124 Cabriolet Vibration Damper.

[WDB124066]

I have been told that the RHD 124 Cabriolets were never fitted with the vibration damper on the left front suspension turret that the LHD cars got.

I have looked on mine and it is not fitted. Does this ring true in other RHD markets I wonder..........


If so, was there ever a reason given for this and, does anybody know if it can be fitted without having to make major mods to stop it interfering with other components. Would be interested to find out.

 

[grober]

Rumoured to be because the battery [=heavy lump of lead !] position is different in RHD and LHD cars. That in itself would not be a reason since they are just mirror images of each other EXCEPT when you take into account the direction of engine rotation and its torque/vibration transfer effect on the associated engine mountings exhaust system??

 

[kth286]

have you looked on the parts site to check what is supposed to be fitted to your car - enter VIN.

 

[WDB124066]

I think the road vibration is what they are trying to absorb. I am getting a healthy scuttle shake that is starting to annoy me when the roof is down, on back country roads that is coming up through the steering wheel.
Occurred to me that this vibration damper was put on the same side as the steering wheel on LHD cars to reduce these vibrations.


I have also heard the battery reason, but I am not so sure I accept this – seems like folk law - because of course, there is a battery on LHD cars too yet MB still put one on the LHD cars. I think there is a fair bit of electrical componentry around the RH turret and that meant they didn’t fit one because it required repositioning these components - and that is expensive - just a guess.

My car’s complete history is known and so is another car’s that I have checked, and neither of them have this damper. Could be just a NZL thing I was thinking, but then they don’t have them in Australia either. Maybe a few UK members who have 124 Cabriolets could check to see if the UK got them. Parts site is down. The damper is bolted directly on top of the LH turret on LHD cars and logic would suggest it would be on the RH turret on RHD cars.

Now here’s the thing that got me on to this, one of our fellow enthusiasts in the US has said that when removed the car tends to wobble like there is a road wheel imbalance – which is exactly what I feel.
That got me thinking why don’t the RHD cars have them, and if I fitted one would that mitigate the wobble vibration I am getting on these farmer’s lanes around where I drive. Has anyone ever tried to fit one to the RH turret on a RHD car or even one to the LH turret?

I think they are quite expensive to purchase new so experimenting with cutting and tucking to make it fit is not going to be cheap.

Has anybody ever replaced a vibration damper in the boot or on top of the windscreen where the others are supposed to be fitted, or even checked to make sure they are there for RHD cars. Has fitting new ones made a difference? Do they wear out, ie does the steel part delaminate from the rubber part or some such other failure mechanism?? I would be very interested to know of anybodies experiences with these.

I was thinking of trying out a strut brace, has anyone tried these and do they work well on a Cabriolet? Logic would suggest that a damper might be more appropriate in this situation because you really want the vibration absorbed not just transferred around the chassis. If anybody has any experience with this please let me know your thoughts........

Regards to one and all, W.

 

[kth286]

in addition there are diagonal struts at the front and rear of the frame floor.

are yours still intact.

 

[WDB124066]

Yes. Car is in very, very good condition.

 

[WDB124066]

I am off to check the "for sale" pictures on the car selling websites.....

 

[grober]

I think the road vibration is what they are trying to absorb. I am getting a healthy scuttle shake that is starting to annoy me when the roof is down, on back country roads that is coming up through the steering wheel.
Occurred to me that this vibration damper was put on the same side as the steering wheel on LHD cars to reduce these vibrations.


I have also heard the battery reason, but I am not so sure I accept this – seems like folk law - because of course, there is a battery on LHD cars too yet MB still put one on the LHD cars. I think there is a fair bit of electrical componentry around the RH turret and that meant they didn’t fit one because it required repositioning these components - and that is expensive - just a guess.

My car’s complete history is known and so is another car’s that I have checked, and neither of them have this damper. Could be just a NZL thing I was thinking, but then they don’t have them in Australia either. Maybe a few UK members who have 124 Cabriolets could check to see if the UK got them. Parts site is down. The damper is bolted directly on top of the LH turret on LHD cars and logic would suggest it would be on the RH turret on RHD cars.

