Strut rod mount failure: what sound associated with it?
 

I have had strut rod mounts go bad on a previous car, a w126, and seem to recall the symptom was a popping or dull clunking sound.

On my 1985 w123, I have developed a serious clattering sound when going over bumps with the passenger side front wheel. It seems like metal-on-metal, or sometimes like I have dinner plates rattling against each other inside the dash. It is pretty loud, like it's inside the car (but I have been fooled on that before).

I don't think there is anything, inside the dash that would make such a sharp noise, and I can't imagine the wiper linkage being loose enough to transmit that sound through the cowl.

Can someone confirm if the strut rod mount can make such a sound... or if they have had something else produce it?

Upper control arms and lower ball joints new within last 18 months.

More likely the noise is from a bad sway bar mount rubber bushing. Remove the battery and battery tray and you will see it bolted to the firewall. I pull the hood rubber seal off the lip to get enough room to squeeze the battery out. If yours is a CA 1985, they have a heat shield around the battery that makes it more fun.

The sway bar in these cars is for more that just that. It also effectively part of the "upper control arm", which locates the upper ball joint and thus affects alignment.

The "guide rod" (aka "strut rod" in U.S. cars) bolts low to the frame rail, so would probably make deeper clunky sounds. I have never experienced that.

While your battery tray is out is a good time to replace the AC return hose, if it needs that. I replaced the rubber in both mine since I have a crimp tool. It is standard 5/8" AC hose, I recall (search my post). You could use Oeticker clamps instead.

I had to use vise-grips to get one battery tray nut off. My tray was rusted thru in the aft corner (as most), but still useable and I had to de-rust the sheet-metal below the battery. I put a Battery Matt under it to avoid that again.

OH SNAP. That never occurred to me. I am sure you are correct.

Oh joy and peace and love to all mankind. :wallbash:

Thanks for the advice on the drain hose. Luckily I try to douse my battery tray and the mounts with Fluid Film each fall, so hopefully it will need minimum persuasion to cooperate.

My 126 sway bar bushings looked new. Guide rod mount was bad on both the 84 & 85 SD. Gotta go look.