GL63 weird vibration in steering wheel
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
G55
GL63 weird vibration in steering wheel
So I just took delivery of my car. Had it for about 2 days now. When driving, I sometimes feel, what I would describe, 3 quick "knocks" in the steering wheel as I am driving. First I thought it was like bass from music but then realized it had nothing to do with music. ANyone have any ideas?
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
2007 R63 and a few P cars
Would you happen to be straying out of your lane, going over the center line???
Freaked me out at first but it is the lane assistance.
250 more miles until break in is done - then my review!!
Freaked me out at first but it is the lane assistance.
250 more miles until break in is done - then my review!!
So I just took delivery of my car. Had it for about 2 days now. When driving, I sometimes feel, what I would describe, 3 quick "knocks" in the steering wheel as I am driving. First I thought it was like bass from music but then realized it had nothing to do with music. ANyone have any ideas?
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 333
Likes: 12
From: South Florida
I've noticed two problems in my first 1500mi. One is a clunk in the front suspension primarily front left. It happens going over larger neighborhood type speed bumps and tech seems to think it has to do with a full extention of the strut/suspension. It happens in all three suspension settings.
The other is a noticeable chassis shutter over rougher roads. It's more pronounced in the firmer suspension setting and I've read in other review about this issue. I'm afraid this is a flaw not fixable and may have to live with it.
The clunk in the suspension is a bit disconcerting. The tech can replicate but, can't find anything wrong under the car. I'm hoping something sheds light on this and can be fixed.
The other is a noticeable chassis shutter over rougher roads. It's more pronounced in the firmer suspension setting and I've read in other review about this issue. I'm afraid this is a flaw not fixable and may have to live with it.
The clunk in the suspension is a bit disconcerting. The tech can replicate but, can't find anything wrong under the car. I'm hoping something sheds light on this and can be fixed.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: 704
2018 e63 wagon, R8 GT, 991 GT3, Golf GTI, Jetta GLI
Not sure what the 3 knocks may be which the OP mentioned but I also have an occasional clunk from the left front suspension. It almost seems like something is loose.
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: PA
2013 GL550
"The clunk in the suspension is a bit disconcerting. The tech can replicate but, can't find anything wrong under the car. I'm hoping something sheds light on this and can be fixed."
Trimmer2--please post on here if your tech finds something wrong with this as my '13 GL550 is going in for the 2nd time for service for this very reason. Everyone who has commented above has used the same words I've been using to describe the feeling in the front end that's been going on for months now. Not sure of the mileage of when this feeling was first noticed, but in 4 days I will have had my GL for 7 months and it just turned over 6300 miles. It feels as if there's something loose in the front end and that there's a sort of "clunk" that can be felt in the steering wheel. It's sometimes felt when turning, sometimes going straight, sometimes when braking and sometimes when I'm not. I would say it feels like a hard downshift when coming to a stop. I won't even mention to the service department that it feels like the car is going to fall apart when I go over a bump or bumps in the road because they will tell me it's just that--bumps in the road. They want specifics as to when this feeling in the steering wheel occurs, but it's so random and sometimes so subtle, I just don't know how I'm going to be able to be specific. It's not something the passenger can always feel either. The first visit to service for this problem resulted in both front sway bars being replaced. And as I've tried to take notice of when I feel this "clunk", I find myself wondering if it's in the brakes, the suspension, the transmission or the steering column. I'm beginning to wonder if this is just the way the vehicle is.
Trimmer2--please post on here if your tech finds something wrong with this as my '13 GL550 is going in for the 2nd time for service for this very reason. Everyone who has commented above has used the same words I've been using to describe the feeling in the front end that's been going on for months now. Not sure of the mileage of when this feeling was first noticed, but in 4 days I will have had my GL for 7 months and it just turned over 6300 miles. It feels as if there's something loose in the front end and that there's a sort of "clunk" that can be felt in the steering wheel. It's sometimes felt when turning, sometimes going straight, sometimes when braking and sometimes when I'm not. I would say it feels like a hard downshift when coming to a stop. I won't even mention to the service department that it feels like the car is going to fall apart when I go over a bump or bumps in the road because they will tell me it's just that--bumps in the road. They want specifics as to when this feeling in the steering wheel occurs, but it's so random and sometimes so subtle, I just don't know how I'm going to be able to be specific. It's not something the passenger can always feel either. The first visit to service for this problem resulted in both front sway bars being replaced. And as I've tried to take notice of when I feel this "clunk", I find myself wondering if it's in the brakes, the suspension, the transmission or the steering column. I'm beginning to wonder if this is just the way the vehicle is.
Trending Topics
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 333
Likes: 12
From: South Florida
The Tech definitely feels the clunk and we can replicate. He's checked under the car and found no problems. To me, it feels like the suspension is going to full extension especially going over a larger/longer speed bump. I haven't had a chance to drive a 550 yet as not many around to compare. To me, it almost feels like something is loose. I've NEVER felt this on any SUV. I may bring up to RENNtech to get their opinion.
