StephenK

Can someone possibly give me a clue as to what is going on with the Vibration I am feeling in my front end of my SL600? It feels like a wheel or wheels is not balanced properly, but the dealer said they are, I had the alignment completed and new tires and new rims. Still I can feel the vibration and at times can see the steering wheel shaking left/right.

What is the likely culprit for this problem, any thoughts?

Chappy

Stephen,

Have them check steering damper and bushings. Did you put larger wheels on? If so, this can sometimes have adverse results.

wingless

Have the wheels, then the mounted tires, checked with a Hunter GSP9700. This permits quantification of the wheel and the tire runout and of defects within the tire that simulate balance problems. It would identify any wheel or tire problems.

StephenK

Thanks, I will have them check them out. I put stock size rims and tires on the car. Rims made by Mercedes, tires are Michelin Pilot Sports.

StephenK

I will see what they are using, supposedly it is the newest and greatest machine out there.

vraa

Pilot Sport 1?
Those have an issue on Mercedes cars I believe...

StephenK

What is the issue and what are the options??

PS2 from what I have seen are only available in 19" for the SL.

wingless

There have been many issues with technicians failing to properly utilize the capabilities of this device. This machine can pinpoint and quantify wheel and tire problems, if the operator uses it properly.

One of my favorite features is the ability to split weights, hiding them behind the spokes. There is now a local installer I frequent who utilizes that function on my wheels.

vraa

I don't remember exactly, I think it had to do with some sort of balance issue -- or tramlining issue, I wish I remembered for sure.

There should be more than just the PS2's which Luke from Wheelexperts tells me have major balancing issues.

Aussie-E-John

I wish some one could come up with a different answer other than balancing of wheels as i too have the same problem with my 2005 E350 sport edition.

My wheels are perfect according to the tyre place. 3 sets of tyres, recalibrated balancing machine and still vibrations.

Something is a miss some where else other than wheels and tyres.

My old E320 with 18" AMG wheels with 270,000 km on the clock doesn't have vibrations and the balancing was done at the same tyre place.

Green E-300 DT

It has been said before above and is worth repeating again and again.

Although most tire installers will tell you that your front wheels are balanced perfectly, it just ain't so McGee!

I have seen this repeated over and over again.

Go to your search engine and look up Hunter, and read about their GSP9700 balancing system.

I have been to their seminars twice.
The first time was in St Louis in '96, and later we had the same tech come out to their training
facility in Sante Fe Springs, CA. for those that didn't make it to St Louis.

I have seen cases where the weighs were only off by 1/4 of an ounce.
And that was on a stock E-420 with the original size Michelins and 16 inch factory wheels.
The shop that mounted and balnced these new tires swore that they were balanced perfectly,
but as we all know, the MBZs and Bimmers are really bad about the slightest out-of-balance condition.

The idea here is to match the sweat spots of the tire and rim perfectly.
The larger in diameter the wheel and the lower the profile of the tire,
the more difficult this perfect balancing becomes.

This machine will tell the operator exactly what to do and what is needed to achieve this perfect match.
There again, if the operator does not know what he is doing, you will be S O O L.

If the tech is worth his salt and knows how to properly operate this system,
he will be able to get rid of anyones' shimming problems.

If the wheel or tire is bad, the machine will tell him so.

If the "Road Force" readings are over 25 pounds, corrective action is required.
This machines' computer tells the operator exactly what do.
Usually he will be told to rotate the tire so many degrees and rebalance the assembly,
and in every case this will solve the "Road Force" and balancing problem.

If it does not, either the wheel is bad or the tire is defective; Perhaps both.

The machine will tell the operator which is true. No question about it then!

As I said above, read their article and study what is said on the Hunter website,
and perhaps you will "see the light."

Good luck!

Green E-300 DT

It would seem to this writer that perhaps the equipment that is being
used at your local shop cannot detect what is causing this problem.

You have changed tires several times, so unless you keep getting bad tires?
Are these wheels factory or aftermarket?
Is the tire shops' equipment able to detect a bad wheel?

What happens if you take the 18 inchers off the old E-320 and try them on the later car?

I would locate a shop that has the GSP9700 and have them have a go at your problem.

Go to the Hunter website and contact the local distributor listed
there and see who has that balancing system in your area.
I'm sure you will be able to get your problem corrected.

Let us know how you make out. Good luck.

Chappy

Here's where I have gone....

http://www.butlertire.com/services.asp

Note that they use TWO balancers. First, the Hunter GSP9700 and then the Hofmann high speed (120mph) finish balancing machine.

Yep, still had the shimmy until I installed the polyurethane front LCA bushings.

Green E-300 DT

Your car is older than the original questions author.
Note that his car being newer may not have any worn front end parts.

I say again that the GSP9700 system can detect if the problem is being caused by a wheel/tire assembly.
Be sure to bear in mind that this method is no better than the person operating this system.

BTW, there is no need for a high speed balance. If the tires are
properly balanced, they will be in balance at any speed.

wingless

The Tire Rack web site lists local installers and provides the balancing equipment list. I have found that feature useful and have tried several new installers with the GSP9700 in my area.

Aussie-E-John

The wheels on my car are 18' twin double spoke that are standard on the sport option. Tyres are Continental Conti sport contct 2. Both wheels and tyres are OEM specs.

My old E320 is a W210 so i don't think putting these wheels an a W211 will be any good.

The car was a dog to drive it would pull to the left (im in Australia) the front suspension would creek and groan the steering rack knocked and to top it all off the car would vibrate at high way speeds.

I have had the steering rack replaced, lower control arms, bushes etc and it is now 90% better than it was.

Its the last 10% to get it perfect

Any how my car is going back to the dealer this week as a car with the same wheels and tyres will be there and they will do a swap to see if the problem still exists. I have a feeling that it won't solve it though.

I'll let you know the out come.

Aussie-E-John

An update for you all. The car was taken to the dealership yesterday and we did a wheel swap. These are exactly the same wheels and tyres as on my car.

First we took my car for a good highway drive with the other cars wheels and tyres on and there was still vibration present.

We then took the other car (same sport package as my car) with my wheels and tyres on and there was no vibrations.

So it seems in my case the wheel's and tyre's is not the cause of the vibartion in my car.

I'll keep you posted.

StephenK i hope this is some how helping in your vibation problem as i didn't mean to highjack your thread.

StephenK

No Problem, hope you get a resolution.

Aussie-E-John

An update.

Got my car back on Tuesday and so far so good.

It looks as though an out of balance front brake disc was the cause of the vibration.

New front discs and the vibrations are all gone.

The car is so smooth to drive now it feels like a totally new car.

What a relief.

JackStraw

Check to see if your wheel is bent... I hit a nasty pothole some time ago and damaged the wheel. When I replaced the wheel, the vibration problem went away.

StephenK

Dealer mentioned checking the runout, any idea what they are talking about?

wingless

The runout is the radial and the axial deflection, measured from a fixed point in space, to a spot on the rim, as it is rotated 360°.

A dial indicator is affixed to the chassis, positioned to detect either deflection from the axis, or deflection along the axis, as the wheel is rotated.

The Hunter GSP9700 may be used to measure runout from the axis and that information may be combined with road force measurements to optimize balance.

Green E-300 DT

Well said.

Nothing beats a GPS 9700 when it is operated by a well-trained technician!