Pulley wobble
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 65
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G55 - R500
Pulley wobble
I just got my new 172mm pulley installed ( from MB foreman) and it it slightly wobbeling. Tech said up to 1/4 inch of wobble should be ok, but I don't like the look of it.
How much wobble is ok - or should there be no wobble whatsoever for safe and longevity?
How much wobble is ok - or should there be no wobble whatsoever for safe and longevity?
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 557
Likes: 1
From: Laramie, WY
E55 AMG
I know that some people have had some wobble, as did I with a 172. I didn't like it either and was scared of it eating up my crank keyway. Went to a 180 which I swapped myself and had no wobble anymore. My original pulley wobbled for the first 6 months of owning the car and when I changed it out, there was no damage to the keyway so I don't know if it was necessary but did it for piece of mind.
I guess that doesn't really help you.
Edit: 1/4 inch seems kind of bad though.
I guess that doesn't really help you.
Edit: 1/4 inch seems kind of bad though.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,044
Likes: 2
211-55
No wobble would be best. Several months ago my aftermarket pulley was wobbly, or it appeared to wobble, so the horror stories about aftermarket pulleys damaging engines worried the heck out of me. Around the same time I replaced a bad idler pulley and tensioner pulley assembly and the wobble went away.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
G55 - R500
I know that some people have had some wobble, as did I with a 172. I didn't like it either and was scared of it eating up my crank keyway. Went to a 180 which I swapped myself and had no wobble anymore. My original pulley wobbled for the first 6 months of owning the car and when I changed it out, there was no damage to the keyway so I don't know if it was necessary but did it for piece of mind.
I guess that doesn't really help you.
Edit: 1/4 inch seems kind of bad though.
I guess that doesn't really help you.
Edit: 1/4 inch seems kind of bad though.
Actually my wobble is not 1/4 inch - my MB tech told me that anything below 1/4 inch shouldn't be an issue. My wobble for sure is less than that.
Yeah - all that talk about eaten up keyweys got me nervous too
I belive it's the latest gen ASP pulley. The installer ( Main Tech at my local dealership - does all SLRs etc. ) actually told me that in his mind it was the best aftermarket pulley he had seen so far. But any wobble makes me a bit nervous...
I will cruise around with it for another day and we will have another look at it. Problem is on my G, the install is a bit more complicated, appearantly requiring removal of radiator
Last edited by 07g55; Sep 29, 2010 at 04:57 AM.
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From: Houston
2003 W211 E55, 2003 W220 S600
Former Vendor of MBWorld
iTrader: (1)
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Posts: 12,139
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From: Houston
2003 W211 E55, 2003 W220 S600
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2005 E55
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2006 E55 AMG
In my case the screw didn't back off, the actual pulley itself broke off near the hub. Lucky for me the hub was still in tact which help protect the key way from any damage. I was very fortunate to get away with very little damage.
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Salt Lake City (but not Morm)
2003 E55 & 2014 GL550
Have had several pulleys on over the years and some have had slight...and I mean SLIGHT wobble to them. 1/4" seems extreme.
You got any video you could show us? Maybe some cell phone vid or something.
Be interesting to see it.
You got any video you could show us? Maybe some cell phone vid or something.
Be interesting to see it.
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,825
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From: Southern California
E55 w/ goods, Z32 Project underway
Considering the crank is the heart of the motor, I would never allow for even the slightest wobble which is why I dug deep when folks here sold their used units and I pressed the question until they either responded or just ignored my wobble question. Sad that folks that know their pulley wobbles would not disclose this in the ad. I went ahead and bought new as my confidence in a used unit and a few sellers was low.
I used locktite on my bolt, just for added insurance.
I used locktite on my bolt, just for added insurance.
