todd5854

W208 2001 CLK55, just picked it up a few days ago. GREAT car except at around 50-70 it shakes INTERMITTENTLY. I'll be cruising at let's say a constant speed of 60, and with no change, it'll start shaking for a few minutes, then stop. It gets progressively worse, then stops. The entire car shakes, and so does the steering wheel.

The car needs front tires, and I read somewhere you must re-torque the steering box every so often. Anything else I should be looking at? 70,000 miles.


Thanks.

MarcusF

Congrats on the purchase.

It could be a number of things. Unbalanced wheel(s), a worn steering damper, worn tie rods, or a bad ball joint are all possibilities. I don't think the steering gear bolts will cause the car to shake between 50 and 70 MPH. Although they should be re-torqued every 4 years or 50,000 miles. Remove the wheel, torque the bolts, put the wheel back on and you're done. It takes about 15 minutes.

cindyclk

I would predict that the tires are worn and out of balance....very common... shaking at a particular speed and then smooths out at a higher one.

City Rat

X2 the above advice mine cruises effortlessly at 80-90 mph, not only no shaking, you barely hear the engine. I'm sire if I did the cat deletes etc you would hear it's current quiet authority. Absolutely not normal to feel this car shaking.

cindyclk

Re: my comment above is my thoughts on shaking cause....I agree that there should be no shake at any speed!

Chappy

Also, check the lower control arm bushings. Mine were shot after just a few years.

GatorMB

I just put new skins on and found some action on the RF while he was balancing, A light dimple in one of the rims at the bead,

Had notable shake and sawing at the wheel to keep it in line until new tires cleaned it up. I will have the bent wheel repaired at turbax to make it true again,

for now it is like new and tough again.

Have not had the whoes the others are mentioning but it is well worth investigating, there is a lot of good experience in their post.

Gator

todd5854

Replaced two front tires, put on Cooper 225/45/R17. They were $150 a piece, and they have the high-speed rating. I paid for the balancing of all 4 tires, and the vibration is all gone.


I crawled under the car, and my steering damper shows some signs of wear, just looks old. No fluid leaking though. Should I replace it anyway? I was also told the car needs an alignment.

GatorMB

It is your judgement to replace the damper. If it is binding or causing noise then replace it.

The damper is a safety feature and is used to reduce wheel shimmy in the event of a flat or encountering a large rock or hole in the road. It will help when parking to reduce steering counter force from mass camber angle change. under normal driving conditions it is not required at all.

Be weary of having your Benz aligned at a tire store, get it done if the steering spoke is off center or it pulls. Take it to a Euro Indy that has the rack or the dealer.

Cheers, Gator