Rear end vibration like clockwork
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Joined: Feb 2016
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From: Spartanburg, SC
2014 ML63 AMG, 2012 McLaren MP4-12C, 1999 GMC Sierra, 1994 Chevy Astro, 1990 Honda CRX
Rear end vibration like clockwork
I'm 33 days into owning my E55 and in the last week I've noticed something odd that has gradually been getting worse.
Every time without fail, I have a vibration in the rear end for the first few thousand feet of driving. It does it forward or reverse, and it only does it when I start driving. If I stop at a traffic light or stop sign the issue does not continue. It will only replicate itself when I shut the car off, come back, and start driving again. The car can sit for 3 minutes or overnight, it always does it. The vibration doesn't gradually go away, it's like a switch, vibration or no vibration.
I've seen in several threads having some vibration from the brakes but I question it being the same or not based on I can replicate it and it's not happening past the first few thousand feet of driving.
Every time without fail, I have a vibration in the rear end for the first few thousand feet of driving. It does it forward or reverse, and it only does it when I start driving. If I stop at a traffic light or stop sign the issue does not continue. It will only replicate itself when I shut the car off, come back, and start driving again. The car can sit for 3 minutes or overnight, it always does it. The vibration doesn't gradually go away, it's like a switch, vibration or no vibration.
I've seen in several threads having some vibration from the brakes but I question it being the same or not based on I can replicate it and it's not happening past the first few thousand feet of driving.
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From: In the Shadow of the Tetons
2013 ML350 Bluetec
How do your CV axles feel when you move 'em with your hand? (Jack up the car, put it on jackstands, and go get dirty)
Last edited by rapidoxidation; Mar 14, 2016 at 10:05 AM.
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From: Spartanburg, SC
2014 ML63 AMG, 2012 McLaren MP4-12C, 1999 GMC Sierra, 1994 Chevy Astro, 1990 Honda CRX
My free time between now and 10 days is pretty much nonexistent so I'm gathering a list of things to check when I can get under it and see. What are you suggesting I should be looking for with the CV axles? Wobbling? Play in any direction? I forgot to mention it happens regardless of what speed I'm going.
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From: In the Shadow of the Tetons
2013 ML350 Bluetec
Look for torn boots (grease is gone and the CV joint is not far behind), play that allows runout in the shaft, anything that doesn't look right. Some motion along the axis of the shaft is fine, but if it wobbles away from the shaft centerline that's not fine.
Might also check the differential fluid, both for level and for sparkly bits. If there's a bearing that drains after a few minutes of no rotation (no circulating fluid) that would be bad.
Have you posted the question in the W211 AMG forum on this site?
Might also check the differential fluid, both for level and for sparkly bits. If there's a bearing that drains after a few minutes of no rotation (no circulating fluid) that would be bad.
Have you posted the question in the W211 AMG forum on this site?
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From: Spartanburg, SC
2014 ML63 AMG, 2012 McLaren MP4-12C, 1999 GMC Sierra, 1994 Chevy Astro, 1990 Honda CRX
Look for torn boots (grease is gone and the CV joint is not far behind), play that allows runout in the shaft, anything that doesn't look right. Some motion along the axis of the shaft is fine, but if it wobbles away from the shaft centerline that's not fine.
Might also check the differential fluid, both for level and for sparkly bits. If there's a bearing that drains after a few minutes of no rotation (no circulating fluid) that would be bad.
Have you posted the question in the W211 AMG forum on this site?
Might also check the differential fluid, both for level and for sparkly bits. If there's a bearing that drains after a few minutes of no rotation (no circulating fluid) that would be bad.
Have you posted the question in the W211 AMG forum on this site?
I haven't posted it on the AMG forum, I kind of assumed it was a general W211 thing and not really a specific AMG thing. Though, I don't know exactly where the regular E class starts and the AMG starts with the whole car beyond the engine and transmission and cosmetics.
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From: Spartanburg, SC
2014 ML63 AMG, 2012 McLaren MP4-12C, 1999 GMC Sierra, 1994 Chevy Astro, 1990 Honda CRX
I don't feel it in the pedal, it clearly feels like the rear of the car, and maybe I'm mistaken but it kind of feels like maybe only the drivers side. I don't wanna commit to that, but definitely rear.
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Thread Starter
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From: Spartanburg, SC
2014 ML63 AMG, 2012 McLaren MP4-12C, 1999 GMC Sierra, 1994 Chevy Astro, 1990 Honda CRX
Maybe I'm mistaken but it seems like since it got cold again, it's not as apparent. I think I'm still going to get an alignment anyway just because of a small shake at 80 MPH and see if that clears it up and take it from there. I still haven't had time to get under it yet, got back from FL today and everything hit the fan.
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From: Spartanburg, SC
2014 ML63 AMG, 2012 McLaren MP4-12C, 1999 GMC Sierra, 1994 Chevy Astro, 1990 Honda CRX
So, interesting find today. I went to lunch and didn't seem to notice the vibration, however, when I came to a stop in the parking lot when returning, I DID notice a vibration and sound from what appeared to be the driver rear. Is it possible all of this is caused by a brake pad or caliper issue?
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From: dmv
2009 E550 2000 Honda civic mash n' go
Possibly. What are the condition of your tires? Are they chopping when you turn? What speed are you moving at when you notice this? What suspension setting are you in when it occurs? Maybe an alignment may be a good option at this point. Just to rule out anything being bent or faulty.... Just my two cents.
