Prop shaft centre bearing at 125k?
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Joined: May 2017
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W209 CLK55 - 2003
Prop shaft centre bearing at 125k?
I have a W209 2003 CLK55 and I am trying to diagnose a noise that the car makes intermittently. Between 20 and 30 MPH I will get what sounds like a rubbing noise coming from under the shifter. It comes and goes with temperature and is sometimes very loud.
I took it to a shop and it looked like the centre bearing rubber was split slightly, but the guys there did not think it would obviously be the cause. It didn’t help that it wasn’t making the noise at the time. They checked wheel bearings, which seemed fine. It was also suggested that it might be the transmission output bearing. It didn’t look like the brake cable was rubbing (I understand an issue on the W203).
Any ideas?
I’ve attached a video of the car between 20 and 30, when the noise is at its worst.
I took it to a shop and it looked like the centre bearing rubber was split slightly, but the guys there did not think it would obviously be the cause. It didn’t help that it wasn’t making the noise at the time. They checked wheel bearings, which seemed fine. It was also suggested that it might be the transmission output bearing. It didn’t look like the brake cable was rubbing (I understand an issue on the W203).
Any ideas?
I’ve attached a video of the car between 20 and 30, when the noise is at its worst.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2018
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From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
Anything made of rubber has a finite life. If you think the center bearing is split, replace it based on the principle of the thing. It's an 18 year old vehicle.
Then go from there. Output bearing is unlikely, but not impossible. Do alot more diagnosis: part throttle, wide open throttle, closed throttle, low vehicle speed, medium vehicle speed, high vehicle speed. Report the findings here.
Then go from there. Output bearing is unlikely, but not impossible. Do alot more diagnosis: part throttle, wide open throttle, closed throttle, low vehicle speed, medium vehicle speed, high vehicle speed. Report the findings here.
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2017
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W209 CLK55 - 2003
Thanks for coming back chassis.
The noise occurs between 20-30 MPH at part throttle. It is temperature dependent, generally speaking worse when cold. I’d say it is proportionate to road speed, not engine speed which I guess means transmission output and back from there. It occurs when the car is in or out of gear, at that speed.
I have done 2,000-3,000 miles since it started and, to be honest, I was hoping it would have got worse and easier to pinpoint.
At the end of last year I actually lifted the rear of the car on stands, removed the rear wheels, put it into dyno mode and let it run at 20-30 wheel (hub) speed. It was definitely from the middle of the car and around the centre bearing. I stripped back the heat shields too.
Maybe I should just bite the bullet and get it done. Like I said, I was just thrown by the shop not immediately saying it was the bearing, when the car was on a ramp. I was ready for them to do it but they didn’t think I needed to.
The noise occurs between 20-30 MPH at part throttle. It is temperature dependent, generally speaking worse when cold. I’d say it is proportionate to road speed, not engine speed which I guess means transmission output and back from there. It occurs when the car is in or out of gear, at that speed.
I have done 2,000-3,000 miles since it started and, to be honest, I was hoping it would have got worse and easier to pinpoint.
At the end of last year I actually lifted the rear of the car on stands, removed the rear wheels, put it into dyno mode and let it run at 20-30 wheel (hub) speed. It was definitely from the middle of the car and around the centre bearing. I stripped back the heat shields too.
Maybe I should just bite the bullet and get it done. Like I said, I was just thrown by the shop not immediately saying it was the bearing, when the car was on a ramp. I was ready for them to do it but they didn’t think I needed to.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 257
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W209 CLK55 - 2003
I am thinking I have multiple causes here.
The under tray was bending and lightly touching the tyre, now fixed.
However, that does not explain the fact that the noise was apparent when I had the rear lifted and the rear wheels turning.
Hmm. Will need to see how much the noise has improved, over a range of conditions. At the moment it is making no noise at all.
The under tray was bending and lightly touching the tyre, now fixed.
However, that does not explain the fact that the noise was apparent when I had the rear lifted and the rear wheels turning.
Hmm. Will need to see how much the noise has improved, over a range of conditions. At the moment it is making no noise at all.
Last edited by breeze247; Mar 20, 2021 at 09:40 AM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2017
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W209 CLK55 - 2003
Bing! We have a winner.
I got the bearing and carrier replaced last week and there is now no noise at all. It had got slightly worse since my first post.
The actual bearing looked fine. The bearing carrier was in terrible shape (that was where the split was, apologies for lack of clarity in the earlier post) and I guess that was affecting how the bearing was sitting relative to the prop.
When the shop showed me the parts the carrier rubber had separated completely, but that was probably from removal.
Lesson is to buy both together. Many aftermarket options go that way but MB sells the parts separately.
I got the bearing and carrier replaced last week and there is now no noise at all. It had got slightly worse since my first post.
The actual bearing looked fine. The bearing carrier was in terrible shape (that was where the split was, apologies for lack of clarity in the earlier post) and I guess that was affecting how the bearing was sitting relative to the prop.
When the shop showed me the parts the carrier rubber had separated completely, but that was probably from removal.
Lesson is to buy both together. Many aftermarket options go that way but MB sells the parts separately.
