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#1
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Several posts in the past have mentioned a creaky rear supension in the wagons. Mine has it too. So far I'm living with the annoyance, but would love to fix it if there's a remedy. Anybody do a DIY fix?
Thanks Steve |
#2
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Hey Steve -
I fixed this on mine in the last couple of weeks. It ain't completely perfect, but the payoff was well worth the effort. In my case, about 95% of the noise was from the bushings which locate the rear sway/anti-roll/torsion bar. Most of the rear suspension is mounted to the rear subframe, which is isolated from the chassis by rubber insulators. Not so with the rear sway bar. It mounts directly to the chassis; hence any noise it generates can be much more directly transmitted into the body. To test, put the rear of the car up on jack stands. Remove the rear wheels. Remove the 17mm nut which secures the sway bar to the upper end of the sway bar links. Do this on both sides and you can move the sway bar by hand, simulating what occurs when you drive over a speed bump, for example. Mine graunched like crazy - it was amazing how much noise it made. Repair is trivially simple. Remove the two 13mm bolts which secure the bushing retainer in place. Pull the bushing off the bar - it's split, so doesn't even need to be slid off the end of the bar. Install new busing - I used some silicone grease. Reinstall retainer with 13mm bolts. Repeat for other side. If it takes you an hour, you've had too many beers I purchased a kit with two bushings & new 13mm bolts for less than $5 mail order. In fact, I have a spare kit, as I didn't realize one kit did the entire job... - Jim |
#3
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Thanks, I'll get after it this weekend.
Steve |
#4
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Jim,
Many thanks! This sounds like the unknown problem I have with my 88TE. Lots of "road noise" with a light load in the car, but quiet when fully loaded. It's been driving me crazy!
__________________
'76 240D-Sold '78 240D-Sold '85 300 SD, 165K-Sold '88 300 TE, 165K-Sold '64 Porsche 356C Cabriolet- under restoration '86 560SL 124K Miles-Sold '94 320E Wagon, 74K Miles-128K Miles JUNKED '06 E350 Wagon, 84K Miles 07 SL550, 14K Miles |
#5
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Ron -
Don't know if Steve & I vs. you are talking about the same thing. We're specifically talking about a creaking/ graunching noise from the rear suspension when both sides of the suspension move together - as when driving over a good sized dip in the road, or perhaps a speed bump. I too notice the car seems quieter with a full load than empty. When unloaded, it has a "boomy" character to the noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. I've always chalked this up to normal station wagon character. When empty the road noise and such seem to echo around the car. Loading it up with people and/or "stuff" seems to muffle and/or dampen all that echo - it seems much quieter. That said, it's still a pretty decently quiet car. Even with just the wife and I in the car, we never have to raise our voices to carry on a coversation, even at high speed. |
#6
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Thanks again Jim,
Yes, the noise is well described as "boomy", although it also seems as tire noise is getting through. My 300SD is very quiet in comparison and no other station wagon I've owned has ever sounded like my TE. There ought to be a fix out there somewhere.
__________________
'76 240D-Sold '78 240D-Sold '85 300 SD, 165K-Sold '88 300 TE, 165K-Sold '64 Porsche 356C Cabriolet- under restoration '86 560SL 124K Miles-Sold '94 320E Wagon, 74K Miles-128K Miles JUNKED '06 E350 Wagon, 84K Miles 07 SL550, 14K Miles |
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