Mid-Speed Wheel Vibration
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore, Maryland
1998 C43
Mid-Speed Wheel Vibration
When I drive between 55 and 70, there is a vibration in my right front wheel. This does not happen below 55 or over 70.
I had the wheel balanced. Twice.
Any suggestions?
I had the wheel balanced. Twice.
Any suggestions?
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,101
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From: Bay Area, CA
98 C43, 15 Alfa 4C LE, 18 Tesla Model 3 DM Perf, 08 Duc S1000, 02 Duc 998, 98 Duc 748, 01 Miata
I'd try rotating the problem wheel to the back on the opposite side. If the vibration follows the wheel, you may want to have it road force balanced. If that won't fix it, the tire may need to be replaced. We had a shipment of Michelins one time where most of the brand new tires could not be balanced, so it happens some times. If the vibration remains at the front, then you have suspension/steering issues. You can check the ball joints and tie rods ends while you are in there. One other easy way to check is to pick that one wheel up and check for tie rod ends by trying to shake the wheel with one hand on each side of the tire, as in at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock. If there is a lot of free play, tie rods. Also, check the wheel bearings by putting one hand on the top and one on the bottom and shaking that way. That would be 12 and 6 o'clock. There should be no movement with the wheels bearings and almost no movement with the tie rod ends.
Disclaimer: I'm still two or three weeks away from owning a C43, so if any of these generally universal tricks don't work for some reason, my apologies.
PSS: I guess the wheel rotating won't work with a staggered set up. Sorry.
Disclaimer: I'm still two or three weeks away from owning a C43, so if any of these generally universal tricks don't work for some reason, my apologies.
PSS: I guess the wheel rotating won't work with a staggered set up. Sorry.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore, Maryland
1998 C43
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 29
From: Sydney, Australia
190D 2.5 (x2), 190E 2.6, W202 C240,W202 C43 (C55), W210 E55, W212 E250CDI
Does the vibration occur when first driving then go away after 20-30mins or is it always there? If it goes away then it's more likely a tire fault (flat spot in sidewall or tire belt issue).
Otherwise fit your spare wheel or rotate left/right to see if the fault moves with it. If it doesn't then its most likely a suspension fault.
Otherwise fit your spare wheel or rotate left/right to see if the fault moves with it. If it doesn't then its most likely a suspension fault.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,152
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From: Sydney, Australia
190D 2.5 (x2), 190E 2.6, W202 C240,W202 C43 (C55), W210 E55, W212 E250CDI
Quick thing to check that I forgot before.........have you checked your steering damper?
It looks like a shock absorber in the steering drag link. Unbolt one end and make sure there is no freeplay at all. If there is any freeplay then replace it first.
It looks like a shock absorber in the steering drag link. Unbolt one end and make sure there is no freeplay at all. If there is any freeplay then replace it first.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Westmont, IL
2014 C63 Sedan
I put TSW wheels on my C43 and it does the vibration when u hit 55 up to 70 and than it goes away......i had my wheels balanced twice and it still does it so i think its just the wheels that cause the vibration
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Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 386
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From: NorCal
'99 C43, '12 C63, '13 E350, '14 Sprinter
It's easy enough to check the suspension components - many suggestions have been posted in these forums. I'd be willing to bet that people with the vibration issues suffer from one or more of the problems that have been mentioned that aren't the wheel/tire balance.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,208
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From: Westmont, IL
2014 C63 Sedan
Terrible assumption. No good wheel will cause a vibration. Maybe a bent or out of balance wheel/tire, but not a good one that is truly in balance.
It's easy enough to check the suspension components - many suggestions have been posted in these forums. I'd be willing to bet that people with the vibration issues suffer from one or more of the problems that have been mentioned that aren't the wheel/tire balance.
It's easy enough to check the suspension components - many suggestions have been posted in these forums. I'd be willing to bet that people with the vibration issues suffer from one or more of the problems that have been mentioned that aren't the wheel/tire balance.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 386
Likes: 28
From: NorCal
'99 C43, '12 C63, '13 E350, '14 Sprinter
It's possibly a bent wheel then. I've bent the TSW's on the 190 three times already. Easy enough to test - just swap the wheels one at a time with the spare to isolate the problem.
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