tmasood

On my 2010 Gl450 /w 47k miles, I am noticing excessive tire or wheel bearing noise. Doesn't go away with AC turned off so its not a compressor noise as suggested in other posts. The tires are < 10K miles old and don't have any indication of unusual wearing.

Has anyone seen wheel bearing issues this early? What other things could be contributing to the noise? In the last 8 months that I have owned this SUV, it has been at the dealer for front suspension issues and they fixed several recalls.

The SUV is still under warranty and I also have extended warranty from Mercedes. I guess GL450's are very high maintenance SUVs

gldave

I've got the same car with similar mileage and the same issue. I was literally asking my tire guy about it yesterday. I might take it to the dealer this week. I'll post any findings here.

BlownV8

Your tires are cupping. The noise drives me crazy.

alx

this.

it is a 6000 pound truck that makes you feel you are driving a smaller vehicle so you drive it like one. the result is tires get mangled in a hurry.

mine lasts about 30k on a set, but the last 10k miles the noise is like a lifted f150 with mud tires going down the highway. the fact that the truck is otherwise very silent at speed does not help either

tmasood

I drive it very conservatively. There is enormous heft driving this SUV (almost as much or worse than suburbans I have rented) when turning/cornering this beast. Straight line is a beauty though and it soaks up the road like none other I have driven.

The noise started overnight after a 100 mile trip. I hope this is wheel bearings. Cupping should have been a gradual thing IMO but if true, in < 10k miles is a big concern? Never in my 20+ years of driving other autos I have replaced tires so soon because of weight of the auto. Also I just had the dealer align all wheels 5k miles ago.

tmasood

Dropped the SUV at Mercedes Dealer. Took the service advisor on a drive to make sure he heard that noise, and he did. Lets see what comes out.

a2j

Bad bearing, on wheel, driveshaft, etc, would make noise at any speed. It would just change its pitch.

tmasood

That was it. They are replacing a rear wheel bearing under warranty

sak335

For future reference, diagnosing a bad wheel bearing is pretty easy. The way I do it is to find an open stretch of road where I can get up to around 35 mph. Then you take long, gentle turns from side to side (I use all the road - both lanes, but obviously you have to ensure you don't have any traffic to contend with.) If the noise appears when turning left (i.e. weight of the car is on the right side), then you focus on the right side bearings. If the noise appears when turning right, you focus on the left side.

Once you identify the side, you figure out front/rear. If you can't tell by listening (it's tough sometimes), then you jack up the wheel and grab it at 3 and 9 o'clock and apply pressure from side to side. Repeat at 12 and 6. If you get any movement at all in BOTH PLANES, that is your bad bearing. You may very well get movement in one plane, but not another. That is usually bad bushings/tie rods/etc. Should be easy with wheels this large because you can apply more torque.

Glad you were able to find the problem.