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From: Athens, GA USA
2011 E63, 2011 Hyundai Genesis 4.6 v8, 2013 GMC Denali XL, 1965 Ford Mustang, 2005 Merc. E500
In my E500 it was the center carrier bearing and mount on the drive shaft. I put new bearing in and mount and while the shaft was out. I also put new flex joints in front and rear. Old Center bearing causing a vibration is common in cars with fairly high HP V8 engines.
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From: Spartanburg, SC
2014 ML63 AMG, 2012 McLaren MP4-12C, 1999 GMC Sierra, 1994 Chevy Astro, 1990 Honda CRX
Possibly. What are the condition of your tires? Are they chopping when you turn? What speed are you moving at when you notice this? What suspension setting are you in when it occurs? Maybe an alignment may be a good option at this point. Just to rule out anything being bent or faulty.... Just my two cents.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2016
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From: Spartanburg, SC
2014 ML63 AMG, 2012 McLaren MP4-12C, 1999 GMC Sierra, 1994 Chevy Astro, 1990 Honda CRX
In my E500 it was the center carrier bearing and mount on the drive shaft. I put new bearing in and mount and while the shaft was out. I also put new flex joints in front and rear. Old Center bearing causing a vibration is common in cars with fairly high HP V8 engines.
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From: Athens, GA USA
2011 E63, 2011 Hyundai Genesis 4.6 v8, 2013 GMC Denali XL, 1965 Ford Mustang, 2005 Merc. E500
My e500 only had vibration when accelerating from a dead stop. Usually happened between 10 and 20 mph. But after reading the OP again and noticing you stated it does it only when engine is shut off and started again. Given this I think it is not drive train or tire related.
Last edited by homeofstone; Mar 24, 2016 at 08:12 PM.
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From: Spartanburg, SC
2014 ML63 AMG, 2012 McLaren MP4-12C, 1999 GMC Sierra, 1994 Chevy Astro, 1990 Honda CRX
My e500 only had vibration when accelerating from a dead stop. Usually happened between 10 and 20 mph. But after reading the OP again and noticing you stated it does it only when engine is shut off and started again. Given this I think it is not drive train or tire related.
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2014 e550
Hi. Im experiancing the same exact symptoms as you.. When I start the car in the morning, or later it has the vibration, that goes avay within few minutes.. but for me it doesn't go avay completely. It ussually goes avay after the first set of lights that's about a 3/4 minute drive from my house.. After that i still feel it but a lot less.. When i hit 60 km/h it's the worst, and 120km/h as well.. leads me to belive it was tire related at first.. had tires rebalanced, same thing.. its not bent rims, since it happens on my winter and summer set, plus i had that checked. I recently (1 week ago) replaced the rotors and pads, and switched to my summer tires, and it's still going on.. I noticed unregular tire wear on my summers before the winter. An interesting thing was that the vibration is less pronaunced on high thread winter tires.. it has to be because they have more cushion than the harder compound summer tires.. I will be taking the car to get a proper mercedes alignment on their machine.. hope it helps.. and want to add i just did rear diff oil change last week, it all looked good.. gonna do the front within next few weeks.. I have a e350 4 matic with sport package.. hope you can get this sorted.. i will let you know if i have any luck with the alignment..
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From: Spartanburg, SC
2014 ML63 AMG, 2012 McLaren MP4-12C, 1999 GMC Sierra, 1994 Chevy Astro, 1990 Honda CRX
Some added info to my symptoms, the speed at which the vibration happens does seem to change depending on the suspension mode. In Comfort mode it seems to be a higher speed when it happens. I'm going to get an alignment maybe this week, time permitting, I'm a busy guy.
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From: dmv
2009 E550 2000 Honda civic mash n' go
Do you all have directional tires? Are they going in the right direction? Maybe some of the belts in your tires are coming apart.... Pretty common thing with belted tires.
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From: Spartanburg, SC
2014 ML63 AMG, 2012 McLaren MP4-12C, 1999 GMC Sierra, 1994 Chevy Astro, 1990 Honda CRX
I setup an appointment for an alignment on Wednesday so we'll see what happens there, but I do have directional tires and they are correct. Others have mentioned the same issue on wheel and tire swaps also, eliminating that possibility.
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From: Spartanburg, SC
2014 ML63 AMG, 2012 McLaren MP4-12C, 1999 GMC Sierra, 1994 Chevy Astro, 1990 Honda CRX
Finally getting some time to follow up here. I did the alignment, no change. The more I observe it seems like it does it more and worse the hotter it gets outside. It also seems to be coming front the driver rear. Is it possible I have a caliper going bad?
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From: Spartanburg, SC
2014 ML63 AMG, 2012 McLaren MP4-12C, 1999 GMC Sierra, 1994 Chevy Astro, 1990 Honda CRX
I don't know what a flex disc is to say what it looks like. I don't have shocks as I have an E55, it's air ride. It generally starts around 15-20 MPH and will do it at every speed for the distance I mentioned before.
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From: dmv
2009 E550 2000 Honda civic mash n' go
Okay, your flex disc is at both ends of your driveshaft. Its a rubber disc about 1.5 inches thick, has bolts going through it. You do have rear shocks, even though you have a 55 there are still some shocks back there! How about your rear subframe bushings? Do you hear any noises when this occurs?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2016
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From: Spartanburg, SC
2014 ML63 AMG, 2012 McLaren MP4-12C, 1999 GMC Sierra, 1994 Chevy Astro, 1990 Honda CRX
Okay, your flex disc is at both ends of your driveshaft. Its a rubber disc about 1.5 inches thick, has bolts going through it. You do have rear shocks, even though you have a 55 there are still some shocks back there! How about your rear subframe bushings? Do you hear any noises when this occurs?
