quik55

Hey guys, I get vibrations at highway speeds 65-72 MPH. It wasn't SO terrible but I wanted it gone so I had my wheels "corrected" by alloy wheel repair. The wheels came back and the vibration was worse than ever. They said it was flat spots in the tires, so I got brand new ones...even worse! I have then had them road force balanced about 3-4 times since then and have not been able to rid the vibration. The car has cheap-o control arms relatively new, new ball joints a new drag link and brand new genuine benz dampener. Sometimes if I hop directly on the highway I will get flat spot type vibrations for a short while and then they will go away.

From anyone's experience... as I do get vibrations indicative of shot front shock upon heavy braking...could a bad shock be giving vibrations at a certain speed? Aside from just buying new front wheels which im hesitant to do as i just spent $600 to reman mine.

Could worn shock mounts or worn springs be causing this? any advice or tips?

thanks!

PJmak

Bad shocks can definitely cause vibration


If thats not your issue than its the cheap-o control arms

quik55

THANKS!!!!! PJmak, from my own investigation and having a feeling theyre bad and knowing what a bad one feels like under braking on a M3........hopefully that is it. Still cant get an answer from tire rack etc on which exact cheapo strut i need....but will eventually i suppose. just want this gosh darn thing to run right Cant do control arms until i figure out my suspension!!!! wouldnt make sense!

PJmak

I use pelicanparts for parts. You'll find shocks there

https://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog..._pg1.htm#item1

They are located in California I believe.

PJmak

I know rear end can cause vibration also. Rear subframe and differential bushings.

Are you sure its related to the front end of the car??

quik55

THANKS! I guess i can assume that

Shock Absorber - Bilstein B4 OE Replacement

Part #: 24-018579-M12

is definitely for the coupe and not the convertible! Will most likely go with that then.

Ive done just about every check i can do...it definitely has to be coming from the right front i would assume, no other vibrations with acceleration/coasting/neutral etc.

Its just going to be very depressing to do this and it doesnt correct anything. but if it does...then were mint!

j-mo

FYI - those Bilstein B4's listed on Pelican are for the rears. I have actually been looking for front B4's for a while and Bilstein stopped making them from what I have heard. The search continues...

Good luck

j-mo

Another thing. Most Bilstein B4 listings are for the CLK430. I found these fronts but I do not know if they will fit ok but simply are less stiff than the OEM Bilsteins or if they truly will not fit the car. You can see this one says the CLK430.

https://www.lmperformance.com/868410...430-front.html

quik55

lol yea, that would be perfect, as per pelican parts the B4's are only for the front and the only option is oem at $350 a piece with no hardware...

quik55

HEY GUYS! quick question.... Any opinion on whether or not this could be caused by air in my power steering system???? THANKS!

PJmak

?get bilstein sport shocks. It'll run you under $400 for all four

quik55

any opinion on the power steering system ?

do you have a link? cant seem to find bilstein sport shocks FRONT anywhere for the coupe

PJmak

Im not an expert but that wouldnt make any sence to me(the power steering)

Can someone confirm whether w202 c43 and w208 clk use same shocks? In that case just get c43 amg shocks. Might be easier to find.

PJmak

C43 amg page below has same rear shocks as the clk.

As far as I know the clk has the dual wishbone setup up front like a w202. The clk is basically based on a w202 chassis so I wouldnt be suprised if its the same shocks.

C43 page has front shocks for $90 a piece and it looks like they are lowering shocks also.

https://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog..._pg1.htm#item1

Find out if those fit and there you go.

PJmak

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...+absorber,7556

This page has front shocks for a w208 clk

quik55

First off guys thank you so much for your help. So honestly, PJmac the more I think about it the more I think you could be right about diff bushings causing an issue.
But at that point I would want to do a limited slip differential and never have to see one burn out mark ever again in my life (shocking and depressing) I assume quaife is the only option? Or would anyone know where to point me for that.

Other than that could it be steering column related? There's a little bit of play any components known to cause issues up front?

I believe it's speed sensitive steering, but it seems to get looser as I accelerate I suppose that could be worn springs.

Other than that when going very slow primarily in stop and go traffic when applying the brakes about 35% 5mph and slower I get a nice little knock from driver side wheel/hbu/control arm area, can be felt in the floor board sort of where I would think the control arm rear bushing would be.

Thanks guys, other than that I think F this with just doing front shocks and want to go just full new suspension, does anyone sell kits? Are euro springs still a thing? Kw's are just too much $$$$ and I don't think I really need them.

Thanks guys

PapaChop83

Control arm kit for $250

quik55

Hey guys, I guess that's my best bet, just swap those out. Any suggestion on compressing front springs? Anyway to get one of those cool compressors that slip in with a plate that are like $200? I have some of the cheapo $50 ones do those work? Luckily I have the genuine drag link and power flex bushings. Shoutout to the guy who posted the needed replacement hardware!!

Other than that theres a brand new genuine dampener on there and ball joints have like 8k on them.
Anything else I should take care of down there? I think I'm going to leave the suspension alone and just knock that out.

Otherwise...to rule out wheels completely... does anyone know if the Audi wheels on my 19 S4 will fit my Mercedes?? I guess I would have to put all 4 on to even try...am I right?