Now here’s the thing that got me on to this, one of our fellow enthusiasts in the US has said that when removed the car tends to wobble like there is a road wheel imbalance – which is exactly what I feel.
That got me thinking why don’t the RHD cars have them, and if I fitted one would that mitigate the wobble vibration I am getting on these farmer’s lanes around where I drive. Has anyone ever tried to fit one to the RH turret on a RHD car or even one to the LH turret?

I think they are quite expensive to purchase new so experimenting with cutting and tucking to make it fit is not going to be cheap.

Has anybody ever replaced a vibration damper in the boot or on top of the windscreen where the others are supposed to be fitted, or even checked to make sure they are there for RHD cars. Has fitting new ones made a difference? Do they wear out, ie does the steel part delaminate from the rubber part or some such other failure mechanism?? I would be very interested to know of anybodies experiences with these.

I was thinking of trying out a strut brace, has anyone tried these and do they work well on a Cabriolet? Logic would suggest that a damper might be more appropriate in this situation because you really want the vibration absorbed not just transferred around the chassis. If anybody has any experience with this please let me know your thoughts........

Regards to one and all, W.

My only comment would be that the W124 Cabriolet was manufactured in an era when engineering priority still held sway at MB. If a vibration damper was required for RHD cars an engineering solution would have been found and it would have been fitted! And yes there is a battery in LHD cars too but its on the other side of the car in relation to engine rotation!

You are experiencing vibration from the steering--first thing to change is the steering damper--they fail or have reduced action every 25-30,000 miles. Its the the little horizontal shock absorber mounted between the drag link and chassis.Can make a huge difference to steering feel? here's a post about it--- its for a W202 but basically the same replace operation.Changing the steering damper on my W202 - MBClub UK Forums

In the meantime here's a few pics I found on the damper you mention-its not something you are going to miss is it. possible part no is A 124 320 61 30.
p.s your engine bay cross brace sounds a good idea and may well stiffen up the front end handling wise . I'm not sure if it will reduce vibration tho??

 

[Dee-124CAB]

I have a E220 cabriolet, & must say I have not really suffered any kind of scuttle shake or vibration ever, roof up or down. And I have owned my cab for over 4 years now.

The ride is very refined compared to my other Cab (E30 BMW 325i), the scuttle shake & body flex is quite considerable in the BMW. im with grober, try the steering damper.... pretty cheap part & also easy to change.

 

[WDB124066]

Thank you Gentlemen for your comments and especially for the pictures.

I have checked other cars in the UK on the “For Sale” sites and conclude that the UK didn’t get them either.

Steering Damper has been replaced recently, and yes, what a vital part.

As you suggest I'd like to think the designers would have found a solution without the accountants getting involved too much. I am inclined to "believe" a little, but not absolutely - just yet.

However, I am totally sure in my mind the vibrations the Engineers were installing the various vibration dampers for, were NOT engine generated vibrations. They are taken care of by other techniques, harmonic balancers, advanced hydraulic engine mounts (which have been replaced), even counter rotating “silent shafts” in the case of Mitsubishi etc. It is the road induced vibrations, or wobble, that Cabriolets suffer from the most, and it is this tendency I am sure they were "Engineering out" by using the vibration dampers we are discussing.
I have heard from US owners that the cars feel like they have an out of balance wheel when the front turret damper is removed, this is from firsthand experience. I am getting that exact feeling and I do not understand why MB would see fit to fit one for LHD cars and not RHD cars, surely the chassis dynamics are almost identical.

Are there any Rotating Equipment Engineers or better still, Vibration Engineers out there who can add something to this.....?? I for one would be very interested in your comments.

In the meantime, spurred on by your comment that the 124 is more stable than the little BMW’s, there are two other things I am inclined to try, new front shocks and a strut brace.

But, I am still very much inclined to try one of these Dampers just to see if it will fit, and to see if it makes any difference at all. If my sources are correct, they are not cheap @ approx USD$700 odd each.
If anybody has one, or knows somebody in Europe where we could get even a second hand one to try first, I would be very very grateful indeed.


All the very best to one and all, W.

