symptom diagnosis help
 

Hi, I've got an 85 500sel, it's begun to sound as if my tires are underinflated, although they're not....there's a whining, which is associated with the speed of the car and not the speed of the engine....I was thinking wheel bearings, but I'm just guessing...any help please

First test: rotate your tires front to rear. If the sound changes or moves, tire wear pattern is the issue.

Steve

Hello and thanks for responding.....I did as you suggested, but it made no difference to the noise.....I investigated a little further, ...it makes the noise in neutral and also with the engine off.....I then remembered that my ABS light went on a couple of weeks ago, but went off soon after.....so, I wonder, would the ABS light go out even if there were something continuing to be wrong with the ABS....Also, the break wear indicator, I assume it's auditory....does it sound anything like the noise I'm describing?.....or, any other ideas you might have....thanks .Ken Heimbuch

No auditory warning on MB brakes, at least not till you are metal to metal.

There is a good chance that a wheel sensor would be affected by the play in a bad wheel bearing.

Thanks, but I wonder then how the brake sensor communicates with you....is it by the dash board light? I also have come to understand that a wheel bearing would make a rythmic sort of noise, and that the wheel might show some back and forth looseness, neither of which is the case, thanks for your help. Ken.

When front wheel bearings went bad on one of my Sd's it sounded like I had deep lug snow tires on the front got very loud...........

William Rogers..........