Is the W140 particularly sensitive to wheel balance? I've had mine balanced twice and I still get a shake through the steering wheel at 50 mph. I can't get them balanced on the car as no one seems to have a machine that will take the W140. I have 50% worn Pirellis with no bulges, cuts etc. Any ideas?

TIA

There are a lot of good threads that deal with wheel balance.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/search.php?action=showresults&searchid=278824&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending

Any machine can handle the wheels off of a W140.

My guess is that you need to use a shop that uses the clamp-on weights that go on the inside and outside lip of the wheel. Stick-on weights that go on the underside of the wheel cannot balance your wheels properly. Also, the clamp-on weights that MB wheels use are different, and if the shop is not using these weights, they will fly off.

Find a shop that uses the Hunter GSP9700 wheel balance machine.

www.gsp9700.com

On the website, click on Locate a GSP9700, enter your zip code, and you will find shops near where you live.

Last, all MB dealers use this machine, they have the right kind of clamps, and they successfully balance wheels on a daily basis on W140 cars.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

are you sure the shake is attributable to unbalanced tires?there are alot of other factors that contribute to a shudder.use the search for other causes.ie:flex discs,tie rods......

__________________
'95 s500 (bought for wife but can't bear to share!!!) 125kms
'92 legend 180kms
'88 tbirdturbo(fantastic car-only regular maint.)120kms
'87 mustang gt(gone)
'86 tbirdturbo(gone)
'85 mustang gt(gone-but not forgotten)

Paul S. said it well. If you haven't been to the dealer for a balancing, start there. I have had bad luck with tire dealers. The one-piece wheel weights they use do fall off, as Paul said.

If you look at older MBs in a parking lot, you'll see a lot of wheels with no visible wheel weights (but a shadow where they USED to be) -- due to use of the wrong weights and subsequently flying off at speed.

__________________
Steve
'93 400E