W213 Brake Judder

[Janchee]

Hi all,

Drove to Bristol today ( 380 mile round trip ) and I've noticed a severe judder of the steering wheel under braking.

Googling the problem has opened my eyes. I've seen that a large majority of W213 owners are suffering from this problem. Car is just 4 months out-of-warranty. Only 34k miles on the clock with it being a 66 plate.

Did anything actually come out of the 2016 e class models? Seems like the first release of the new W213 had significant judder issues when braking.

Some links:

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w213/693563-brake-judder.html
https://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/index.php?threads/press-car-brake-judder-advice.171053/

C class but brake judder ... recommends it is the hold function which would make sense tbh
https://forums.mbclub.co.uk/threads/w205-2016my-c220d-brake-judder.206486/

 

[Blobcat]

I did ~48K miles in mine and never suffered any brake vibration issues.

 

[Janchee]

Update for those reading this in the future ...

Was discussing the judder with the misses and she remembered hitting a pot hole ... Anyway - turns out it was a f****** massive pothole!!

Took it in for an inspection today at a local Indie ... Visually inspected and all seems OK i.e. tyre didn't blow out or alloys don't seem buckled.

Mechanic has a suspicion that the wheel bearings have been damaged after the impact and possibly the hub. Car is going in next Wednesday for a full-day to be inspected and hopefully fixed! This is where I wish I had my garage with ramp so I could investigate/fix myself

Will provide an update then.

Here is the pothole (I do hate the roads in this country)

 

[davidsl500]

That's some pothole! A definite hazard in the wet when you can't tell how deep it is. It's not surprising you have an issue - hope it's not an expensive one..

 

[Wighty]

That’s not a pothole , it’s an inspection pit

 

[mattkh]

Send the car repair bill to the local council.

 

[carlbcfc]

Hi all,

Drove to Bristol today ( 380 mile round trip ) and I've noticed a severe judder of the steering wheel under braking.

Googling the problem has opened my eyes. I've seen that a large majority of W213 owners are suffering from this problem. Car is just 4 months out-of-warranty. Only 34k miles on the clock with it being a 66 plate.

Did anything actually come out of the 2016 e class models? Seems like the first release of the new W213 had significant judder issues when braking.

Some links:

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w213/693563-brake-judder.html
https://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/index.php?threads/press-car-brake-judder-advice.171053/

C class but brake judder ... recommends it is the hold function which would make sense tbh
https://forums.mbclub.co.uk/threads/w205-2016my-c220d-brake-judder.206486/

Did you figure out the source of the judder? I’m on my 2nd 213 now and I’ve got it creeping in again. Pain in the ass this is. Last vehicle changed 3 sets of discs in 2 weeks

 

[Uncle Benz]

I look after a lot of 213 and 205 that have the two piece disc with seperate fluted bell. A lot of the 213 are taxis that have myriad drivers and lots of miles. Haven’t had any issues, but there are special notes about disc handling when fitting. The disc can move on the bell if handled roughly, and you must be scrupulously clean with the hub flange before fitting the new disc. Absolutely NO anti-seize to be applied behind the disc at all.

 

[Uncle Benz]

Fwiw I always fit genuine discs and pads. With trade discount the prices are the same as aftermarket

 

[star]

Plus there's a special torque sequence when fitting the wheel.

 

[Janchee]

Did you figure out the source of the judder? I’m on my 2nd 213 now and I’ve got it creeping in again. Pain in the ass this is. Last vehicle changed 3 sets of discs in 2 weeks

Sold the car but it had slightly stabilised. I think it would’ve been four new alloys to completely get rid of it. The UK roads + 19 alloys + Run flats was just destined for wheel buckles etc.

Probably best see where Uncle Benz works and get the issue fixed

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Plus there's a special torque sequence when fitting the wheel.

Do you mind sharing this or is just a matter of torquing the wheels up correctly?.. I removed and refurbed my son’s 213 220d 20in wheels refitted and torqued properly and he had no problems

 

[carlbcfc]

Sold the car but it had slightly stabilised. I think it would’ve been four new alloys to completely get rid of it. The UK roads + 19 alloys + Run flats was just destined for wheel buckles etc.

Probably best see where Uncle Benz works and get the issue fixed

It’s frustrating.

This vehicle has only had new Brembo pads. The discs are Merc from previous owner. The alloys have not been painted, they are 17 inch, and they have only been off for pads & tyres.

It seems to be very common but nobody can nail it down to anything specific. The mechanic assures me that he give the hub a good clean on the previous vehicle that had the same issue. He checked the sliders. He done everything he possibly, other than perform this bolt torquing procedure. I’m starting to get fed up of the W213 now. I was only saved from a rocker arm rebuild by somebody writing my vehicle off.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

I don’t think the condition of our roads help how many cars with wheels larger than 18in are exactly round. I’m getting used to the 20in wheels on my S213 but they do take a battering especially with the runflat tyres they are fitted with I certainly wouldn’t buy anything other than a premium tyre for fitment due to this and as soon as economically possible I’ll be ditching the runflats

 

[Woodleigh]

Do you mind sharing this or is just a matter of torquing the wheels up correctly?.. I removed and refurbed my son’s 213 220d 20in wheels refitted and torqued properly and he had no problems

Hi @malcolm E53 AMG I have always tightened my wheel nuts in a star pattern; firstly torquing to half the recommended torque and then to full torque.
Using this method I have never had an issue with warped discs on any of my vehicles. Please see my attached screenshot from my manual and note that my AMG tightening torque is 150NM.

PS: Don't use your torque wrench as a breaker bar when removing wheel bolts.

 

[Wighty]

Did you figure out the source of the judder? I’m on my 2nd 213 now and I’ve got it creeping in again. Pain in the ass this is. Last vehicle changed 3 sets of discs in 2 weeks

What about front control arms developing play/wear . This happened to me on the CLK after 2 sets of discs .

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Hi @malcolm E53 AMG I have always tightened my wheel nuts in a star pattern; firstly torquing to half the recommended torque and then to full torque.
Using this method I have never had an issue with warped discs on any of my vehicles. Please see my attached screenshot from my manual and note that my AMG tightening torque is 150NM.

PS: Don't use your torque wrench as a breaker bar when removing wheel bolts.
View attachment 89038

Thanks for this didn’t occur to me that the tightening torque would be 150Nm so used to putting 130Nm on everything - must remember to do as the wife says and read the manual lol.

 

[Woodleigh]

Thanks for this didn’t occur to me that the tightening torque would be 150Nm so used to putting 130Nm on everything - must remember to do as the wife says and read the manual lol.

Aye, although all Mercedes wheel bolts are now M14 x 1.5 pitch; my C Class was W205 & W204 were 130NM but the S213 is 150NM with the same size bolt.

 

[Ivanhoo]

Report to council and put a claim in for damage get indi to say it was caused by the pot hole it might take a bit but council should shell out for repairs