After an August 2003 discussion (below) about "Bad Vibrations" on a
450K mile 350SD the cause of the problem was finally determined to be a worn driveshaft U-joint, one not easily detected with either hand-turning or visual inspection. Howard had it right. Two mechanics said they'd never seen a shaft go bad this way - but also agreed they'd not seen many cars with half-million miles, either. Could not a find a junk part but did find a (guaranteed) rebuilder out west. Months of babying the car and trying to pinpoint the problem got me around until rebuild - $400/approx. plus frt back/forth. Wunderbar!The clearcoat was peeling here and there, the windshield was pitted and dinged and then cracked last February and, finally, the tranny gave out.
505,000 miles: new glass, rebuilt tranny, new paint on body and wheels, repaired driveshaft. Car looks great - runs like a top. I am a happy camper. All work combined cost 1/4 the price of a new Taurus. If it just runs another 100K I'm making out OK. =^)~: Enso ( snipped-for-privacy@hsarmor.com) Subject: High Mileage Bad Vibration(s) View this article only Newsgroups: alt.auto.mercedes Date: 2003-08-01 10:48:03 PST
My '91 350SD (450,000mi) has developed a come-and-go vibration under acceleration - cruise is smooth, engine runs like a top, no wrecks, no rear-end problems. It feels like it's coming from the below the rear seat area - the effect is like running over slowdown warning grooves in the road. I assume the problem is driveshaft U-joint(s) which, mechanic says, means new/used or reman driveshaft. Anyone with high-mileage driveshaft advice, similar experience (or a driveshaft to sell)? Dankeschoen in advance.
(ps - this is a 350SD that hasn't been a nightmare - gets 25mpg at
75mph cruise, no leaks, no gasket problems, uses 1 qt every 2500 miles. I love the car >My '91 350SD (450,000mi) has developed a come-and-go vibration underadvance.
How are the tires?
Have they been balanced on the car and has it been aligned recetnly?
A good mechanic doesn't suspect bad halfshafts, he tests for them.
Put two adults in the back anfd load up the truck with heavy stuff. Go for a drive. Is it WAY worse now? Can you hear a click click sound?
Take the wheel apart and rotate the halfshalft through 360 degrees. You'll know if you have a bad one by the awful noise it'll make in one position.