Shaking at High Speeds

MBProS320 · 09-27-2006, 12:13 PM

Need assistance from my fellow MB enthusiasts. I have a 98 S320 LWB, and for some reason, the car seems to be shaking at high speeds, but not on the lower speeds. I got brand new tires, full alignment, and the shake went down, but its still there. On top of all that, my steering wheel shakes also, even at times that the car is not shaking.

Any suggestions on approaching this situation?

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NZ_Benz · 09-27-2006, 06:14 PM

Might be a bent rim.

MB AMG · 09-27-2006, 08:57 PM

Try balancing your wheels. I had the same problem as you.

miloking · 10-01-2006, 09:24 PM

Its a normal issue with w140, i had same issue and after replacing the front sway bar bushings and link rods its gone...
try to start there if you already have new tires and alligment done....

shadowgriffen · 10-02-2006, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NZ_Benz

Might be a bent rim.

This sounds about right to me.

Rod Spohn · 10-03-2006, 01:58 PM

HAve you replaced the steering stablizer? Could be a cheep fix. I had the same problem.... after several tire balances & 2 front end allignments , it went away when I changed the stablizer. If it started when you put on the new tires you could have a bad one.
Good luck

deuxslow · 10-03-2006, 03:53 PM

If you're running staggert wheels (wider in the rear than the front) check and make sure they are correctly setup. I noticed that the shop had mounted them wrong. Took me almost a week to realize this. The car was shaking pretty bad.

MBProS320 · 10-04-2006, 04:33 PM

Not running with staggered wheels, only original 16" rims (old rims cracked in the rain with NJ potholes). Going to have checked (1) sway bars (2) steering stabilizer (3) bent rims. Any other suggestions, please shoot them back on this post.

miloking · 10-09-2006, 10:27 PM

I've just found out some interesting info on one of the forums on the w140 wheel shake issue.
Make sure that your wheel nuts are tighten to correct torque and in correct order, apparently that is an issue with the wheels have been tightened with airgun and are overtigh.
Iam not sure about the physics of why that is but something to do with merc stud patern being quite big and bolts being far from centre of wheel...
So if yoou have torque wrech check the correct torque on each bolt and if not get shop to do it....but deffinately no airgun around your wheels.

MBProS320 · 10-13-2006, 12:31 PM

Ill check out the lugnuts. I had a problem about three years ago that was fixed with correct torquing, so let me try again. Will keep you guys updated. Appreciate all the advice.

kenjmoser · 11-03-2009, 01:45 PM

Folks, I just did the w140 Sway Bar bushings, sway bar links and steering dampner replacement. Unfortunately I had the sway bar off three times as first I got the rear bushings instead of the fronts -- so I replaced the links and ordered the 'new updated bushing' per the MB dealership. I got these took off the bar again only to find out that these parts 14032301085 which the computer said would fit my 93 300SD were for the AMG sway bar and were about 2mm too big. So reordered the originals 1403230985 and finally got them right on the third crawl under the car. I guess the third time was the charm. At least now I new how to do it and on this last try I only had to take off one link plus the two upfront bushing holders -- after cutting off the old it was fairly easy to slide the new bushings on from one side. I anticipate doing this every 3-4 years as it made a big improvement verse the originals that were banging on every road bump at 194K miles. Takes about 45 minutes and only costs about $10. One last note, the bag that the AMG ones came in had been opened so I assume that someone else made the same discovery I did regarding the 'update'.

10-01-2006, 09:24 PM	#4
miloking Newbie Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 3 Drives: 1992 - 500SEL	RE:Shaking at High Speeds Its a normal issue with w140, i had same issue and after replacing the front sway bar bushings and link rods its gone... try to start there if you already have new tires and alligment done....

10-04-2006, 04:33 PM	#8
MBProS320 Almost a Member! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 54 Drives: 1984 300 D // 1995 Lexus ES300 // 1998 S320 // 2000 S500 // 2006 Lexus LS430 // 2007 Ford Expedition	Not running with staggered wheels, only original 16" rims (old rims cracked in the rain with NJ potholes). Going to have checked (1) sway bars (2) steering stabilizer (3) bent rims. Any other suggestions, please shoot them back on this post. __________________ The gold rush of 1849 was full of potential profit for every single miner. It is said that 1 out of every 35 miners hit a significant amount of gold, leading to fortune. But the richest man at the end of the rush was no miner, but the gentleman outside selling the shovels.

10-09-2006, 10:27 PM	#9
miloking Newbie Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 3 Drives: 1992 - 500SEL	wheel shake I've just found out some interesting info on one of the forums on the w140 wheel shake issue. Make sure that your wheel nuts are tighten to correct torque and in correct order, apparently that is an issue with the wheels have been tightened with airgun and are overtigh. Iam not sure about the physics of why that is but something to do with merc stud patern being quite big and bolts being far from centre of wheel... So if yoou have torque wrech check the correct torque on each bolt and if not get shop to do it....but deffinately no airgun around your wheels. Last edited by miloking; 10-09-2006 at 10:32 PM.

10-13-2006, 12:31 PM	#10
MBProS320 Almost a Member! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 54 Drives: 1984 300 D // 1995 Lexus ES300 // 1998 S320 // 2000 S500 // 2006 Lexus LS430 // 2007 Ford Expedition	Ill check out the lugnuts. I had a problem about three years ago that was fixed with correct torquing, so let me try again. Will keep you guys updated. Appreciate all the advice. __________________ The gold rush of 1849 was full of potential profit for every single miner. It is said that 1 out of every 35 miners hit a significant amount of gold, leading to fortune. But the richest man at the end of the rush was no miner, but the gentleman outside selling the shovels.

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09-27-2006, 06:14 PM	#2
NZ_Benz MBWorld Fanatic! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New Zealand Posts: 2,290 Drives: 1993 300SEL/S320	Might be a bent rim.

09-27-2006, 08:57 PM	#3
MB AMG MBWorld Fanatic! Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 3,916 Drives: E320	Try balancing your wheels. I had the same problem as you.

10-03-2006, 01:58 PM	#6
Rod Spohn Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 323 Drives: 1996 S320 & 2002 Pewter C5 Corvette	HAve you replaced the steering stablizer? Could be a cheep fix. I had the same problem.... after several tire balances & 2 front end allignments , it went away when I changed the stablizer. If it started when you put on the new tires you could have a bad one. Good luck

10-03-2006, 03:53 PM	#7
deuxslow Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 119 Drives: e39 528i	If you're running staggert wheels (wider in the rear than the front) check and make sure they are correctly setup. I noticed that the shop had mounted them wrong. Took me almost a week to realize this. The car was shaking pretty bad.

11-03-2009, 01:45 PM	#11
kenjmoser Newbie Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1	Folks, I just did the w140 Sway Bar bushings, sway bar links and steering dampner replacement. Unfortunately I had the sway bar off three times as first I got the rear bushings instead of the fronts -- so I replaced the links and ordered the 'new updated bushing' per the MB dealership. I got these took off the bar again only to find out that these parts 14032301085 which the computer said would fit my 93 300SD were for the AMG sway bar and were about 2mm too big. So reordered the originals 1403230985 and finally got them right on the third crawl under the car. I guess the third time was the charm. At least now I new how to do it and on this last try I only had to take off one link plus the two upfront bushing holders -- after cutting off the old it was fairly easy to slide the new bushings on from one side. I anticipate doing this every 3-4 years as it made a big improvement verse the originals that were banging on every road bump at 194K miles. Takes about 45 minutes and only costs about $10. One last note, the bag that the AMG ones came in had been opened so I assume that someone else made the same discovery I did regarding the 'update'.

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