Help: Coil Spring Noise - W123, '77 240D
 

I'm hearing a loud C R R R R E E E E E A K when I press down on the front right fender. It's not a mere squeak. It's heavy-duty...and metal on metal rubbing. It's like a whole series of loud creaking as the fender is pressed all the way down and again as the fender is let up.

With my wife pressing up and down on the fender, I can "feel" the MOST intense part of it at the BOTTOM of the coil spring. The top of the coil spring seems to be further away from the source of the rubbing. When I press SIDEWAYS against the middle part of the coil spring, the sound nearly goes away (as the fender is still being pumped). Interesting...

I "suspect" a bad rubber spring cushion ----but that's at the TOP of the coil spring. The rubber cushion is in place---I can see the edge of it at the hole at the top of the coil spring (inside engine compartment)----but seeing it doesn't mean that it's doing it's job.

I've tried spraying some WD40 on nearly everything that moves in the front suspension (especially the spring)---no luck quieting the creak.

Any thoughts?

Get a professional front end inspection done on a proper alignment bench. The key is to find an experienced front end technician. (forget Pep Boys, Sears, Firestone et al).

Call the best body shops in town (you know, the guys that fix the Lexus, MB's and BMW's) and get alignment shop recommendation.

Some will inspect for free, others will charge you $20.

The alignment bench allows sideways movement of the wheels and allows the alignment technician to place jacks at certain points to isolate the suspension components.

Three things to check!

Presence of LOWER spring pad (there is one, I think)

Condition of track rod bushing on the firewall

Condition of track rod bearing on the control arm.

You may just be damping the noise by pressing on the spring -- both track rod bushing and bearing will creak or groan when bad, and the spring will amplify the vibration.

Most likely the bushing, as it is a known wear item. Pull the rubber boot on the firewall back, condition is usually obvious.

Peter

Thanks for the suggestions.

I checked out the track rod, bushing and bearing... seems OK.

Then I decided to hose everything off-- squirted a LOT of water at all the suspension parts.

The sound is gone!

The next time I have a car that needs new rings or a transmission overhaul, I'm just going to squirt water on it.

Wash your problems away. :D

Don't rule out the "little guys"
 

I appreciate the admonishment to search front end shops of good reputation. However, I discovered a man working for a tire shop once who had lots of experience with MBZ. When I was rebuilding the front end of my '78 300D and couldn't budge some stubborn parts he knew exactly what to do and lined everything up perfectly when finished. Who knows, you might come across a forum member somewhere out there in repair-land.

"Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then." You just have to be looking.

My .02