Why is the steering wheel of Mercedes-Benz 221 heavy?
2 Answers
Reasons for the heavy steering wheel of Mercedes-Benz 221: Pseudo-fault: Check if the driving mode has been changed. Different driving modes have varying sensitivity requirements for the steering wheel, and some may make the driver feel it has become heavier. If the tire pressure is low, the contact area between the tire and the ground increases, leading to greater friction, which naturally makes the steering wheel feel heavier. Wear of the plane bearing: The plane bearing on the shock absorber, also known as the pressure bearing, serves as the movable connection between the shock absorber and the car body. If it wears out, it may cause the steering to become heavier, but its damage is usually accompanied by a clicking noise when turning the steering wheel.
When I drove the Mercedes-Benz 221, I also encountered an extremely heavy steering wheel, which was mostly caused by a power steering system malfunction. The Mercedes-Benz 221 uses Electric Power Steering (EPS). If the control module fails or the sensors malfunction, the power assistance weakens, making the steering wheel feel as heavy as pulling an iron block. The last time I experienced this, I initially thought it was due to low tire pressure, but after checking and finding the tire pressure normal, the steering remained heavy. Later, an inspection revealed that the EPS motor was overloaded, causing increased resistance. If not addressed promptly, not only does driving become strenuous, but the steering can also become unstable, making lane changes on highways extremely dangerous. I should mention that this issue is common in older S-Class models. It’s advisable to have technicians use a diagnostic tool to check the EPS control unit and data flow during regular maintenance. A simple replacement of a component costing a few hundred yuan can resolve the issue.
