Hi all,

Tried searching, but not having any luck. I have a 1991 560SEL with 163k miles. After long (1+ hour) drives at highway speeds (and higher), if I stop the car, then pull away in a turn, say out of a parking spot, I get a shudder when accelerating out of the spot. Only seems to be happening when I'm turning, and only at low speeds. No other unusual drive train noises, and the shuddering only appears after a higher speed run when turning at low speeds (usually only from a stop). I assume this shudder is because of a difference in speed between the two drive wheels? Hard to tell where shudder is coming from, but it sort of feels from directly in the middle of the car, not the front or back.

Is this the diff? The rear CV joints? I had my mechanic change the rear diff fluid about 3k miles ago when I first got the car. Then started noticing the problem (but I had never had it on long, high speed runs before). SO, to be safe, I changed rear diff fluid myself with Mobil One diff oil. Problem has remained consistent. Rear CV joints look fine, don't seem to have unusual play or movement, and boots are fine. Hasn't gotten worse or better. I can drive around all day at city speeds and never experience the problem.

Any advice?

Does the shudder happen more on right than say left turns? If it happens only turning one direction, I would suspect one of the drive axles. If it happens with the same frequency both left and right, I would suspect driveline or differential mount. My educated guess!

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81 300CD (sold) 1972 280 SEL 4.5 (sold) 1966 250 S 4 spd (sold) 1974 450 SL (sold) 86 BMW 325ES (sold), 1973 280C (sold) 1988 300 SE.

Wrong lube, no slippage in the rear if it’s a possi differential. Another possibility is low transmission fluid level and or it may be time for a transmission service/filter change. Check the drive shaft for any lateral / vertical movement in the front flex disk and center support.

My 88 560SEC had a vibration, shutter on acceleration from a stop, the cause was drive shaft movement, were the rear and front shaft slide into each other and a defective transmission rear tail roller bearing, a lot of lateral play there.


Any lack of power, engine related shutter, engine miss- fire and or fuel filter.