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To update this thread:
Even after rebalancing the new tires several times, at different locations using the road force balancing, the vibrations didn’t get fixed.
I suspected the driveshaft components and was about to take it in after a vacation. Coincidentally, after I got back from my vacation, the driver rear tire was flat at the airport. I had to air it up and the next day, took it to the tire shop to repair the tire. They dismounted the tire to repair and I requested another rebalancing of all tires.
Lo and behold, the vibration was 100% gone at all speed ranges. It felt like I just got a set of new tires. I don’t know how to explain what fixed it, just my luck perhaps the driver rear tire needed to be rotated on the rim? But I would expect the balancing machines to have caught that. They were the Hunter machines with laser and everything…
Thank you for the update. Happy that you were able to achieve vibration free driving with just an adjustment to your tire. This echos what an indy said during a MB club visit to his shop. He basically said vibrations are almost always the tires (wheels?). This thread was kind of delimma in that it seemed that you had addressed that with the force balancing and the laser inspection of the rims. I guess I figured that eliminated them as an issue but as others have pointed out sounds like not all machines / technicians are created equal.
I am interested because I am going through the same thing.
To update this thread:
Even after rebalancing the new tires several times, at different locations using the road force balancing, the vibrations didn’t get fixed.
I suspected the driveshaft components and was about to take it in after a vacation. Coincidentally, after I got back from my vacation, the driver rear tire was flat at the airport. I had to air it up and the next day, took it to the tire shop to repair the tire. They dismounted the tire to repair and I requested another rebalancing of all tires.
Lo and behold, the vibration was 100% gone at all speed ranges. It felt like I just got a set of new tires. I don’t know how to explain what fixed it, just my luck perhaps the driver rear tire needed to be rotated on the rim? But I would expect the balancing machines to have caught that. They were the Hunter machines with laser and everything…
Originally Posted by MBNUT1
Thank you for the update. Happy that you were able to achieve vibration free driving with just an adjustment to your tire. This echos what an indy said during a MB club visit to his shop. He basically said vibrations are almost always the tires (wheels?). This thread was kind of delimma in that it seemed that you had addressed that with the force balancing and the laser inspection of the rims. I guess I figured that eliminated them as an issue but as others have pointed out sounds like not all machines / technicians are created equal.
I am interested because I am going through the same thing.
I wonder if those machines need to be calibrated from time to time, somehow?
Yeah, you've got to calibrate all balancing machines once a year. Sometimes they're equipped with factory-set tools, and sometimes you have to call a technician. Not many workshops do it, though.
Yeah, you've got to calibrate all balancing machines once a year. Sometimes they're equipped with factory-set tools, and sometimes you have to call a technician. Not many workshops do it, though.
I see, thanks for confirming, then one shop is clearly not doing their job properly with the calibrations.
Around the 70-85mph, I get this constant vibration that is felt through the whole car. If roads are rough, it’s not even that noticeable, but when there is a stretch of smooth new road, it’s evident that there is a vibration that isn’t suppose to be there. It’s clearly not from road imperfections. I thought maybe the tires (approx 7k miles now) were out of balance. Took it in to balance them and the tire tech said two tires were barely out of balance, but they replaced the weights and now they’re practically near 0 and shouldn’t be able to feel anything. Hoping this solved my issue, I took it to the highway again and the problem still exists.
When tires (and wheels) are balanced, the only vibrations you will have is when something is either non-co-axial or not round.
Non-co-axial means that two things turning at the same time are orbiting different points and can cause deflections of the shafts coupling them. Misaligned shafts, bad bearings, improperly machined hub, ...
Not-round means you can identify the problem with a dial-indicator (also known of as a clock gauge). Nothing on the drive line needs to be closer than 0.003" (0.076mm) but you need to be able to measure to 0.001 (0.025mm) in order it find "him".
You have covered a lot of potential contributors. To your list, you might include the gearbox. My question assumes vibration is related to mph as you have documented..
im guessing you have a 9 speed. Try 7,8,9 separately at your mph vib range. Any vibration change per gear?
Not a to sound like a broken record but if you have access to a reputable dedicated wheel repair shop, I would have all 4 checked by a pro. Get that item off the board.
I have replaced almost everything on this car GL-450 2008. Engine, transmission, bearings, etc etc.. thought I would save money last year wile replacing middle bearing…. Bought new flex disk …. Autohous …. Well turns out just cheap China made.
I initially looked at disk but not very well before replacing upper control arms and front bearing. Tie rods….. than looked again and OMG….steering was vibrating at 50+…. Thought transmission universal joints, bent etc etc….
nope just a crappy made China disk… on this part buy the OEM. The material they use is garbage and cannot withstand high to low temp….mad at autohous AZ as they sold it to me and is complete junk….word of advise look at this before anything else… there should be consumer laws protecting us from bad parts that could cause accidents on the road
Last edited by Jonny Mercedes; Feb 13, 2025 at 01:10 PM.
I have replaced almost everything on this car GL-450 2008. Engine, transmission, bearings, etc etc.. thought I would save money last year wile replacing middle bearing…. Bought new flex disk …. Autohous …. Well turns out just cheap China made.
I initially looked at disk but not very well before replacing upper control arms and front bearing. Tie rods….. than looked again and OMG….steering was vibrating at 50+…. Thought transmission universal joints, bent etc etc….
nope just a crappy made China disk… on this part buy the OEM. The material they use is garbage and cannot withstand high to low temp….mad at autohous AZ as they sold it to me and is complete junk….word of advise look at this before anything else… there should be consumer laws protecting us from bad parts that could cause accidents on the road
It's ridiculous how new-junk automotive parts are used to help drive up the price of genuine parts.
I recently purchased a Mahle coolant tank cap: serious junk
Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Feb 16, 2025 at 09:14 AM.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
