Hello everyone.

recently replaced all of the following with Genuine Mercedes-Benz parts.

- Upper Control Arms
- Lower Ball Joints
- Lower Control Arm Bushings & tubes
- Guide Rod Mount in LCA
- Front Sway Bar Bushings
- Idler Arm Bushings
- Both Steering arms
- Center Drag Link
- Steering Stabilizer Shock
- new spring pads
- Replaced Steering Box with tight good unit

The only thing in the front that is not new is are the Guide rod mounts. they were replaced in 2015 with Lemförder units, mechanic said they are good.


All of above being said you can hear a groan/creak on the passenger side when you press on the fender and occasionally while driving.

You can also hear/feel a clunk in the floor board sometimes but not always over bumps or coming to a stop. but again not always. this noise is very rare but has happened twice since Saturday

I also have a cluck noise when turning. I could say its bad motor mounts or something else moving in the engine bay but the motor mounts are Genuine MB replaced in 2015.

I am sort of at a loss as to why all these noises are persisting when literally everything is new. Should I have greased the sway bar bushings? anything else to check?

car drives SO much better now but the noises should be gone.

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1978 300D

The center drag link isn't available via M-B for several years now .

The noise you describe sounds like the rear end of the guide rods, try spraying some silicone from a foo-foo can and see if that quietens it a bit .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

thanks for the reply! been driving the car and checking things one by one to see if anything changes.

you are right about the center link, everything else though is MB.

I haven't done the guide rod mount lub spray yet but will tonight or tomorrow. I double checked the sway bar bushings and tightness on most every suspension component.

I am beginning to think the clucking and noises while turning left or right is maybe something larger loose, perhaps loose motor mounts? or something else. drive me nuts as the car handles great and super tight but the noises and how you feel these "clunks" in the steering wheel are disheartening after all these new front end bits

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1978 300D

That would usually be caused by the guide rod mounts. If they were done in 15 it is probably time again.

so in 4 years they fail? the originals seemed to last nearly 40 years. If I can confirm that I'm buying the genuine ones, 3 times the price for 10 times the lifespan isn't too bad. . .even though they are pricey

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1978 300D

If you feel them in the steering wheel I'd be looking at the steering box to unibody bolts right quick ~ once there's any damage to the unibody you're in the soup deep .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

UPDATE, replaced Lower Guide Rod Mounts with Genuine MB ones.

Car still has a clunk in the footwells occasionally when coming to a stop or accelerating and has this clunk when turning. Literally everything for the steering and front suspension is new.

also sometimes have this sensation of something sliding or pivoting when I turn, if you can imagine something that rocks from side to side under heavy turning, making me think something is loose but ive checked again all front end stuff and even tried to tighten down the motor mounts again and added a new Mercedes-Benz engine shock, no change

@vwnate1 the bolts are tight!

Does anyone have any idea?

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1978 300D

So you replaced the guide rod mount in the LCA, how about the 4 big rubber bushings (2 on each side) and the massive ball joint that the guide rod attaches to? I don't see either mentioned anywhere in your post and they'd be the very first suspect.

__________________
Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

yes the mounts in the control arms and the actual rear mount, the big one you mention was what was just replaced.

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1978 300D

Did you replace the 4 big rubber mounts that hold the big mount's frame? They're a major pill, but guaranteed collapsed by now if you haven't.

__________________
Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

sorry drawing a blank on what you are describing. the w123 chassis has

1) rear guide rod mount(looks like big ball joint) which is bolted to body
2) lower control arm bushings and ball joint and mount point under spring for the guide rod itself.
3) upper control arm which comes with bushings and ball joints for inner and outer to mount to sway bar

I've attached some pictures from the EPC

Attached Thumbnails

     

__________________
1978 300D

Does the big ass ball joint not mount into a carrier like it does on the 126?

__________________
Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

no it doesn't, its a simpler design on the W123 chassis

__________________
1978 300D

So much for that idea...

__________________
Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Yes. the sway bar bushings should be lubricated.

Could possibly be loose fasteners on the transmission mount, the bracket that secures
the downpipe to the transmission housing, brake caliper bolts, or wheel lug bolts.

Could also be rear sway bar links.
Just replaced these on 'Desert Rose'.
The clunk can be hard to pinpoint when in the vehicle.

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78 W116 300SD 'Desert Rose' new as of 01/26/2014
79 W116 300SD 'Stormcloud' RIP 04/11/2022