Steering wheel wobble on AMG cars?

[PenguinDog]

Hi Everyone,

I have very recently purchased a 2012 CLS63 and i'm very happy with it but I experience a steering wheel wobble at high speeds, its worst at 88mph. Its enough to visibly make your hand shake.

The dealer I purchased the car from has been great and helpful, we found a few issues such as the tracking was out, one of the alloys was buckled. We now have a new alloy, new tyre and had the tracking and alignment sorted but I still get the above steering wheel wobble at speed.

So my question is, is this normal? Does it happen on your AMG Cars?
Is it because they are low profile tyres - but surely if it was you would get it at all speeds?

I welcome your inputs. thanks

 

[Jrattan]

Wheel balancing is the cheapest and most obvious reason why this could be happening.
I’d get them checked and rebalance then see if it still happens. Sometimes out of balance wheels only can be felt at higher speeds.

 

[whitenemesis]

It's not normal, on any car let alone an AMG!

 

[PenguinDog]

Thanks for you swift reply, We have balanced the wheels - 3 times now.
once when I first brought the car
once when the alloy buckle was repaired then the wobble remained so we got a brand new alloy and balanced that when we fitted it

 

[PenguinDog]

It's not normal, on any car let alone an AMG!

thanks I didn't think it was, just made me wonder. Ive not owned a car of this performance for a few years so I started to think I was just out of touch...

 

[Jrattan]

Would next go for wheel alignment next? Get the one with laser

 

[PenguinDog]

Would next go for wheel alignment next? Get the one with laser

yep done that too. As far as I know we have covered all avenues with regards to balancing, alignment and alloy wheel condition.
could it be a suspension or a gearbox issue? but again surely I would experience it at other speeds?

 

[mercmancdi]

I’m sure the dealer has checked all joints and bush’s. ?

 

[Jrattan]

Is it on acceleration? Cruising or braking?

 

[whitenemesis]

As above, get all the suspension/steering joints and bushes checked. Also check for bent control arms etc..

 

[NEMESIS CLS]

I hate to ask, but has the car been in any shunts that could have caused this problem? It seems odd that you’ve changed both??? Front wheels & tyres, had balancing, tracking and laser wheel alignment done and it’s still vibrating? IIRC, on my CLS500 I replaced a bracket mount that had something to do with the gearbox, as I was getting a very harsh vibration and this cured the issue. ???


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[PenguinDog]

I’m sure the dealer has checked all joints and bush’s. ?

Not as far as I know, There have been a couple of other minor things which the dealer has put right post sale but in my view should have been noticed pre sale. However as stated the dealer has been very willing to solve issues which is refreshing to see in this day. The dealer is the other side of the country so we've worked together to try to avoid a return visit. I have returned once for them to repair the alloy which was unsuccessful so they sent me a new alloy down to London and I had all the balancing & tracking done down here (which the dealer is paying for). The next logical step I suppose would be the car goes back to them for them to investigate.

 

[PenguinDog]

I hate to ask, but has the car been in any shunts that could have caused this problem? It seems odd that you’ve changed both??? Front wheels & tyres, had balancing, tracking and laser wheel alignment done and it’s still vibrating? IIRC, on my CLS500 I replaced a bracket mount that had something to do with the gearbox, as I was getting a very harsh vibration and this cured the issue. ???


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I couldn't say for sure but im told by Mercedes that they HPI check the cars before trading in and then check them again before re sale.
Although a hpi check would only show a write off.

My vibration isn't very harsh, but noticeable. Did your gearbox vibration happen at all speeds?

 

[mercmancdi]

Not as far as I know, There have been a couple of other minor things which the dealer has put right post sale but in my view should have been noticed pre sale. However as stated the dealer has been very willing to solve issues which is refreshing to see in this day. The dealer is the other side of the country so we've worked together to try to avoid a return visit. I have returned once for them to repair the alloy which was unsuccessful so they sent me a new alloy down to London and I had all the balancing & tracking done down here (which the dealer is paying for). The next logical step I suppose would be the car goes back to them for them to investigate.

I would get a check for wear and tear in bush’s joints etc then if all’s good then as suggested before 4 wheel alignment,
I have bit of play in my steering it’s in tomorrow for a complete check of bush’s back and front , joints , steering rack etc £45. , before I do anything else.

 

[PenguinDog]

Is it on acceleration? Cruising or braking?

Just at cruising, acceralation or cruising doesn't seem to make a difference. Obviously when I take my foot off accelerator it slows down and the vibration goes away at 82 and below. But accelerating at 70 or other speeds is fine

 

[PenguinDog]

One thing I will mention but I dont know if its related, I sometimes get a vibration noise / resonation when accelerating from a low speed during town driving, its the same noise or experience you get when you drive a manual car and your going too slow for the gear. Does that make sense?

 

[Flyinspanner]

Get the wheels checked for buckles or flatspots.
Make sure rear wheels are checked too, the vibration could be referred from elsewhere.
Gearbox mounts?
Engine mounts?
Are your tyres ok? - any odd wear? Any lumps, - tried switching fronts for rears and see if vibes still there?

And the front suspension mounts, they may be visually ok - but are any softer than the corresponding one on the other side?

 

[mercmancdi]

One thing I will mention but I dont know if its related, I sometimes get a vibration noise / resonation when accelerating from a low speed during town driving, its the same noise or experience you get when you drive a manual car and your going too slow for the gear. Does that make sense?

I think there’s a wobble in steering not just a vibration

 

[Rich H]

I had this on a car a number of years ago and it turned out to be a wheel bearing.

 

[merc85]

Fwd thrust Arms, top ball joints upper wishbone. Also check run out of the front brake discs.