[W126 Coupe] Wheel Shimmy Driving Me Crazy!

[Alexander Hochhausl]

Which way is "this way"? Actually I was just out there and noticed there
is about 1/8-1/4" play wiggling the driver side wheel left to right
before the steering wheel starts to move - play in the steering gearbox
- I never noticed it before. Does not look normal. I know the 380 SLC
steering gearbox is adjustable - this may be the ticket? I will check
this out this week-end & I am due for new tires (I got 40K miles on this
set). If you can let me know who/where does this, I'd be happy to take a
ride in the spring with the new tires. Thanks for the thoughts.
 
-----Original Message-----
From: mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com
[mailto:mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com] On Behalf Of Jonathan
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2007 12:57 PM
To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists
Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Wheel Shimmy Driving Me Crazy!
 
You should come out this way as my tyre guy does on the car balancing,
ie, each one is spun up to about 80-90- mph while on a lift...makes for
a Smooth ride!

Have you looked closely @ the lower and upper control arm bushings?

Jonathan
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.

> 

> _________________________________________________________________

> Send a smile, make someone laugh, have some fun! Start now!

> http://www.freemessengeremoticons.ca/?icid=EMENCA122

 





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