Is this the wheel bearings shot?
Is this the wheel bearings shot?
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R1 Indy

Original Poster:

4,510 posts

214 months

Monday 30th September 2013
quotequote all
Car is a CLK55 AMG. The steering was feeling rather dull and unresponsive, and some vibrations through the steering wheel, and looking at the front tyres was not wearing very even, so when I got some new rear tyres fitted I got them to look at the geometry. Which it turns out was a bit out, they corrected the toe, but we're unable to adjust anything else as apparently there is no adjustment for camber/ castor front or rear?

But the steering feels much better and very precise. But the vibrations still there, but what I've noticed now is as high speed the car just doesn't feel stable, it feels very on the edge, it's hard to describe, but the front end just feels really light and wobbly.

First I thought it might be the dampers or steering damper but they look ok, but then I gave the driver side front wheel a good pull/push front the top/bottom, and there is a bit of play and makes a little clicky sound.

So I'm thinking it could be the wheel bearings, so do these symptoms sound like the bearings?

Also the ride is very harsh for a Mercedes, yes I know the AMG will be harder, but seems excessively harsh at times, I noticed it has blistein shocks fitted, now I'm guessing this is not what Mercedes would have used from factory, so would the blistein shocks make a harder ride than OEM shocks?

Cheers

Chicane-UK

3,861 posts

216 months

Monday 30th September 2013
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Wheel bearing's being on the way out will normally be detectable with play in the wheel when jacked up, and often some sorts of noises at various speeds. I'd get wheels balanced (classic cause of wheel vibration at speed), maybe try swapping the front tyres for the rears too just to see if the behaviour changes, as the uneven wear on the front tyres could also be causing the vagueness and vibration through the steering.

Again.. I'd be very surprised it's wheel bearings.

R1 Indy

Original Poster:

4,510 posts

214 months

Tuesday 1st October 2013
quotequote all
Thanks, the tyre guy did say it could be the front balancing.

But there is deffinatly a bit of play, as with the car in the air, grab the front driver wheel at 12 and 6 and I can rock the wheel a bit.

Also with the wheels on the ground there is a bit of free play between the steering wheel and the wheels, ie I can move the wheel about 1/2" before the wheels move.

Not too sure about any sounds, but with the window open I can hear a slight grounding/squeal when braking.

Krikkit

27,938 posts

212 months

Tuesday 1st October 2013
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Sounds like wheel bearings. Get the wheels balanced first, should only be a quick/cheap job but worth doing whatever the result.

_Al_

5,618 posts

289 months

Tuesday 1st October 2013
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That could just as easily be a bush in the suspension or a balljoint. Get it to an expert (Wheels In Motion are worth a trip) but you'll have to find somewhere near wherever you are.