Wobble, wobble, wheely twouble?

[Ken500SL]

I've actually not got a 500SL anymore, but a W107 420SL.

It suffers from wheel wobble at motorway speeds, and I've had them balanced 3 times, in an attempt to not shell out for some more expensive measure to solve the problem.

I think I've narrowed it down to either buckled alloys (can this happen?) or out of true tyres, though they're quite new so I kind of don't want to ditch them.

Anyone had a similar problem and managed to find some kind of solution?

Its OK up to about 60 MPH, then OK again at about 80, and I assume 100, though of course i've never driven that fast of course....

 

[television]

Hi Ken,, its down to wheel balancing and sad to say there are many firms who do not know what they are doing,,have you tried a different firm.

A wheel balancer will show up a buckled wheel

 

[Colt45_GTO]

most tyre places now have low speed balancing machines. you need to find a tyre co that has a high speed balancer for performance cars. its possible you have a tyre out of shape but i wouldn't bet money on it because you would feel it at low speeds too.

if you can drive through the vibration its balancing. usually starts at 60mph and fades out at 100mph worst at usual cruising speeds of 70-80mph

 

[42864]

I had a similar problem on my S Class, Had 2 new tyres fitted onthe front and wheel woble developed soon after, -- after having the wheels balanced several times by 2 different firms, the problem was found to be a broken coil spring on the front suspension. Once new springs were fitted the wheel woble disapeared imeadiatly. Hope that this may be of some help to you.

 

[Ken500SL]

Thanks for the replies. I have tried 2 different places for balancing - Kwik Fit, and SS Motors in Weybridge did the other 2 attempts.

A few interesting options here - I guess shelling out another £20 on a 4th balancing attempt is still the cheapest next step.

I can't really feel anything much at low speed. Hmmm, so inspecting the coil springs, perhaps its some simple harmonic motion there, the shock absorbers may be off key?

My 500SL never had a hint of this....

 

[simon_wall69]

I would assume that Kwik Fit won't have done it properly.

 

[roofless]

if its had any work done on the susp or steering bumped the odd kerb i would have the wheel alignment done

 

[television]

A spring cannot do this,, a spring does not know or care that a wheel is out of balance. Worn suspension can make things worse but can never start it in the first place. Balance problems are from 35 to 80 mph usually.

 

[bigasotonuk]

Are you just balancing the front wheels?, if so do your rears as imbalanced rears can cause similar symptons.

 

[Colt45_GTO]

Thanks for the replies. I have tried 2 different places for balancing - Kwik Fit, and SS Motors in Weybridge did the other 2 attempts.

A few interesting options here - I guess shelling out another £20 on a 4th balancing attempt is still the cheapest next step.

I can't really feel anything much at low speed. Hmmm, so inspecting the coil springs, perhaps its some simple harmonic motion there, the shock absorbers may be off key?

My 500SL never had a hint of this....

would any member here be willing to lend you two wheels that are known true and balanced correctly just to see if the wobble stops?

i have some on the 300sl here but i fear you are miles away and would probably have white finger syndrome by the time you arrive.

 

[doversole]

Pardon me for jumping in,

I would also check for any tracking problems - a quick way to do this is to place the palm of your hand on each tyre and 'feel the tread' by moving your hand forwards and backwards across the tyre from outer sidewall to inner sidewall. If its smoother as you move your hand inwards and rougher as you move it outwards, that wheel is toeing in. If the reverse is true, it's toeing out.

Just a wee tip my dad (who spent 45+ years with greasy hands) passed on.

Don't wish to patronize, hope it helps.

DoverSole

 

[42864]

A spring cannot do this,, a spring does not know or care that a wheel is out of balance. Worn suspension can make things worse but can never start it in the first place. Balance problems are from 35 to 80 mph usually.

Not wishing to get into a slanging match with Malcolm, but I described the wheel woble that I was experiencing and after both front springs were replaced (both broken at the botton ring) the whhel woble has disapeared, no further balancing or any other work was carried out to the front suspension, in fact the car flew through it mot after the springs were changed.

 

[television]

Not wishing to get into a slanging match with Malcolm, but I described the wheel woble that I was experiencing and after both front springs were replaced (both broken at the botton ring) the whhel woble has disapeared, no further balancing or any other work was carried out to the front suspension, in fact the car flew through it mot after the springs were changed.

And I have no intention of having a slanging match.

One cant overlook physics, a balanced flywheel will run true in any axis, take a simple gyroscope, it will always run true with no shake.

What I have said and that hold true is that a minor wheel balance problem can be made worse if other components allow it to,, even if the spring fixed your worse shake, you still do not have perfectly balanced wheels, its just an engineering fact that you cannot dismiss

 

[Ken500SL]

Thanks everyone, this is all good stuff. I now have 2 new theories - first, when I drive really slow (M25) on what I suspect is a really flat slab of road, I think I can detect something out of true at load speed - so maybe an uneven tyre, or buckled wheel (alloy?!). So I reckon I'll ask SS Motors to lend me a set of wheels, and we'll see what that does.

I think the reality is that whatever is causing it is being exacerbated by 20 year old suspension that's a bit worn - so depending on the wheel test, I will venture further into a general suspension inspection. I also suspect tracking is out, as it does squeal sometimes at low speed on dry roads - eg carparkes, roundabouts etc...

I remember my 500SL was like driving a swimming pool - totally smooth, still wish I'd never sold it, doh.

Will update you when I get some joy.