took out...


edit: okay, to be technically correct, it looks, fits and functions the same as the factory one..

 

Thanks Mike for the positive support.

As I am currently in Canada and drive out Saturday to Florida with my car, I'll get a jobber one installed locally from my service garage-needless to say not Chrysler.

He says he gets them from a local jobber and that it is the very same as the one in the box of M-B. With my Forum reference, he now said he'd sell it to me for C $50...so he may well be in the same supply thread as Joe TLC.

At $19,95, when I arrive in Fl, I'll order another one from Joe TLC and compare to what was installed in Canada before leaving. Even if I never use theone from Joe, I'll still be "in the money" vs $650.

Thanks, very happy indeeed

Le Chat.