Tonight I noticed a very annoying loud squeaking sound coming from the left front end of my 1995 E300 D whenever I turn the wheel at low speed or at idle. Also appearing today is a squeaking/creaking sound when I push down on the same left front end.

I read some old forum posts that seemed to suggest ball joints. Any new information on this problem? Is this going to be an expensive repair?


Thanks for the continued help everyone!

If the ball joints are so far gone that they squeak you need to stop and replace them soon.
If the noise is from suspension rubber then you can get muriatic acid... in the form of Ru-Glide in a gallon jug which is designed to have water added....and has a squirt nozzle.

Trusted mechanic says I need both ball joints AND control arms. OUCH!

That's too bad. Way back when I bought my old 240D I had to replace the ball joints. It's both a necessary and expensive repair.

__________________
1983 240D - Grey/Blue (48K)

1995 E300 Diesel (188K) SOLD
1990 300SL-24 (105K) SOLD
1990 300CE-24 (107K) SOLD
1985 300SD (250K) SOLD
1983 240D (253K) SOLD

I assume my ride quality will improve though?

sure. it'll ride better. i'm surprised the PPI done by the mercedes-benz dealership didn't report on it when i looked at that car, before you bought it.

__________________
1983 240D - Grey/Blue (48K)

1995 E300 Diesel (188K) SOLD
1990 300SL-24 (105K) SOLD
1990 300CE-24 (107K) SOLD
1985 300SD (250K) SOLD
1983 240D (253K) SOLD

Why do you need a control arm? There are 2 bushings at the chassis end and a ball joint at the hub end. Does it cost you less to replace the control arm as an assembly vs the time to replace the ball joint and bushings in the existing control arm?

Sixto
87 300D

I think it was fine at the time of the PPI and then with some crappy Chicago pot hole ladden road, the worn out areas were exposed.

Mechanic told me control arms had considerable wear and that it would be cheaper to replace them now (labor) that he was already down there doing the ball joints.

Now it really sounds like bushings. Control arms don't 'wear'

Sixto
87 300D

Good point-I put a call in to him to get a more detailed explanation.

Outside of damage, when do control arms get replaced?

Mechanic said it's cheaper labor wise to replace control arm then to remove and replace bushings...Makes sense.

I had same issue last winter. I simply removed both front wheels, drilled appropriate sized holes into bottom of ball joints and screwed self threading zerks and you may use a threader as well if these are not available. I squeezed grease into them and squeeking ceased. I re-greased earlier this winter. There is no play in ball joints and alignment has not been affected.

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'96 C220 138,000mi, '95 E300D 239,000 mi., '87 300TD 214,000mi '88 6.2 Turbo Diesel Chevy Conversion Van 253,000 mi.