[W126 Coupe] Wheel Shimmy Driving Me Crazy!

[Steve Nervig]

Hi, don'tknowyourname,

You sure have replaced just about everything that I can think of!  Are  
you checking wheel play with the wheel off the ground? And side to  
side and top to bottom?

I would definitely replace the steering damper if you haven't replaced  
it. They aren't very expensive and can be a big contributor to shimmy.

Also, are you sure the tires are good? I know you said you rotated  
them, so that would seem to eliminate an issue with one bad tire (if  
the bad tire was moved to the aft). But maybe more than one is bad?  
Could happen.

Good luck!
Steve


On Nov 8, 2007, at 9:38 AM, plustech at optonline.net wrote:


> I'm not sure about the damper. I believe I replaced it on the 380,  

> but not the 560. I have replaced the drive shaft carrier bearing &  

> mount and flex discs - I know what that feels like - but that's  

> gone. I know it sounds goofy how many parts I have replaced. But I  

> got a good deal on the car. I bought it in 2003 with 85K miles for  

> $4800. The body, engine and tranny were in excellent shape, but I  

> don't know how the previous owner managed to destroy most of the  

> suspension/drive shaft related component. Either very bad steets or  

> got it airborne a few times? So I did not mind spending the money. I  

> plan on getting my 200K mark: at 155K now and still runs perfect -  

> daily driver that has never let me down, and I take care of it well,  

> but it's this last thing that I can't seem to figure out.

>

> The next crazy thing I'm contemplating is lifting the car one wheel  

> at a time - find a way to rotate the wheel up to the 60 mph RPM to  

> hopefully find something. That's why I was asking about the on-car  

> tire balancing ... but I'll check the paperwork for the damper first.

>

> Thanks for the tip!

>

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: Mister McGoo

> Date: Wednesday, November 7, 2007 11:49 pm

> Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Wheel Shimmy Driving Me Crazy!

> To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists

>

> >

> > So you have replaced everything at least once! Yikes. You

> > neglected to mention the steering damper, which I'm sure you

> > likely have replaced three or four times, yes? Your problem

> > sounds frustrating.

> >

> > A couple of [perhaps] unrelated things: I had a 300D (W124 - 6

> > cyl, not 5) on which renewing the motor mounts solved a very

> > slight "steering shimmy" through a speed range around 30 -

> > 35mph. It seems that the motor tended to do a little jig

> > through that rpm range, as the mounts had obviously gone south

> > months before. However, I have never heard of this with a V8.

> >

> > Or, is it possible that your "shimmy" is not in the steering at

> > all, but (for instance) is a driveshaft problem causing the

> > entire body to vibrate so very slightly that you feel it through

> > the steering wheel? The steering box is hard-bolted to the

> > "chassis". I'm thinking of your statement that the vibration

> > appears to coincide with a specific rotational speed.

> >

> > (If we keep this up, you'll have a brand new SEC built totally

> > from some happy person's parts department!)

> >

> > -Bellamy

> >

> >

> > Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2007 22:53:15 -0500From:

> > plustech at optonline.netTo: mbcoupes at mbcoupes.comSubject: Re:

> > [W126 Coupe] Wheel Shimmy Driving Me Crazy!

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Yes, I have replaced the bearings. The play (swivel) is very

> > little, approx 1/8” at the wheel edge, and it takes a fair

> > amount of force. I see the steering idler arm moving slightly up

> > & down at the ball joint end – that is what I think the problem

> > is, but no matter how much I tighten the assembly, it always has

> > some play. I’ll check the bearings again though. Thanks.

> >

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