W210 Metallic Snap/Bang Sound

[shertex]

My son has the 98 E300, which is his DD. Called me today with the following: said that he backed out of a parking spot and that, when he started to go forward, he heard a metallic snap/bang sound from the car. He is fairly certain that he didn't run over anything. As far as he could tell, the car is driving fine.

I had him show me via FaceTime the height of the car with respect to the front tires (because I'm thinking spring perch). But the heights look identical.

I'm going to go take a look at it tomorrow. Other than perches or springs, what might account for that kind of sound?

Thanks.

[Diesel911]

If it has parking break shoes on the rear as the older models do maybe when the parking break was relased the shoes on one of the wheels did not retract as they were supposed to.

I know on other vehicles I had started backing up just a split second before I released the parking brakes and got an awful sound when they finally released. But, there is other reasons they can stick to include something inside of the cables like rust and so on.

But, you are going to get stuck inspecting under the car from front to rear.

[RunningTooHot]

First thing I thought of was the "uh oh" you already thought of. If not that...

If he had his wheels turned hard while reversing AND if the crunch/bang/pop happened immediately as he unwound the steering and started rolling forward, I'd take a hard look at the balljoints. (Which could be worn & dry, and trying to shift internally with the change in load direction.) Or perhaps a lower control arm bushing bolt has somehow worked it's way loose, in which case the shifting load could cause the bushing to suddenly shift from it's previously captured position. Or maybe a sway bar link happened to snap at that moment?

[Murkybenz]

I think you will find its spring or a perch , had it happen on mine with drivers side getting lower with perch half torn off and passenger side well the spring completely rolled out under the car when I started off to work one morning !!!
Riveted new perches back on with about 16 -18 5mm stainless rivets and have done around 15k since with no issues.

[shertex]

Lower control arms, ball joints, and front springs are all relatively new. Rear springs are original.

[shertex]

Springs and perches are fine. I drove it and everything seems normal.

[jake12tech]

I wouldn’t worry about it. Shake the wheels down in the front end and if nothing is loose just drive it. Cars do weird things sometimes. Not worth killing your self over with worry. Especially 20 year old cars.

[shertex]

Originally Posted by jake12tech

I wouldn’t worry about it. Shake the wheels down in the front end and if nothing is loose just drive it. Cars do weird things sometimes. Not worth killing your self over with worry. Especially 20 year old cars.

Forgot about shaking the wheels...so much for my diagnostic thoroughness!

[Put Put]

My Rear Sway Bar Link To Trailing Arm bolt snapped and had the same symptoms

[t walgamuth]

Could be worn CV joint complaining a bit.

[rocky raccoon]

Probably nothing. I get a similar sound on initially moving after having set my parking brake while wet. It will bond to the drum when it dries then give you a "Bang" when you start to move.