New Front End Noise - Ball Joints?

[Bengoshi2000]

1991 300D with 135k miles. All shocks/struts/strut mounts/sway bar bushings replaced 1000 miles ago. Center drag link replaced 6,000 miles ago. Inner and outer tie rods were good and tight 1000 miles ago.

The new noise is a not so loud pop/clunk when turning the wheel. I can start turning the wheel in either direction, no noise. When I turn the wheel in the opposite direction, I get the pop/clunk. There's no looseness in the steering. Meaning, I can't bounce the wheel back and forth an inch or so and get the clunk.. the steering wheel has to move further than that.

It's been raining like heck here, so I haven't done a visual inspection yet, but I'm suspecting the inner or outer tie rod/s.

Could it be ball joints? Or do I need to look elsewhere?

[Zulfiqar]

yes - thats the symptom of tired ball joints on a W124 as they are under incredible stress just with the car sitting still.

you cannot test the joints like a usual car - you need to raise the car and then raise the control arm to offload the joint, then wrestle the wheel to feel the play.

[Bengoshi2000]

Originally Posted by Zulfiqar

yes - thats the symptom of tired ball joints on a W124 as they are under incredible stress just with the car sitting still.

you cannot test the joints like a usual car - you need to raise the car and then raise the control arm to offload the joint, then wrestle the wheel to feel the play.

I'm just as likely to go ahead and replace them without doing the test. The lca bushings are hard as a rock too... need to go ahead and bite the bullet and do it all!

Thank you for the reply!