steering wheel shakes

[len497111]

steering wheel shakes at 70-80 miles an hour on my 560SL What could cause this?

[jjrodger]

Wheel balance is the first and easiest fix. After that there are alignment and new tyres to consider.

[kip Foss]

Wheel alignment will not make the wheels shake. It will make your tires rear badly or it will make the car pull to one side.

It is either out of balance. loose steering connections, or tread seperating from you tire. I just had a tread seperation on my 450slc and although it didn't occur at 80mph it definately made the wheels shake at 30. Put your car on a lift and spin the tires. Run your hand over the tread and feel for a bump or bulge. While it is up you can also check the suspension system for wear.

[tahodgson]

I had a speed-sensitive shake too, right at 55. Rotating the tires front to back helped, but new, well-balanced tires eliminated it completely. I'd say tire balancing would do the trick. Good luck!

[LOWMILE]

I have read some threads that when you first take your hardtop off your car can shake due to the lack of structual support from your hard top. This shimmy take's a while to calm down. Have you recently removed your hardtop? Just a thought.

[kip Foss]

If your sl relys on the structural support of a flimsy removeable hard top then your car is in big trouble. That top is held down with a couple of piss ant clips and can not do anything for that car except hang on for dear life.

If you feel a wobble in the front end then go straight to a front end shop and have the tires balanced. Also check all the suspension members and the sub frame mounts.

[phelan]

My 129 is much more solid feeling with the Hardtop in place. With it off on certain surface it feels like a wet noodle!.

[LOWMILE]

Hey Kip like I posted I said I have read some post's that said that you can feel a shimmy when you remove the hardtop. After a while the car settles in to it. Or maybe you get used to it I don't know if I read it first or felt it first but it is there. Some people are more "in tune" with their ride's than other's. My wife could run on her run flat's for a week and never know she had a flat tire. But like I said I have read some post's that say...you can feel a difference I sure can feel It. The hardtop make's a difference. That I am sure of and my car is not a Fred Flintstone model. It is 23000 mile's young. 1972 350SL Here is a picture.

[kip Foss]

Lowmiles,
As an engineer it is hard for me to believe that the hard top could add enough structural strength to a car that has as strong a sub-frame system as does the SL to make a noticeable difference. I could see that if might make the car handle slightly differently in the wind or at high speeds but to actually cause a shimmy or the like seems a little strange.

I have an slc so I can't really speak from experience. I am not discounting your experience because I know for a actual fact that my car goes faster after I wash it.

My wife is just the opposite of yours. She can feel a pea size rock in the tire or the slightest wobble in the suspension long before I notice it. As frustrating as it is sometimes I would rather have her notice everything than not notice the oil light that has been of for the last, and I mean last as in the end of the car, few miles.

PS. That is a lovely SL. Good luck.

[LOWMILE]

Read the threads there are quite a few on the subject, there is even a name for the condition... now I am going to find the thread and repost!