I had a friend follow me down the road the other day and he was aghast at the way my left rear wheel was behaving. It was hopping nearly off the ground and the left side of the suspension under the car was moving along with it. I was unaware of this and no such sensation was being transmitted to the car. I followed the car myself and it wasn't as dramatic as he said but it was very noticeable. Much of the motion seemed to be coming from the inner end of the pivot that the rear wheels are attached to (not sure what to call it but it's similar to a front A-arm). My first thought was out of balance wheel but I removed it and had it checked on a spin balancer and it was in balance and not out of round. I put the car on ramps and was unable to make any components wiggle or shift by prying on them. I probably wasn't able to impart enough force with just a large screwdriver though.
Any thoughts? I plan on replacing subframe bushings front and rear since this car will become a DD in a few months (new 16 year old). Might this cure it? Is there a wear item on the inner end of the "control arm"?
Thanks in advance.

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1983 M-B 240D-Gone too.
1976 M-B 300D-Departed.

"Good" is the worst enemy of "Great".

vote: shock

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1996 s10 zr2 with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1996 c2500 suburban with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1981 300sd with a turbo 617
Monte carlo figure 8 car

I'd take the tires to another shop and get a second opinion. have them verify the tread is even all around, and have them test for popped cords. hard to believe there is no vibratory sensation from a wheel hop. either your MB has AWESOME isolation, or you keep your radio too loud!
shocks will do this, and if the tire is not out of round now, it will be very soon if you don't get a bad shock replaced.

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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!

if a shock has failed and there is little resistance from it the vibration may very well not travel to the car at all.

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1996 s10 zr2 with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1996 c2500 suburban with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1981 300sd with a turbo 617
Monte carlo figure 8 car

Sure hope it's a simple as a shock. Pretty easy to check also.
vstech, I took the tire in to a friend's shop and was with them when they spun it. It's not out of round at all and we verified the balance 2X. They did mention a slipped belt or bad cord or something internal as a possibility. Oh, and have you seen the stock radio in a 115? When (if) this one works it's very difficult to tolerate it at any volume at all.
I'll check the shocks. As a side note, when I was following the car to witness the event it didn't do it on a smooth road. It was only by going on a rougher section of pavement that it started happening. This, in my mind also points to shocks now that I think about it.
Thanks!

__________________
1983 M-B 240D-Gone too.
1976 M-B 300D-Departed.

"Good" is the worst enemy of "Great".

__________________
1996 s10 zr2 with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1996 c2500 suburban with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1981 300sd with a turbo 617
Monte carlo figure 8 car