It Worked!

[big dog 2]

Placing an extra "O" ring/washer on the upper shock bushing for the belt tensioner worked. The rattling from that area is now almost non existent and there is less engine vibration at idle. Thought my engine mounts needed replacement but now everything is quite was very little vibrations.

Now if I can just find where that subtle knocking noise coming from the rear suspension is from! Visually, all bushings look good, shocks look good but there's just this annoying noise heard intermittently during low speed turns and sometimes on a smooth road.

1989 300E with 104,000 miles.

[DCINSU]

That noise has been plaguing me for quite some time but I could never tighten the bracket enough. What size o ring and where did you purchase it?

[big dog 2]

I went through my "misc stuff" drawers in my garage and found a couple of rubber rings about the size and thickness of garden hose washers. These are much better quality than just garden hose rings. I suspect they were left over from some household plumbing projects.

Since they are not really made for under the hood enviornments, I will have to keep and eye on them to see if they hold up. They can be easily replaced if needed.

[S-Class Guru]

I found that a ring about the same diameter as the rubber bushing in the shock "eye' was good. In other words, smaller than the outer metal ring of the shock, and large enough to slip over the bolt easily. I just used an 0-ring had in the box. basically, you just esnt to beef up the width of the rubber bushing between the innder and outer metal rings.

DG