Vibration Issues - Been a Problem for TOO LONG!
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From: Saint Augustine, FL
1999 CLK320 (sold), 2007 C230 SS (gone), 2000 Grand Marquis, 2011 CR-Z, stay tuned...
Vibration Issues - Been a Problem for TOO LONG!
This is how it started: I went to get an alignment (first ever done on the car), and my indy shop in Gainesville said that something was bent on the front-right and that it wouldn't come into spec. I was just visiting Gainesville, and didn't want to leave it with them to fix while I went back to St. Augustine. I decided to take it to my dealership in Jacksonville. I told them what the other shop had said, and added that I have had vibration issues with the car for quite some time (most of the time I've had it). I don't know much about the suspension of cars, and didn't know if whatever had been read as bent could be causing vibration. The dealership told me that nothing was bent, and that everything came into spec fine, but that my front-right tire was not perfectly round. They offered to replace the tire, but I wanted to go back to the shop I got the tires at to talk to them. I took the car back to Discount tire in Gainesville who told me that the tire was, in fact round. They balanced everything, but I'm still having vibration. Now I really don't know what to think, and would like some input. Thanks alot!
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From: Saint Augustine, FL
1999 CLK320 (sold), 2007 C230 SS (gone), 2000 Grand Marquis, 2011 CR-Z, stay tuned...
I've been planning to. The thing is that I really trust the dealership. I guess I'll know soon. I'll see if I can do that tomorrow. Thanks.
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
So the Jacksonville dealership is the good one? Can you tell if it is coming from a particular wheel or just a vibration from the front of the car? Might the car have a bent rim? Lots of things can cause this - I trust you've checked tire pressure and made sure the fronts are wearing evenly?
A scan of the alignment sheet would be helpful. They should've given you this.
A scan of the alignment sheet would be helpful. They should've given you this.
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From: Toronto, NYC
2002 Mercedes Benz C230 Coupe
I have the same problem on my coupe. Ive tried different sets of tires, different styles of balancing, just cant seem to make that faint vibration around 110KPH go away!
So tired of trying to fix it.
So tired of trying to fix it.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Saint Augustine, FL
1999 CLK320 (sold), 2007 C230 SS (gone), 2000 Grand Marquis, 2011 CR-Z, stay tuned...
The Jacksonville dealership IS the good one. It may be my imagination, but it seems to be coming from the front right, and it is around 55mph (also around 30 and 80). As for mileage, I'm just past 36,000 miles. No alignment sheet. Had tire pressure checked multiple times (I am planning to go up a bit, though), been balanced multiple times by three different shops, and everything is wearing fine. No bent rim. I will be putting my spare on sometime this weekend. Thanks for all of your input.
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
Always ask for a print-out of the alignment specs when you get one done. It'll give you the readings before and after the alignment and would be useful in a situation like this. 
Thread Starter
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From: Saint Augustine, FL
1999 CLK320 (sold), 2007 C230 SS (gone), 2000 Grand Marquis, 2011 CR-Z, stay tuned...
I might be able to get them, still. I'll have to see about that. I trust that the alignment was fine for them, though. When I got this last set of tires, three came from one place, and one of the fronts came from a shop that just happened to have one lying around. I'm thinking, if it is indeed flawed, that that would be why.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Indeed try your spare. It sounds as if you might have a mounting problem or run out on one tyre. Make your dealer or shop put the wheel on a balancer. Spin the wheel by hand & check carefully for both radial & horizontal run out. This will pick up if the tyre is out of round or has one thick sidewall or the rim is bent. If the tyre seems OK & the rim is not bent - either replace it - or make them break the bead, rotate the tyre through 90 degrees & reseat it & inflate, balance etc. All tyres have a mounting mark on them to align with the valve to improve balance. The original fitting center might have ignored this & the mark has probably now been erased by cleaning. Make sure all checks and balancing is done with the tyre inflated to the correct pressure. If you still have trouble make them balance the front wheels on the car with a finishing balancer.
Obviously make sure that all suspension components are tight/have no play & that the front wheel bearings are properly adjusted.
Due to your stated history I think you have one bad tyre. You will probably find that it was lying around because the shop had trouble balancing it new on another car.
Obviously make sure that all suspension components are tight/have no play & that the front wheel bearings are properly adjusted.
Due to your stated history I think you have one bad tyre. You will probably find that it was lying around because the shop had trouble balancing it new on another car.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Saint Augustine, FL
1999 CLK320 (sold), 2007 C230 SS (gone), 2000 Grand Marquis, 2011 CR-Z, stay tuned...
So, some update... I never was able to put the spare on because I had to go down south for spring break. On the way down, I was turning around at a Wendy's and hit a curb. It bit into the tire, but didn't do much to the wheel (just a small spot of curb rash). I've also decided to buy a set of 18' AMG wheels. They are currently chromed, but I'm having them powder-coated gunmetal. The good news (other than new wheels and the awesomeness) is that if I still have vibration issues, I'll have eliminated alot (which then would be bad news because everything left will be expensive). So we'll see.
