Replaced Accumulators on W140, Now Have a Squeak - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

kustom81 · #1 04-06-2006, 10:34 AM

I just bought a great looking and great running 93' 500SEL w/136K miles on it. It's my 2nd W140, so am familiar with this forum and most problems W140's have. It rode like a truck when I got it, so naturally it has bad accumulators, and am unsure for how long. They were replaced. It now rides like a new car. However, I started noticing a terrible low pitched squeak or rub in the rear, driver side. I don't think it was there before the new accumulators. From inside the car, it sounds like a loose muffler rattleing, but when I bounce the car from the outside, it is definetely a low pitched squeak. It seems to get worse as I drive a few miles. I can even hear it on smooth roads, somewhat. When under the car it seems like it is coming from the strut itself. It vibrates to the touch more than any other part down there. And the sound sure seems like it is in that area. I have read many posts here, and most people are throwing money at other things, with bad results. The strut does not leak. My question is, has anyone ever found that the strut can be damaged from bad accumulators? I have read that they are indestructable, for the most part, and do not need replacement unless leaking. (went through that on my other W140) It seems to ride great!!

Thanks

pcmaher · #2 04-09-2006, 11:12 PM

The struts are not indestructable. They can and do wear out. I had to replace my right one last year. This link may help...

http://v12uberalles.com/Rear_Struts.htm

michael cole · #3 04-10-2006, 11:57 AM

ive got a squeak coming from the same area.do you hear the squeak as you get out of the car?im suspecting the rubber bushing in the lower shock mount and im going to soak that down liberally with ATF.then give a little time to see if the squeak diminishes.if the shock were bad there should be other symptoms.

KenP · #4 04-10-2006, 07:31 PM

pcmaher is right... these hydro-pneumatic struts do fail internally. Chased a low frequency groan/squeak in the left rear of my W140 for quite a while. Tried isolating all the various joints, but when I put my hand on the strut while someone gently leaned on the back bumper, I could feel the strut vibrate with the noise. Finally concluded that it was the strut... replaced it last week with a new one and noise is gone.
Funny how things work out... the consensus of the threads on this forum led me to understand that many things on a W140 fail due to the complexity of the car... but the struts almost never fail. My personal experience, with a data set of one, is that the car is extremely reliable, but the hydro stuts are not.

Now the bad news. If it is your strut, they're not cheap.

pcmahar: I read your webpage and followed your process. Not a bad job overall. Thanks.

michael cole · #5 04-11-2006, 11:45 AM

my logic on this was the lower shock mount incorporates a rubber doughnut bushing with steel tube insert.the mounting bolt could sieze in the insert causing the rubber doughnut to flex and squeak.just a theory of course.i had a similar squeak on the front end of 300sd a few years back.solved that one with liberal application of wd40.