Crosswind Stability

[hauser]

How does your Pagoda handle in a strong crosswind?  


I don't know if it's just the nature of the beast or perhaps my suspension is not correctly setup.  On a recent trip to the Amelia Island Event under gusty winds my car was not handling very well.  At times it was downright scary.

The following day on my way home no wind and the car drove beautifully.

Please share your thoughts and similar conditions.

BTW I don't remember this characteristic before last years tire change along with centering of the rear axle which was off by an inch or so to the right along with an alignment.

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

[Bob G ✝︎]

I found my self doing minor steering corrections on my way to a car show 50 miles away. At 80 MPH the car felt light i n the front and I would have to correct with wheel movement. I since then replaced  shock new bilsteins and front and rear rubber bushing. I am looking for a good alignment person who knows the suspension and can make sure it is properly aligned. I am running new Michelin 185 TR 14 rainforce, I do not think they could have contributed to the problem. also added and may sell John Olson progressive rate springs not very happy.
Bob Geco

[blue230sl]

quote:  may sell John Olson progressive rate springs not very happy.
Bob Geco

bob, i've been thinking about the Olson springs; what do you not like about them ?
john

john
64 230sl euro 4 spd
89 190e 2.6

[mdsalemi]

Hauser,

Always suspect the last thing you did.  Just a guess but in a cross wind the tires are staying planted on the pavement while the body of the car is moving; could this be the sidewall flexibility issue?  I would guess that really flexible sidewalls would cause this phenomenah.

How bad were the gusts?  15 knots?  25?  Higher?

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
President, International Stars Section
Mercedes-Benz Club of America

[hauser]

Mike, I don't recall how fast the wind was blowing but it was pretty strong.

Have you taken your Pagoda on the Mackinaw Bridge?  I understand that driving it can be quite an experience.  I watched a program about the Mackinaw and they have people that will drive the car for the too nervous to drive it themselves?

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

[mdsalemi]

quote:Originally posted by hauser

Mike, I don't recall how fast the wind was blowing but it was pretty strong.

Have you taken your Pagoda on the Mackinaw Bridge?  I understand that driving it can be quite an experience.  I watched a program about the Mackinaw and they have people that will drive the car for the too nervous to drive it themselves?

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

No Hauser I have not taken my car on the mighty Mac.  Yes you can have high winds there, in fact 19 years ago a woman in a Yugo was literally blown off the bridge.  Twenty-four year old Leslie Anne Plouhar died in 1989 when her 1987 Yugo plunged over the 36 inch high railing. A combination of high winds and excessive speed was blamed. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackinac_Bridge

Going on the Mac means heading north.  I'm already plenty north, and that's another 300+ miles north from here.  When I drive I'm usually headed to an event--Chicago, Cleveland, etc. or somewhere local.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
President, International Stars Section
Mercedes-Benz Club of America

[Paddy_Crow]

I've been over the Mackinaw Bridge many times, but never in my Pagoda. When I was 16, I rode a bicycle to the bridge and we crossed in the back of a pickup truck. I've been pretty lucky, never had to cross in foul weather.

I've also been across the Golden Gate on a motorcycle...

[Benz Dr.]

Some of this is just the way these cars drive and it gets worse at higher speeds but not all of it is just an old car.
The steering shock can cause quite a bit of this if it's worn as well as worn king pins, loose wheel bearings, worn idler arm bushing and tire rod/drag link issues. Mix a bit of sub frame mounts and worn steering box and who knows which is the culprit? In most cases it will be the most heavily worn part that affects side load on the car. You won't always feel this while cornering due to preload on all the affected parts but while driving straight ahead a side wind will really make the car move around. Some movement is normal but large movements aren't.
Front end alignment also affects this to some degree because on my 126 300SE I have this very problem. Nothing loose at all yet it wanders all over the road and is much worse in the wind. This type of car should be very stable in light winds which it isn't.
 You should try a 190SL in the wind if you like a challenge. Not a bad drive if everything is tight but a bit scarry when worn out!

Dan Caron's
 SL Barn
benzbarn@ebtech.net
 slbarn.mbz.org
  1 877 661 6061

[CarlG]

A little off subject, my brother had a volkswagen bus back in the 60's.  That was the scariest car I ever drove on a windy day, even a little breeze blew it all over.  And you had to hang on real tight if you were passed by a truck.  But back on subject I have driven the sl on windy days and it does get blown around a bit, but nothing major.

1967 230sl (stick)

[Shvegel]

Check your tire pressure and your front end alignment again. I suspect your front tires might be toed in and when the wind blows it loads one wheel or the other which would cause it to dart around.

[psmith]

I used to drive a bug and a camper and learned to put both hands at the 12:00 position when it was windy.  When the car was hit by a gust, your hands move in the opposite direction steering into the wind and correcting the swerve.  Nevertheless it was still pretty hairy going across the Golden Gate Bridge in the VW Camper [:0]

Pete S.

[hands_aus]

I recently was driving on a highway on a windy day. The car was all over the road. I started to think I needed a wheel alignment but when I checked the tyre pressures, the front left pressure and rear right pressures were low.
After adjusting the tyre pressures the car tracked beautifully but still was buffeted about.

Bob Smith (Brisbane,Australia)
RHD,1967 early 250 SL, auto