And another ABS problem! (1990 300CE)

[Fightgear]

I've checked previous threads to see if anything similar comes up but no luck so need to ask the question.

9 times out of ten, my ABS light comes on and stays on throughout any journey. I noticed some vibration (like running over cats eyes) and thought it was wheel balance. So, I had my wheels checked and they needed about a hundred grams of weights each side (actually 250gm in total). I thought that would sort the vibration but nope! On the couple or so times the ABS light DIDN'T come on, I don;t think I got the vibration. So not sure if that is part of the problem. However, the next time I got in the car and started it that ****** yellow light came on and stayed on again. The car seems to be braking ok but the vibration is a p-p-p-p-pain in the a*se!

Help gratefully recieved!

 

[Blobcat]

ABS systems can become confused if there is a difference in the rolling diameter of the wheels. 100gms is a lot to balance a wheel, were the wheels clean when balanced? Have you flat spotted the tyres?
Do you feel the vibration through the wheel or the seat?

 

[Fightgear]

The vibration since the wheel balancing is mainly through the wheel. Apparently (should have added this earlier!) the previous owner put on some 225 wheels on the back and had 215 on the front PLUS 10mm spacers. Now the wheels seem matched and the tyres certainly are. The garage said that maybe the spacers could be causing the problem with vibration but its just that I noticed the difference seemed more marked with the ABS light on.

 

[Blobcat]

The vibration since the wheel balancing is mainly through the wheel. Apparently (should have added this earlier!) the previous owner put on some 225 wheels on the back and had 215 on the front PLUS 10mm spacers. Now the wheels seem matched and the tyres certainly are. The garage said that maybe the spacers could be causing the problem with vibration but its just that I noticed the difference seemed more marked with the ABS light on.

I think you may have found your problem.The vibration could be confusing the ABS. It does not sound as if the spacers are centering the wheels correctly. Have you compared the diameter of the wheels, the attached link will help http://www.tyresave.co.uk/tyresize.html you could also compare it to the original sizes.
I still think 100gm per wheel is excessive, have they been curbed?

 

[Fightgear]

Cheers for this help btw...
Okay...the amounts (if I remember properly) were front drivers side 65gm, rear driver side 50gm. front passenger side 50gm rear passenger side 50 gm. If it wasn't that it was very close. I'm certain about the front driver side though because the fitter was shocked.
So you think the vibration is due to the spacers? When I got the car I was astounded by the way it stuck to the road and would hate to lose that by removing the spacers but if that what it needs to sort the ABS out then fine.
I think the fitter said there was a little bit of warping on one alloy but he said it was nothing significant.
Thanks again for your help!
Cheers
Roy

 

[television]

Your Wheels are hub concentric and you can only use spacer's made for MB. Any other form of spacer and the wheels cannot be balanced.

http://www.gilracing.com/MercedesSpacers/index.html

This firm can supply you with the correct spacers.

Malcolm

 

[Blobcat]

Thanks Malcolm, I knew you would come up with the concentric link

I would not be happy with a warped wheel, what has caused it to warp.
When I had a rear tyre on my CBR my tyre dealer couldn't ballance it as his machine could not accommodate it. Another tyre outfit balanced it, they told me the tyre had been incorrectly fitted and the wheel was warped. My dealer installed a new machine, we put it on and the wheel is perfectly true and balances perfectly

 

[television]

Thanks Malcolm, I knew you would come up with the concentric link

I would not be happy with a warped wheel, what has caused it to warp.
When I had a rear tyre on my CBR my tyre dealer couldn't ballance it as his machine could not accommodate it. Another tyre outfit balanced it, they told me the tyre had been incorrectly fitted and the wheel was warped. My dealer installed a new machine, we put it on and the wheel is perfectly true and balances perfectly

Balancing machines must need calibrating from time to time, as does the gear that I use, quite a few theads on people saying that they have had their wheels balnced, only after insistance from us that they go somewhere else has the problem been solved. Next time I get a tyre I will look at the balancer to see if it has the MB flange adaptor.

Malcolm

 

[Fightgear]

****** HELL! $300 for spacers? Phew! I would imagine I could get some ****** good wheels from Ebay for less than that! Seriously guys? Am I misguided inasmuch as worrying that the spacers are helping the road holding? In my old customisation days (1970's with a lotus cortina) spacers were used to give a wider look to the front or back or allow the wheels to clear the brakes if using bigger than should be wheels. I seriously doubt these ones are anything other than high street motorfactor specials.

 

[Blobcat]

****** HELL! $300 for spacers? Phew! I would imagine I could get some ****** good wheels from Ebay for less than that! Seriously guys? Am I misguided inasmuch as worrying that the spacers are helping the road holding? In my old customisation days (1970's with a lotus cortina) spacers were used to give a wider look to the front or back or allow the wheels to clear the brakes if using bigger than should be wheels. I seriously doubt these ones are anything other than high street motorfactor specials.

You have the wheels and the spacers, you also have the problem that goes with them :sad:. The spacers centre the wheels, it looks very much that your current wheel/spacer setup is not working well, causing the vibration and the ABS fault.
You could find a 'Max Power' type tyre/wheel dealer and ask his advice. They can be very knowledge on wheel and rim fitments.

 

[shirubaby]

A bit off track but it could be the over voltage protection relay....replace the fuse on top and/or resolder the contacts inside...worked for me...

This thread is old but it might help someone else.

 

[television]

A bit off track but it could be the over voltage protection relay....replace the fuse on top and/or resolder the contacts inside...worked for me...

This thread is old but it might help someone else.

We are now coming up to the time of the year where these types of problems will start coming in along with the battery problems.

Malcolm

 

[topscalcookie]

We are now coming up to the time of the year where these types of problems will start coming in along with the battery problems.

Malcolm

hello everyone
as usual malcolm is right and this time of year all my problems start
my car hates starting and drains my battery every morning but this time i think its glow plugs, but thats another thead.

im having sort of the same problem with the abs light and rumbling on my drivers side wheel whilst slowing down and at very low speed. the problem is worse when turning right and breaking but never when turning left.
should i be looking at my caliper or could this be suspension