Front End Noises

I remember reading somewhere on this site about problems with unexplanable creaks and groans in the front end -- didn't seem to be any satisfactory replies. The weather is getting colder up here now, and my '82 300SD started making terrible scritching noises on cold mornings -- both when steering and when going over bumps. I determined that it was the right side just by humping on the fenders. I got underneath and had my son move things, and eventually zeroed in on the right lower ball joint. On close inspection, I discovered that the boot in unlike most American ones, being heavier and packed right up against the mount. There appeared to be two metal washers on top of the boot between the boot and the mount, and they had that look around the edges of something that has been grinding together -- dry, metalic dust sort of thing. I gave them a shot of WD40, and Presto! -- problem solved. Possibly the boot gets stiffer in the cold and exerts more pressure on the washers. Anyway, I suspect this may be the cause of many of the complaints, and it sure is easy to fix!