Front End Knock / Cant isolate source

[Herr Leber]

I get a knocking from the front left of the car but cant pinpoint it. It happens when the wheel is just slightly tuning left, also when under braking, and of course on big pot holes(straight on or otherwise)

I thought it was the wheel bearing. I inspected, cleaned and repacked and tighened up. Still had noise.

Car has new ball joints last year. Sway bar secure. A arm bushings okay. Idle arm bushing set replaced last year but has a little play this year. Strut tops look replaced. Tie rod / center link looks okay.

Steering box could be culprit.

Any thoughts folks?? The left hand thing is buggin me.

Pat Leber

[JDUB]

it very well could be the steering box. My 190 makes the same sort of cluck backing out of the garage on to the street. Most of my front end components are fairly new ball joints, drag link, idler arm, tie rod assemblies, strut mounts, steering shock, and one side A-Fram bushings were done. The steering box has some play and may need a rebuild. Car has close to 200,000k. I suspect the steering box.

[MikeTangas]

Might also check the sub-frame mounts. Worn sub-mounts will cause the knocking you describe.

[JDUB]

To my knowledge 190s don't have front subframe mounts, just on the rear.

I don't know about 190s, but if your car were a W124 chassis, I'd bet big money on the front sway bar bushings. These tend to go bad after about 75,000 miles, at least on the 124s, and mine did. Caused a knock like you describe, worse on the left, and worse with left turns. Replacing those bushings cured it.