Clk Steering Problem..brake Shudder..etc

[eagle43]

MY 98 CLK 320 FEELS LIKE IT IS DRIVING ON MARBLES WHEN TURNING ON FULL LOCK AND HAS A BAD BRAKE SHUDDER OVER 50mph. I HAVE RENEWED THE DISKS AND PADS ON ALL 4 WHEELS AND IT IS STILL THE SAME. I HAVE HAD A LOOK AT THE SHOCKS, SPRINGS, ETC AND ALL LOOK OK, THE ONLY PLAY I CAN FIND IS IN THE TRACK RODS AT THE STEERING DAMPER END. HAS ANYBODY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM OR SYMPTOMS, ANY IDEAS OR TIPS MUCH APPRECIATED.

 

[severn]

Out of shape tyre or wheel balance?

 

[eagle43]

Forgot to say, I tried the identical wheels from my wife's SLK which have new tyres on.

 

[severn]

does the vibration only happen under braking? if so does it come through the steering wheel or the body of the car?

 

[eagle43]

only when braking, and appears to come from the body of the car.

 

[severn]

Its sounds as if the rear brake discs are warped. I have the same on my 190
I have not used it for about 3 months being using my motorbike. When i drove it yersterday i get a bad vibration from the rear under braking. The rear disc surface has pitted wear the pads have been in contact with the discs in the same place for so long. You said that you have fitted new rear discs, were they OE and brand new? if so then you got to lhave a close look at the rear suspension for problems. Try tighting all the bolts for the rear links, shocks etc. Check all the joints/bushes. To be truthful I have only ever found tehe rear discs at fault with this complaint.

 

[eagle43]

New disks were fitted to the rear as well as the front, I still have the old disks which I will skim flat and try them to see if it makes any difference. Still have the problem at the front with the tyre skipping on full lock, mabee the brake shudder is not related to this. Thanks for your advice will let you know if I solve the problems.

 

[jimsinessex]

Eagle, did you solve your problem?

My 1999 Clk 230K is developing a bit of brake shudder from above 60 mph but it does seem to come and go a bit and so is proving a bit elusive to diagnose.
I haven't, up until now, considered the possibility of it coming from the rear brakes as suggested in some of the replies you got.

The front brakes are less than half worn and the rears not worn much at all.

I would be very interested in your update.

Jim

 

[eagle43]

Jim....Car now sorted. It was the rear disks that was causing the vibration. My front end problem was fixed by 2 new ball joints and a new drag link and steering damper. Hope this helps.

 

[jimsinessex]

Jim....Car now sorted. It was the rear disks that was causing the vibration. My front end problem was fixed by 2 new ball joints and a new drag link and steering damper. Hope this helps.

What exactly was the problem with the rear discs, warped, corrosion, damaged surface?

After behaving itself for a while the vibration under braking is back with a vengence. Front pads were replaced recently as a normal service item, as were all the tyres which eliminates wheel balance, so the thoughts on here of the rears being the source of the problem look good to me.

Jim

 

[C220GJS]

Jim, check your rear discs, they tend to corrode and pit on the back face more for some reason and the corrosion is not apparent when you look at the disc through the wheel, if you feel the vibration through the seat it is almost certainly the back brakes.

 

[jimsinessex]

Jim, check your rear discs, they tend to corrode and pit on the back face more for some reason and the corrosion is not apparent when you look at the disc through the wheel, if you feel the vibration through the seat it is almost certainly the back brakes.

George, thanks for that, I will check it out

Jim

 

[Unimaginative Username]

is there rapid buzzing pulsating through the brake pedal? could be rust on the abs sensor reluctor rings posibly?

 

[jimsinessex]

Jim, check your rear discs, they tend to corrode and pit on the back face more for some reason and the corrosion is not apparent when you look at the disc through the wheel, if you feel the vibration through the seat it is almost certainly the back brakes.

Problem solved, it was the rear brakes but not through corrosion. A spring had broken in the handbrake drum causing the drum to overheat and distort the disc. Although the brake shoe must have been dragging on the drum it was not enough to affect the driveability of the car or cause any pulling to one side. The giveaway was a discolouration of the drum caused by the overheating, a rusty colour but NOT rust as such. There were no signs of corrosion on the back face although the discs had done 100,000 miles.

Thanks to all who pointed me in the direction of the rear brakes, the key was feeling the vibration through the body and not excessively through the steering wheel.

The vibration was more of a shudder than a rapid buzzing in my case.