I am taking my car on a few short first drives trying to sort the car out and am hearing clunking going over small bumps.

Should I be thinking worn struts or something else? Just a little backgorund.... This car has been in storage and has not been driven for about 4 years. It was also hit in the left front but nothing in the suspension seems damaged and it drives straight. The clunking seems to be coming from both the driver and passenger side of the car in the front.

Oh, the clunking isn't while turning. I can be driving straight and just hit a few small bumps and get the clunks.

I can only speculate as noise is difficult to pin point. It could be the front shock top mount. I had the same problem with my 190D when I first got it. It had sat for 3 years and the mounts were cracked. The W201 and W124 are of similiar design.

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Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.

it would be wise to check the ball joints for slop and the anti roll bar bushings for ovalling.

The ball joints can only be checked with the control arm supported with a jack and the ball joint pried with a very strong lever. If it moves even a hair - you should not drive the car at all.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

Another possibility is the front torsion bar mounts. Either a broken mount (common) or dead rubber (will eventually happen to ALL the rubber) can result in a clunk.

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Respectfully,
/s/
M. Dillon
'87 124.193 (300TD) "White Whale", ~392k miles, 3.5l IP fitted
'95 124.131 (E300) "Sapphire", 380k miles
'73 Balboa 20 "Sanctification"
Charleston SC

My 87 does the exact same thing. I'm planning on taking it to my local guy to look at as I didn't find it. My rear bushings also squeak really bad.

Thanks all for the info. I have time to make sure that everything is tight under the front of the car before it goes on the road. The only voyage was onto my back road and it won't be driven further than that until I know it's right. My thoughts are that I was going to look into the ball joints first followed closely by the struts and mounts. If either is the problem I probably will replace both sides.

Worst case scenario is either lower ball joints or lower control arm bushings.

If the problem is either/both, you'll be well served purchasing a complete lower control arm assembly, which will have new ball joint and new inner bushings, and will save you a LOT of time. I've replace ball joints and bushings separately, will never do that again.

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Respectfully,
/s/
M. Dillon
'87 124.193 (300TD) "White Whale", ~392k miles, 3.5l IP fitted
'95 124.131 (E300) "Sapphire", 380k miles
'73 Balboa 20 "Sanctification"
Charleston SC

I had a clunk with guide rod mounts. Ball joints on the 85SD are clunking when turning. Parts are on the bench. I need to find a spring compressor. I've been procrastinating as I'm not really looking forward to the job.

The other SD is close behind so I may as well buy the tool.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

Is Lemfoerder a good name in parts? If so I found the control arm complete with bushings and new ball joint for $183. That would probably be the way to go even if only the ball joint is bad just due to the age of the bushings.