[W126 Coupe] Wheel Shimmy Driving Me Crazy!

[Jonathan Hodgman]

Glad to help.....the bushings are often overlooked.  For good measure I'd
consider changing out the upper control arms and the associated
bushings....it tightens everything up:)

I'd be curious to see what your design looks like....I'll be digging into my
TT setup this winter.


Jonathan



On Nov 10, 2007 6:58 PM, Bruce Mendel <brucem105 at comcast.net> wrote:


>  Although I had nothing to do with helping you, I am more than willing to

> accept the supercharger plans. :)

>

> Seriously, glad to hear the problem is solved...nothing like crossing a

> really annoying long-term problem off the list of things to do!

>

> Bruce

>

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

> *From:* Alexander Hochhausl <plustech at optonline.net>

> *To:* 'Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists' <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>

> *Sent:* Saturday, November 10, 2007 5:30 PM

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

>

>  Ding, ding, ding. You are the winner – or am I?

>

>

>

> I had checked the control arm bushings before, with the car jacked up –

> felt fine.

>

>

>

> Today I checked the wheel bearings, the steering play, with the car jacked

> up again … bla-bla-bla – nothing.

>

>

>

> Then I dropped it down and felt the wheel play again. Out of frustration I

> grabbed the upper control arm, and out-to-out, nothing, but forward and

> backward – 3/8" of play, if not more! Oh my god! That was the drivers side,

> the passenger side, about ¼"! So I took out the rubber bushings, and saw the

> shiny silver tell-tale sign of movement. So while I'm waiting for the new

> bushings I put a pair of 5/8" washers in on each side to increase the

> bushing compression. All the play is gone. I took it for a ride, and I tell

> you all, it is like a new car. The vibrations do not exist – you are waiting

> for them, but they don't show up. I know it's normal NOT to have them, but

> after 5 years of dealing with it – it is simply AMAZING – smooth as silk – I

> am in heaven!

>

>

>

> So I probably spent $300 over the past 5 years on a problem that $0.30 of

> washers fixed.

>

>

>

> Jonathan and the rest of you all that gave me advice – I am truly in your

> debt. I can't tell you how many "experts" I have been to that either told be

> a bunch of crap or had no idea (and told mea bunch of crap).

>

>

>

> So now that the SEC is virtually perfect, I feel I need to repay you all.

> So I have decided that I will share my Supercharger plans for free for the

> asking. I was hoping to make a few bucks to break even on my investment, but

> you have saved me who knows how many $ with this (now simple) solution. Give

> me a few days to organize the info and I will post pics, plans and parts

> lists. It takes a bunch of work (none of which is irreversible by the way),

> but the payoff of having an extra 100-150 HP under the hood is just a pure

> rush. Especially when you blow one of those punks with the 3" exhaust pipe

> (you've seen them) off the road, and the next light they look at you like

> you are a magician! But I will warn you ahead of time – if you blow the

> engine or tranny – don't come knocking on my door. I have had the setup for

> almost a year now, and the car runs perfect (and I have over 150K miles

> on the original set-up). But like anything it takes common sense and

> moderation to make sure you don't destroy your car.

>

>

>

> I wish you all smooth cruising – I know I will (finally)!

>

>

>

>

>

> -----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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-- 
Blue Ridge Mercedes/AMG East
Offering Enthusiast Service, Restoration and Modification.
Providing quality parts to discriminating customers in all parts of the
world.
Located in the Greater Atlanta area.
http://www.blueridgemb.com
404 805 1357

1996 S600 Euro "Scharnhorst"
1991 560 SEC Full Euro ECE
1991 560 SEC 226Hp/271ft/lbs:)
1989 560 SEC AMG (N.Amer 250/295)
1986 560 SEL AMG 6.0L 32V
1980 280 SE Euro
1978 300D TMU
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