 

[grober]

Here's a short video of an unmolested W124 cabriolet for sale in the USA. You can clearly see the damper on the underbonnet shot towards the end-2mins 56secs[YOUTUBE]3paVGZU07CU&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]

 

[grober]

Strut braces

There is also a good thread about strut braces here if you are interested? 124 Strut Brace - Benzworld.org - Mercedes-Benz Discussion Forum

 

[grober]

You may also be interested in this early brochure ( unfortunately in German) on the 300-24v Cabriolet. It has several transparent/cutaway pictures of the cabriolet body and has a small section on page 36 detailing/picturing the very damper you speak of. Later brochures don't mention or depict the cutaways or damper details. http://www.w124-clubdt.de/fileadmin/user_upload/kataloge/2/Typ 300 CE-24 Cabriolet Januar 1992.pdf

I have to say I loved the Artwork on these older Merc brochures!:bannana:

 

[grober]

Here's a cross section of the unit in place.
Plus a link to a pdf of its removal/replacement. http://www.ps2cho.net/downloads/MB CD/W124/w124CD2/Program/Chassis/32-0100.pdf

 

[WDB124066]

You are diamond Graeme, thank you very very much.

I have a copy of the early (German Language) Cabriolet brochure and forgot that there was a picture and a bit of a commentary in there. I need to figure out a way to copy the brochure text into a translator site though. Likewise I have the MB manuals.

When I click the link it just opens the MB club page that I was on already!

Anyway, it looks to me as if it is almost a straight bolt on arrangement with maybe just the removal of the existing rebound stop. Only thing is on my car there is a bunch of electrical stuff and a fuel type engine adjustment device attached to the turret which will need to be relocated.

I have already ordered the strut brace - it is going to be one or the other as it doesn’t look like I can get the brace on when the damper is in position.

All I need now is a second hand damper out of a wreckers yard to try.

If you could find one of those for me then I’d upgrade you to double diamond with sapphires on top J

I will place an enquiry with a yard I know in Germany, but if anybody knows of any other decent European MB wreckers yards please let me know. I am still after a replacement RH seat

Once again thanks for everything Graeme.

Regards to all, W.

 

[grober]

My google translation of the section as follows:-

VIBRATION ABSORBER.
To avoid unpleasant vibrations that could impair driving comfort were in the trunk, installed in the engine compartment, and in the windshield frame vibration. These are weights that counteract verbunden of strong spring elements to the body, the vehicle vibrations.

So no real new information unfortunately except to confirm what we already knew about the location of these extra weights.

This translation from the German W124 site Mercedes-Benz W 124-Club e.V. für alle Mercedes W 124 Modelle: W 124-Club Germany e.V. for all Mercedes W 124 models on the history of the convertibles in the 124series Google Translate This article describes the increase in weight due to body re-inforcement as more than 130 kg of extra sheet metal to compensate for the missing 28 kg of the coupé roof and the four vibration absorbers adding an additional 26 kg to the vehicle weight

 

[joef]

Hello from Canada. I to have wondered what would happen if the vibration damper was removed. I have a heavily modified w124 cabrio, and managed to purchase used RDMTEK strut mounts as apposed to going the route of the strut brace. I've been reluctant to install them because I've been hoping to see this kind of info surface before venturing down that road. Please keep us updated of any new information

Picture attached of what my wife calls my mistress

 

[grober]

If you have a "mistress" may as well be one with a bit of class. Nice car Who manufactures those seats?

 

[joef]

The manufacturer is Yonaka Motorsports. It's Japanese made and I had them recovered to match the interior. These are the only pictures I could find

 

[WDB124066]

I haven't caught up with you for quite a while Joef! Good to hear from you again.

Would you mind doing me a bit of a favour?

Would you have any objection to removing the MB vibration damper from your car and taking it for a drive to see what the difference is. I have heard from one person in the US that it made a difference similar to what an out of balance wheel would feel like, ie a wobble type vibration. I am very interested to know just how accurate this information is and just how much the difference is. I am more inclined to trust your impression than most. Likewise if Ed is following this I'd sure appreciate both of your comments as I know you are the right types to give accurate feedback.

At the end of the day it could be that my problem could simply be worn out front shocks and that there is no need at all to fit a vibration damper. But if they are available and if they work then I would like them on just to make it as smooth as possible.

In the meantime how exactly do these RDMTEK strut mounts work. Are they there to absorb vibration or adjust camber? I already have camber adjustment in my car so I imagine I don’t need anymore, but I am interested in their other claims to tighten flex of the standard strut mount. I am guessing it is just a tighter way to fix the top joint which allows less movement than the stock fixing – rather than body vibration damping like the Benz damper performs........??