differential problem ?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 34
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1999 CLK320
differential problem ?
Done a brake change on my four wheels.
When done, I realized that my rear wheels won't rotate.
I suspected the rotor to touch the dust shield so i remove the set.
After checking, the rotor don't touch nothing so I put it back.
Drop one wheel on the ground, start engine in put on drive.
I was assuming the jacked wheel would rotate and the other not. It was the case for about 1/2 a turn. after that, the jacked wheel blocked and the power gone to the wheel on the ground. The car was near to fall from the stand. I suspected the bearing on my left wheel.
Just to convince me, I made the same experience with my right wheel and it has the same result.
Can it be a differential problem or my two rear bearing are dead ?
When done, I realized that my rear wheels won't rotate.
I suspected the rotor to touch the dust shield so i remove the set.
After checking, the rotor don't touch nothing so I put it back.
Drop one wheel on the ground, start engine in put on drive.
I was assuming the jacked wheel would rotate and the other not. It was the case for about 1/2 a turn. after that, the jacked wheel blocked and the power gone to the wheel on the ground. The car was near to fall from the stand. I suspected the bearing on my left wheel.
Just to convince me, I made the same experience with my right wheel and it has the same result.
Can it be a differential problem or my two rear bearing are dead ?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,064
Likes: 5
From: Northern Virginia / D.C.
01 LORINSER CLK 430 - 02 KLEEMANN CLK55 - 88 Euro / Jap AMG 560 SEC Widebody - 16 AMG GTS
It's normal for the diff on your car to behave that way with wheel(s) suspended.
As long as you used the same wheel bolts that were on the rear wheels before your work, nothing's wrong. If you want to satisfy yourself that everything's good, then put everything back together, put the car on the ground as normal, take away all jacks etc. have a buddy get in the car, start it and put it in neutral while it's running and then with your buddy still in the running car in neutral and the parking brake off then you (and probably need another person), just get behind the car and give it a good push forward. You'll see that it will roll freely (once you get its heaviness to move). Meaning that there's nothing obstructing the free turning of the wheels.
If you then proceed to put the car in drive or reverse, I bet everything will work as normal.
As long as you used the same wheel bolts that were on the rear wheels before your work, nothing's wrong. If you want to satisfy yourself that everything's good, then put everything back together, put the car on the ground as normal, take away all jacks etc. have a buddy get in the car, start it and put it in neutral while it's running and then with your buddy still in the running car in neutral and the parking brake off then you (and probably need another person), just get behind the car and give it a good push forward. You'll see that it will roll freely (once you get its heaviness to move). Meaning that there's nothing obstructing the free turning of the wheels.
If you then proceed to put the car in drive or reverse, I bet everything will work as normal.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,064
Likes: 5
From: Northern Virginia / D.C.
01 LORINSER CLK 430 - 02 KLEEMANN CLK55 - 88 Euro / Jap AMG 560 SEC Widebody - 16 AMG GTS
Yes, based on my experience when I've had the rear of my 2000 CLK430 up on jacks. I agree that it can seem confusing and worrying though - but it's all about the design of the differential.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 34
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1999 CLK320
to all the community,
When I installed the spacers on my rear wheels, a couple of month ago, I had too long bolts. I replaced them with shortest ones. Everything was fine until recently, when I changed my brakes.
There was a broken spring which was in contact with the rotor when I install it. That's what made the rotor to jam.
Thanks everyone for your help.
When I installed the spacers on my rear wheels, a couple of month ago, I had too long bolts. I replaced them with shortest ones. Everything was fine until recently, when I changed my brakes.
There was a broken spring which was in contact with the rotor when I install it. That's what made the rotor to jam.
Thanks everyone for your help.
