Rubbing noise from front left wheel
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 11
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2008 C230
Rubbing noise from front left wheel
There is rubbing noise coming from the front left wheel and I just can't figure out what it is. I can hear the noise with my window down driving at 40 km/h or so. The noise will drown out at higher speeds due to external noises (ie engine noise). The noise does not sound like metal grinding on metal...
I recently changed the front left wheel bearing. So i dont think it's that. I know the noise is coming the front left tires/rim because, when the front left wheel was swapped to the right side, the noise went to the right as well. When the wheel was swapped back to the left, so did the noise. I just dont know what within the tire or rim could cause this noise. Wheel has been balanced and tire pressure checked.
My mechanic suggested the steel belt in the tire might have shifted. But i am skeptical with that answer. Can anyone help?? Thanks in advance!
Stock car. 2008 c class (not 4matic)
Tires and rim - OEM
I recently changed the front left wheel bearing. So i dont think it's that. I know the noise is coming the front left tires/rim because, when the front left wheel was swapped to the right side, the noise went to the right as well. When the wheel was swapped back to the left, so did the noise. I just dont know what within the tire or rim could cause this noise. Wheel has been balanced and tire pressure checked.
My mechanic suggested the steel belt in the tire might have shifted. But i am skeptical with that answer. Can anyone help?? Thanks in advance!
Stock car. 2008 c class (not 4matic)
Tires and rim - OEM
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 455
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From: Lancaster, PA
2010 E350
You may have a broken belt in one of the tire or uneven wear causing cupping of the tire. Happened to me because of a slightly unbalanced wheel. Go get it rebalanced and see if that helps but also make sure the treads aren't worn unevenly
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Run your hand counter rotation over the tread. If you can feel feathering & cupping it is tyre noise. If they are Conti tyres it will sound like a bad bearing.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Sep 2012
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2008 C230
Glyn M Ruck and Cleanbenz
The tread and tire physically looks okay; no feathering or cupping, and the tread looks evenly worn out. However, prior to rebalancing my left wheel, the mechanic told me it was slightly off balance. After rebalancing, the noise went away, only to return the very next day. Now the noise comes and goes, it's not as consistent as before....
The tread and tire physically looks okay; no feathering or cupping, and the tread looks evenly worn out. However, prior to rebalancing my left wheel, the mechanic told me it was slightly off balance. After rebalancing, the noise went away, only to return the very next day. Now the noise comes and goes, it's not as consistent as before....
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Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Still run your hand over the tread ~ one can frquently feel feathering that is not obvious to the eye. It will react differently to different road surfaces.
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Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2012
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2008 C230
Here is a video with the noise....it sounds like a creaking/rubbing noise
http://youtu.be/mRn10Fc5qNU
ps. you can also hear my footsteps lol
http://youtu.be/mRn10Fc5qNU
ps. you can also hear my footsteps lol
Super Moderator
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
Likes: 192
From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Here is a video with the noise....it sounds like a creaking/rubbing noise
http://youtu.be/mRn10Fc5qNU
ps. you can also hear my footsteps lol
http://youtu.be/mRn10Fc5qNU
ps. you can also hear my footsteps lol
I think it is a delaminated tyre or something inside the tyre like a piece of TPMS sensor etc.
The fact that the noise moved with wheel location removes possibility of suspension drop links & castor bushes or wheel bearing. I would have been suspicious that the new wheel bearing had been overtightened or damaged at fitting.
Take a very good look at the rim for peripheral cracks & around the lug bolts. Ensure lug bolts are tight.
I think we have a tyre delamination/separation here. Time for a new tyre. If you jack up the car & unload the wheel & then spin it does the noise disappear?
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Sep 12, 2012 at 08:09 AM.
Thread Starter
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2008 C230
Glyn M Ruck
When the car is on a jack and the wheel unloaded, the mechanic and I didn't notice any noise when spinning the brake disc....