I had the same clunk sound/feel in my SL600 and found the front suspension bushings were going bad every 3-5k miles. They said the turbos gave off so much heat that it was melting/compromising the bushings. The warranty took care of it and when replaced, the car drove like new again. I think Merc actually redesigned/changed compounds in the bushings a few times in the 6 years I owned the car.
I also felt a transmission clunk when slowing to a near stop and then accelerating. RENNtech seemed to think that was fairly common with the AMG 7-speed transmissions across many AMG cars. They also thought it would get better over time. So far I have about 1500mi and this has improved.
I had the same clunk sound/feel in my SL600 and found the front suspension bushings were going bad every 3-5k miles. They said the turbos gave off so much heat that it was melting/compromising the bushings. The warranty took care of it and when replaced, the car drove like new again. I think Merc actually redesigned/changed compounds in the bushings a few times in the 6 years I owned the car.
I also felt a transmission clunk when slowing to a near stop and then accelerating. RENNtech seemed to think that was fairly common with the AMG 7-speed transmissions across many AMG cars. They also thought it would get better over time. So far I have about 1500mi and this has improved.
"The clunk in the suspension is a bit disconcerting. The tech can replicate but, can't find anything wrong under the car. I'm hoping something sheds light on this and can be fixed."
Trimmer2--please post on here if your tech finds something wrong with this as my '13 GL550 is going in for the 2nd time for service for this very reason. Everyone who has commented above has used the same words I've been using to describe the feeling in the front end that's been going on for months now. Not sure of the mileage of when this feeling was first noticed, but in 4 days I will have had my GL for 7 months and it just turned over 6300 miles. It feels as if there's something loose in the front end and that there's a sort of "clunk" that can be felt in the steering wheel. It's sometimes felt when turning, sometimes going straight, sometimes when braking and sometimes when I'm not. I would say it feels like a hard downshift when coming to a stop. I won't even mention to the service department that it feels like the car is going to fall apart when I go over a bump or bumps in the road because they will tell me it's just that--bumps in the road. They want specifics as to when this feeling in the steering wheel occurs, but it's so random and sometimes so subtle, I just don't know how I'm going to be able to be specific. It's not something the passenger can always feel either. The first visit to service for this problem resulted in both front sway bars being replaced. And as I've tried to take notice of when I feel this "clunk", I find myself wondering if it's in the brakes, the suspension, the transmission or the steering column. I'm beginning to wonder if this is just the way the vehicle is.
Trimmer2--please post on here if your tech finds something wrong with this as my '13 GL550 is going in for the 2nd time for service for this very reason. Everyone who has commented above has used the same words I've been using to describe the feeling in the front end that's been going on for months now. Not sure of the mileage of when this feeling was first noticed, but in 4 days I will have had my GL for 7 months and it just turned over 6300 miles. It feels as if there's something loose in the front end and that there's a sort of "clunk" that can be felt in the steering wheel. It's sometimes felt when turning, sometimes going straight, sometimes when braking and sometimes when I'm not. I would say it feels like a hard downshift when coming to a stop. I won't even mention to the service department that it feels like the car is going to fall apart when I go over a bump or bumps in the road because they will tell me it's just that--bumps in the road. They want specifics as to when this feeling in the steering wheel occurs, but it's so random and sometimes so subtle, I just don't know how I'm going to be able to be specific. It's not something the passenger can always feel either. The first visit to service for this problem resulted in both front sway bars being replaced. And as I've tried to take notice of when I feel this "clunk", I find myself wondering if it's in the brakes, the suspension, the transmission or the steering column. I'm beginning to wonder if this is just the way the vehicle is.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: PA
2013 GL550
We started out describing it as "something's loose in the front end" and ended up concentrating on the "clunk" feeling. That feeling is definitely there when coming to a stop, just before it's completely stopped, but also felt at random times when driving straight and turning. We've had several different SUV's over the years and never experienced this sort of feeling when driving any of them. It will be interesting to see what is determined next week, if they can even feel what we're trying to describe. I'm not overly confident. :/
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,268
Likes: 253
the front suspension clunk over big humps is common and there is no fix for it at this time.
has not been one since 2007. both x164 and x166 suffer from that. as time passes the one side clunk will become two side clunk. it is believed that it is combination of shock design, stabilization bar mounts to body and/or end links and as i said- no fix at this time.
i have had whole front ends replaced trying to fix said clunk to no avail.
the body shudder is because the 6000 pound truck is stiff, but still twists. unlikely this to be addressed.
the trunk clunk - i have no idea.
has not been one since 2007. both x164 and x166 suffer from that. as time passes the one side clunk will become two side clunk. it is believed that it is combination of shock design, stabilization bar mounts to body and/or end links and as i said- no fix at this time.
i have had whole front ends replaced trying to fix said clunk to no avail.
the body shudder is because the 6000 pound truck is stiff, but still twists. unlikely this to be addressed.
the trunk clunk - i have no idea.
