1991 W126 Has Violent Front End Shake @60 MPH After Hitting Bump
 

My 1991 350SDL W126 has 159K on it and recently had a major front end/steering rebuild. Now it will vilolently shake if I hit a goiod bump in the road right around 60MPH, the shaking can only be stopped if I hit the brakes. Work was done by a local MB trained independent. I took the car to the local MB dealer. They visually inspected the front end, they tell me the front end is fine and can't determine a source of the shaking.

Any ideas appreciated.

Thank you.

ezrider,

Was the steering damper replaced as part of the front end rebuild? It probably was but better to ask than assume.

The only other thing that I can think of would be extra play in a bushing due to something not being tightened properly.

jlc

I second the steering damper. You will need to check to see if it has a "hard" spot in the travel -- this will cause is to "bounce" rather than just absorb the shock from the bump.

You should also check the front wheel balance -- you may have tossed off a wheel weight, so that the damper is overworked from an out of balance tire, too.

That happens fairly frequently -- I found a wheel weight in my brother's grill the the other year, obviously tossed off another car's wheel and off the road.

Peter

Two more possibles are the idler arm assembly or the tires.

I do not find the steering damper on the list of front end parts replaced so I will get a new one installed. I see that Bilstein and Boge make the dampers, is one better than the other?

Thank you.