You are probably right. It seems like another member in another benz forum experienced the same noise and it was fixed by replacing the tire.
When the car is on a jack and the wheel unloaded, the mechanic and I didn't notice any noise when spinning the brake disc....
You are probably right. It seems like another member in another benz forum experienced the same noise and it was fixed by replacing the tire.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
Likes: 192
From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Then it's almost certainly a tyre delamination. Happens more often than it should.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Sep 12, 2012 at 02:25 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
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From: 1 hours drive north of Sydney Australia
2007 W204 220CDI Classic Sedan
If you value your safety & your passengers + other road users then you should renew the tyre asap.
If the tread separates it can also cause damage to your wheel well
Delamination is the process where the tyre through various possible reasons separates into its component parts. Running for a considerable time in an underinflated or overloaded condition is the single largest cause of tyre delamination. The most common example is seen on the side of the motorways in the UK where you can see the tread sections of both truck and car tyres on the hard shoulder.
This is usually due the tyre suffering a slow deflation and the losing pressure until the volume of air inside the tyre is insufficient to carry the loads and stresses placed upon it. As the tyre pressure drops the build up of heat within the casing leads to delamination and the component parts separate.
Source :-http://www.etyres.co.uk/glossary-tyre-terms?term=delamination
If the tread separates it can also cause damage to your wheel well
Delamination is the process where the tyre through various possible reasons separates into its component parts. Running for a considerable time in an underinflated or overloaded condition is the single largest cause of tyre delamination. The most common example is seen on the side of the motorways in the UK where you can see the tread sections of both truck and car tyres on the hard shoulder.
This is usually due the tyre suffering a slow deflation and the losing pressure until the volume of air inside the tyre is insufficient to carry the loads and stresses placed upon it. As the tyre pressure drops the build up of heat within the casing leads to delamination and the component parts separate.
Source :-http://www.etyres.co.uk/glossary-tyre-terms?term=delamination
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
The consensus is that the tire is coming apart. Your next post
should report that the tire has been replaced.
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 16
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From: Brooklyn....Florida
'08 w204 4MATIC.....26K OTD*COMAND*iPod*Brabus Bullit{coming soon}
Same Noise
i have encountered the same noise and its a bit louder when am in a closed area and driving really slowly....when i read this thread i have been experiencing that left side Driver side{USA) tire was losing air from time to time. i thought it was the cold NYC weather or a nail, but it wasnt cause for now when i inflate the tire it has held its tire pressure. the Tire threads are about 55-60%. and i didnt ride with them deflated under 25PSI, as my TMPS goes off i will put air into them. i work at a Diesel Engine Shop so air is as my leisure.
Please can anyone confirm that i would need a new tire. I will take it off and do a wheel turn without rim/tire on tomorrow. And yes it does sound when i move even just a little bit. THank you all
Please can anyone confirm that i would need a new tire. I will take it off and do a wheel turn without rim/tire on tomorrow. And yes it does sound when i move even just a little bit. THank you all
Last edited by Benz45; Apr 19, 2013 at 02:06 PM.
Junior Member
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From: Brooklyn....Florida
'08 w204 4MATIC.....26K OTD*COMAND*iPod*Brabus Bullit{coming soon}
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2013
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2009 c300 4matic
i had the same issue-rubbing creaking noise from the front end of the car around the front tires.
got new front tires and the noise is gone.
thanks guys for all the help here.
now i have conti tires in the rear and the new bridgestones in the front.should i change the rear ones too or just leave them the way they are?
got new front tires and the noise is gone.
thanks guys for all the help here.
now i have conti tires in the rear and the new bridgestones in the front.should i change the rear ones too or just leave them the way they are?
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2012
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2010 c300
I have the same noise . Dealership told me upon inspection that 3 tires were bad and 2 left side rims were slightly bent . New rims and tire will be here next week. U guys are rignt though, does sound like a bearing problem at higher speeds .hope it goes away after the new rims
