W220 Steering Wheel Vibration/Shimmy
 

2001 S600 has a very annoying steering wheel vibration/shimmy at 50 MPH. If you let go of the steering wheel, you can see it oscillate left and right, about 1/8 of an inch.

We have replaced a bent front wheel, replaced both front tires and carefully balanced everything.

Any thoughts on a source of this problem? Front suspension, power steering, etc?

If you go to The Tire Rack website, you can look at a very good vibration diagnosis chart. It will answer your questions. ;)

What was the cause of the bent rim? I usually put my money on a crappy balance job when it comes to vibrations.

Had a vibration in my SE a few years back. Had the tires balanced 4 times, at 2 different shops. Finally a third shop got it right.

Have the tires re-balanced with factory machine that loads the tire durning the balance process.
If that doesn't resolve the problem then have the lower control arm bushings & ball joints checked. WE replace those parts on the W220 chassis UNDER warranty ALL of the time.

Vehicle has 23.000 miles on it.

It was in a bad right front wreck early in its life (stolen and found wrecked) - supposedly all fixed. I bought the car and have ben chasing problems ever since. It is under warranty and the dealer has been helpful, but ultimately ineffective.

I assume the bent wheel was from the accident.

Both lower control arms and ball joints have been replaced.
Dealer has balanced front tires, as has an independent shop - they disagree - each machine says the other is out of balance, The car runs smoothest after the independent shop balancing, but the steering wheel still oscillates.

Steering column electric motor replaced.

Steering angle sensor replaced.

Both engine mounts replaced.

Front tires have 500 miles on them - one was returned as out of round when new.

Steering Damper?

Switch your wheels front/back, and see if the vibration moves to the back. ;)

Can't switch wheels front to back, they are different size (larger in back).

Vehicle has the AMG sport package.

Paul, has your S600 been realigned since the front end wreck? Definitely have the tires balanced with a machine that loads the tires simulating road conditions. It's odd that the 2 different balancing machines disagree ... try a 3rd machine to settle the disagreement. I presume that balance weights are being attached to the inside or outside edge of the wheel, as required, rather than stick-on weights in the center of the wheel.

Vehicle was aligned by the MB dealer 3 weeks ago - was out of alignment.

Now the steering wheel center is slightly left, as opposed to slightly right before the alignment.

A third independent shop's balancing machine disagreed with both - three machines - three results.

What type of machine simulates road loading?

Weights are stickon, but are mounted on inside and outside edge of wheel (AMG wheels).

The wheel in question is a front, correct?
Any chassis vibrations?

Can you throw another set of wheels tires on that car? How about your spare tire..obvious way to single out offending tire, if there is one.

Also, I am with the other posters...your shop needs to decide what who is truly balancing the tires, or you ain't got nothing to go on!

Hope you get this solved. I HATE vibrations.

The famous machine mentioned before is the Hunter GSP 9700.
I know what you're going through.
Had my last set of tires ( Michelin Pilot Sport ) balanced 5 times ( twice by places with the Hunter ).
Finally got a perfect balance by some guy with patience, know-how..........and a 20 year old machine. :confused:

Paul, as Manny states it's important that the tech using a sophisticated balancing machine knows what he's doing. Experience is a real key. My son took his BMW M3 to a specialty shop that had the Hunter GSP 9700 (I'm suspecting from my son's description of the machine's capabilities) and the tech reoriented each tire on the wheel to minimize the balance weight required.

Was the right front rotor replaced or checked for balance?

Took the car out for a spin on a new section of interstate today - absolutely flat asphalt, a rare find here in New Orleans.

The car was perfectly smooth - no symptoms at all.

Shortly thereafter, I returned to our regular roads and all of the symptoms reappeared - lots of steering wheel oscillation and shimmy.

It is acting like the steering linkage can't handle rough roads.

Anyway, the plan on Friday is to swap front wheels/tires with another S class and see if the symptoms persist.

Vib
 

I have a 92 500 SEL that had vibration problems since new, MB tried everything drive shaft, upper bushings, rotating tires, re-aligning. These cars were prone to vibrate at 45, some did others did not. I finally replaced motor mounts, tires (Frestone Torenzas) with road force balancing , lower control arm bushings, sway bar bushings, and steering damper, plus alignment. I dont know exactly what fixed it but it is gone.
If MB aligned the car and the wheel is off center make them fix it, it has to be done with tie rod ajustments, the steering wheel can not be indexed. They probably could not free up one side, and decided to make the ajustment on the other, MB has a strict set uf proceedures to align, including a spreader bar between the wheels. Having been wrecked could add to the confusion.