hi all,

I was driving to work this morning and at really slow speeds 2-5 mph I've noticed the front end shakes L to R by about an inch every few feet. I've also noticed a vibration at 60-80 MPH.

Is it possible that I lost a wheel weight and is causing this L-R shake?

Thanks.

G

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72 250 M130 W114

I'm thinking a bent wheel or a broken belt in a tire.

I've had both happen at one time or another and the car will move side to side at low speeds.


Michael

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Usta haves '69 250/8, '76 280C, 1971 250C 114.023, 1976 450SEL 116.033
Current have, 1983 300SD 126.120

I'm guessing I would have to hit something for a bent rim.

How can I tell it it's a broken belt on the tire?

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72 250 M130 W114

Any chance you have already inspected them?

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1970 280S M130 engine- good runner
1971 250 M130 engine- #2 rod bearing, gone
1971 280SE (blown engine,parts car)
1977 German 280S W116-only 33 years old

I agree about the tire internal failure.

Remove both front wheels and try to roll them in the driveway. If they won't roll straight and true, there's your sign. The other good test is to have them spun at speed on a tire balancer and watch the tread for hoping, and the rim bead for hoping.

If you live where it's starting to get cold at night, that's why you're noticing it now...you basically have a square wheel, or 2.

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Hey Munich, No haven't checked the subframe bushing. where is that located?

Todd, you may be on to something. I'm in DFW, last week morning's where in the upper 80's lower 90's.

This week we've had some rain and morning's are in the low 60's.

Let me guess. car sitting for a while can cause this?

Also, it's less noticible in the afternoons...

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72 250 M130 W114

Are your lug bolts tight?

If so, swap tires around front to rear, or install the spare on one of the front positions and trade it around to see if a tire/wheel is suspect.

A bad belt will not be nearly as obvious when on the rear.

You can often tell if a belt has broken or shifted by jacking up the hweel and turning the tire, while feeling the tread. There will be a bump where the belt is bad.

Jim

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14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

Ok, was a belt. Saw it this morning. Figured I would swap with the spare tonight. Tire had other ideas. Started to fall apart 2 miles away only to limp home and swap it. Problem gone.

Thanks everybody.

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72 250 M130 W114

It's been my experience that broken belts are not to be trifled with. A tire let loose on me at 65 MPH on the canyon highway between Ellensburg and Yakima one day and scared the poo out of me.

Glad to hear you got it figured out and taken care of.

Michael

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Usta haves '69 250/8, '76 280C, 1971 250C 114.023, 1976 450SEL 116.033
Current have, 1983 300SD 126.120

Figured it was, since it was "side-to-side" and appeared to be both tempurature and parking for long periods sensative.

Do yourself a favor and just replace all 4. Tirerack.com has excellent tires for killer prices, and there's just no reason not to have some super nice (not meaning expensive) tires on it.

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Yeah I was thinking of replacing them all.

I was looking at costco and they have a sale on BFG's 10$ off / tire. So a set of BFGoodrich® Premier® Touring P185/70R14 is 51.99 Road hazard included. Which is about the going rate for a brand name tire at tirerack, sorry don't know kumho.

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72 250 M130 W114

That's a bit under tired for a W114.

I'd go for at least 195/70 or even 205/70.

Jim ( W/205/70R14 tires on 7X14 vintage BBS wheels on the 250C)

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14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

Khumho? I didn't mention that brand. Actually, they do make a very good tire. But as has been suggested, go bigger and taller.

Toyo 800
Pirelli
Goodyear
Yokohama
etc.

Get online and download the free program "GearCalc" and you'll see the rpm drop from switching to taller tire. Nicer out on the highway and the handling will be much better.

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