This car is relentless. I recently fixed a cold start up problem with my 98 GLE. Now, I have a driveability issue. Yesterday on the way to work, I noticed the car was very loose over bumps and in turns. As I approached 50-60 MPH, the car would tend to wonder off with every small bump or roadway imperfection. It was windy so I coughed it up to that.

But this morning, on the way home with no wind, the car was doing the same thing. The steering seems to be way over compensating and not responsive. I can't determine if it's a tie rod, strut, or suspension component. Engine and drive train are intact. It's just this sloppy, loose steering over every little bump in the road. Steering rack? At a stand still, steering feels fine when turning left to right or right to left. Just at MPH's over 45. Every bump seems very punishing on the car, almost abrasive as if the car has minimal articulation with its suspension. Would like some input into where to start troubleshooting before I put the car up on jacks.

 

check sway bar..all parts of it

 

Lower Control Arm bushings when they go can bring sloppiness as well. Like the gentleman above stated, Sway bar, bushings and end links that tie directly into the Lower Control Arms. Jack up either wheel and torque the top and bottom back and forth sideways and watch the LCA and if it slides back and forth, the bushings are trashed.

If one side gets knocked out of alignment bad, now you have two front wheels that want to go different ways.

I'm not sure how bad Tie Rods present, but the other guys can help with that!

This is a start of a bunch of things. It could be a little of each of several as well.

I hope this helps.

 

I had the same thing when my rear struts were blown. Id hit a hole and you could feel the backend want to like kick sideways. Felt like the axle was shifting from side to side and it would make the steering jerky because youd be trying to correct the jerk. I replaced all my struts and the problem is fixed now. How many miles are on your struts?

 

I was thinking end links possibly. This erratic behavior began all of a sudden. The car drove normal 2 days ago. I will take a look in the AM when the car is on jack stands.

 

About 40,000. I had purchased monroe sensitracs 2 years ago when I bought the car. All 40K are my miles. The rear end seems solid when I press down on each corner. If I can't make a diagnosis in the morning, I may take it to a repair shop. The cars is very unsafe at highway speeds.

 

If it turns out to be the sway bar end links, I just got two of these from Amazon the other day: http://www.amazon.com/Moog-K9824-Swa.../dp/B000C5A1JS

And since I'm tightening up the end links, the sway bar bushings are a good idea as well AND it put the order over $35 so it all shipped free: http://www.amazon.com/Energy-Suspens...art/B000CN7AHG

If this is the diagnosis, I hope this helps!

I'm waiting for Moog Lower Control Arm Assemblies and I'm doing it all in one shot!

Best of Luck!