CLC 180 kompressor 2011 steering wheel vibration when brake applied.

[boxer 01]

My e320 is off the road awaiting spares so I have been using my son's clc. I have noticed at low speed when you press the brakes car sort of slows down in a not so smooth way like the brake is applied and then quickly not applied ( it's hard to describe). At high speed when brakes are applied there is steering wheel vibration although car stops ok and the pads have plenty of meat on them. I think that the disc or discs are warped, but I need to know which ones, so the question is what the easiest way to find out which ones are warped.

 

[markjay]

Steering wheel vibration when braking is the result of an issue with the front suspension.

Start with new front discs & pads (to be replaced in pairs) but keep in mind that this can also be caused by another failed suspension component.

Start with replacing the front discs & pads and see if this cures the problem.

Your car BTW is CL203 (when looking for discs).

 

[boxer 01]

Steering wheel vibration when braking is the result of an issue with the front suspension.

Start with new front discs & pads (to be replaced in pairs) but keep in mind that this can also be caused by another failed suspension component.

Start with replacing the front discs & pads and see if this cures the problem.

Your car BTW is CL203 (when looking for discs).

I think the suspension is fine, the reason is the symptoms when driving slow and applying the brake is like it's slowing ever so slightly jerkily as I said it's hard to explain. But new discs and pads is the way forward I think.

 

[W1ghty]

I think the suspension is fine, the reason is the symptoms when driving slow and applying the brake is like it's slowing ever so slightly jerkily as I said it's hard to explain. But new discs and pads is the way forward I think.

What’s the cars mileage buddy ?

 

[boxer 01]

What’s the cars mileage buddy ?

86000. Just got home from work 20 miles mostly motorway, I could detect a small vibration on steering wheel this is without touching the brakes, and the steering seems a bit loose not as tight as my eclass, bear in mind I don't normally drive this car it belongs to my son. Need to get it on a ramp get the track rod ends and ball joints etc checked out before I order new discs.

 

[W1ghty]

86000. Just got home from work 20 miles mostly motorway, I could detect a small vibration on steering wheel this is without touching the brakes, and the steering seems a bit loose not as tight as my eclass, bear in mind I don't normally drive this car it belongs to my son. Need to get it on a ramp get the track rod ends and ball joints etc checked out before I order new discs.

On my CLK ,same platform as yours , at around the 80k mark I had similar issues of vibration under braking . New discs and pads fitted (from MB) and problem went for a while before returning .
In the end I changed both the front suspension arms on each side along with new discs and pads to resolve the problem .
I think if I had trouble diagnosing it in the future I would not have used MB discs and pads as my first attempt to resolve it (if there was any doubt that it was just discs and pads ) . Maybe I would have tried a cheaper set first ? Either that or just accept that at the 80k mark suspension is past it’s best so change all the likely suspects . This would be my diy route , I appreciate not every would want to pay a garage to do it all with the associated costs .
Any chance it’s a sticking brake caliper ?

 

[grober]

On my CLK ,same platform as yours , at around the 80k mark I had similar issues of vibration under braking . New discs and pads fitted (from MB) and problem went for a while before returning .
In the end I changed both the front suspension arms on each side along with new discs and pads to resolve the problem .
I think if I had trouble diagnosing it in the future I would not have used MB discs and pads as my first attempt to resolve it (if there was any doubt that it was just discs and pads ) . Maybe I would have tried a cheaper set first ? Either that or just accept that at the 80k mark suspension is past it’s best so change all the likely suspects . This would be my diy route , I appreciate not every would want to pay a garage to do it all with the associated costs .
Any chance it’s a sticking brake caliper ?

If the car has Floating front calipers-most Mercs have-YES -often caused by failure to grease the caliper sliding pins at pad change time.

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[grober]

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you can often check the pins without removing the caliper carrier- depends on the design---its important to grease the new brake pad end plates also so they slide freely

 

[boxer 01]

Thanks w1ghty and grober will definitely take advice on board and let you know how I go on.

 

[boxer 01]

Just to let everyone know all 4 control arm bushes were perished so new control arms fitted also discs were in a sorry state so new brembo pads and discs fitted, car drives well and brakes as it should. Thanks for advice given.

 

[W1ghty]

Just to let everyone know all 4 control arm bushes were perished so new control arms fitted also discs were in a sorry state so new brembo pads and discs fitted, car drives well and brakes as it should. Thanks for advice given.

Sorted for another 80k miles buddy