Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Tech Help

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-09-2015, 10:26 AM
ps2cho's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chandler, Arizona
Posts: 3,525
Wheel wobble and pulls to right...wheel bearing?

This is on my 300TE. It has been like this for a while and when I had it aligned the dealer said it was a radial defect in the new set of tires I bought so I didn't worry about it. 30k miles later I replace all the tires and it's still here.

The steering wheel wobbles at speed a little and I have a good pull to the right. This morning I noticed that while braking it does not pull and drives straight.

I've replaced the LCA ball joints tie rods center link and idler arm bushings.

I have 162k now and the wheel bearings are original and have never been repacked. Could the bearings be the problem based on my description?

__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-09-2015, 10:27 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Carolina
Posts: 1,542
Have you tried rotating your tires to see if that makes any difference?
__________________
Current fleet
2006 E320 CDI
1992 300D - 5speed manual swapped

former members
1984 300D "Blues Mobile"

1978 300CD "El Toro"
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-09-2015, 10:54 AM
ps2cho's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chandler, Arizona
Posts: 3,525
Yep when the tires were replaced I moved them all around just in case it could have been a bent rim or something
__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-09-2015, 12:24 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TX
Posts: 3,978
If the bearings are the factory packed originals then you are asking a bit too much from the lubricant and bearing.

I would suggest replacing them or atleast repacking them after a good close inspection.

At your car's age the grease must be spent.
__________________
2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-09-2015, 12:58 PM
ps2cho's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chandler, Arizona
Posts: 3,525
With the work to take them out I'll replace them. Will I need to reset the toe after?
__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-09-2015, 04:26 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Modesto CA
Posts: 4,078
Quote:
Originally Posted by ps2cho View Post
This is on my 300TE. It has been like this for a while and when I had it aligned the dealer said it was a radial defect in the new set of tires I bought so I didn't worry about it. 30k miles later I replace all the tires and it's still here.

The steering wheel wobbles at speed a little and I have a good pull to the right. This morning I noticed that while braking it does not pull and drives straight.

I've replaced the LCA ball joints tie rods center link and idler arm bushings.

I have 162k now and the wheel bearings are original and have never been repacked. Could the bearings be the problem based on my description?
Look for a stuck piston in the RF caliper, and a high spot in that rotor.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 07-09-2015, 04:36 PM
ps2cho's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chandler, Arizona
Posts: 3,525
I guess I never considered that. I do not own a tool to measure caliper thickness. Can I just use any sort of digital caliper or is there a special tool specific for measuring brake disk wear?

I am driving the car today. When I get home I can immediately use my IR temp gun and see if that brake disk is hotter than the other. Although it might also be warmer if the bearing is bad too. Might be interesting to notate anyway.

Thanks guys.
__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 07-10-2015, 08:02 AM
Hirnbeiss's Avatar
ich fahre, also bin ich
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: South Florida
Posts: 1,671
No need normally to align after the front bearing job.
__________________
Prost!
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 07-10-2015, 10:37 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TX
Posts: 3,978
Quote:
Originally Posted by ps2cho View Post
I guess I never considered that. I do not own a tool to measure caliper thickness. Can I just use any sort of digital caliper or is there a special tool specific for measuring brake disk wear?

I am driving the car today. When I get home I can immediately use my IR temp gun and see if that brake disk is hotter than the other. Although it might also be warmer if the bearing is bad too. Might be interesting to notate anyway.

Thanks guys.
you can use a vernier calipers to measure the brake disc provided if you can find two spacers so that you are measuring the wear surface of the disc and not getting hung up on the edge of the disc.

Use the spacers on the caliper jaws and subtract the length of the spacers from the measurement.
__________________
2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 07-11-2015, 02:08 AM
79Mercy's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Florida
Posts: 4,131
Inspect the lower control arm bushings closely, had a w210 with a shimmy and it was a broken lca bushing causing the shimmy
__________________
1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 07-11-2015, 06:30 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Southeastern PA
Posts: 3,077
ps2cho, no real need to measure the disc thickness. What you should do is measure the run-out with a dial indicator to ensure that disc runs straight and true when turned. Typically, front discs will last through 2 sets of front brake pads, then need to be replaced. If it's been a while since you last replaced front discs, simply replace the front discs. I always buy new discs from our local MB dealer. Be sure to replace the brake pads too, and seat them in properly so as not to warp the new discs from the jump.

As Frank says caliper pistons should retract easily with moderate force.

If you repack/replace the front wheel bearings there is a precise procedure for repacking them. Be sure to follow it to ensure long bearing life.
__________________
Fred Hoelzle

Last edited by Ferdman; 07-12-2015 at 06:59 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 07-11-2015, 09:05 AM
ps2cho's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chandler, Arizona
Posts: 3,525
I can definitely do that since I need a dial gauge to set the bearing load. What is an acceptable run out amount? Is there an MB spec?

Just looked on my excel doc and I replaced front rotors in November 2013 with 140k on odo, so they have 22k on them -- not too old. I have a feeling this issue predates the rotor replacement, but it cant hurt to test anyway since I'll have the tool.
__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

Last edited by ps2cho; 07-11-2015 at 09:19 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 07-11-2015, 12:17 PM
vstech's Avatar
DD MOD, HVAC,MCP,Mac,GMAC
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mount Holly, NC
Posts: 26,835
Bearings don't often result in wobble, they usually make a racket first.
__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 07-11-2015, 01:16 PM
lsmalley's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: California
Posts: 2,135
See if you can isolate the problem. You've already replaced most of the front components and rotated the tires around, try swapping the front rotors around and see if the problem moves to the other side......Also don't forget to move the brake pads too so they are on the same rotor.
__________________

1990 190E 3.0L
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 07-12-2015, 07:09 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Southeastern PA
Posts: 3,077
ps2cho, just read your original post again. The steering wheel wobble at speed could be the result of tires/wheels that need to be road-force balanced, or the steering damper could be shot. When was the steering damper replaced last?

Not sure about the allowable runout for a disc; however, unless you experience a vibration while braking I would conclude that the front discs are OK and not warped.

__________________
Fred Hoelzle
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:06 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page