A strange squeak recently started from the left suspension on W126. Push up and down on the front quarter as if to test shock rebound and it groans. Spraying excess silicone on all those rubber parts doesn't help. Sounds just as loud from the wheel well as from under the hood. For sure originates driver side of center.


Inspection reveals the tiny shock mount on the motor mount is split at the top ring. No quantity of spray affects that as well. Is that the likely source or is there some other famous source/cause for this?


Not sure that I need to replace that mount, seems to still function (holds the shock) and things are smooth. No danger right?


Ideas?

Anybody have a diagram of the left shock mount area?

Gas v8

Maybe I don't understand the question but why do you need a picture of something you can see?

Sixto
83 300SD
98 E320 wagon

If you want nice pictures of how things go together have a look through the stripped down EPC on MB Atlanta or in the FSM (FSM available for free on startekinfo)

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My instant gut reaction to the information given so far is shock absorber. If things aren't too rusty and you're feeling brave you could remove the shock absorber and then bounce the car to see if the noise has gone. (I know it might seem like I'm making work for you but it sounds like you're now dripping with lubricant so that horse has left the stable)

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

The mounting bracket which secures the top end of the tiny shock has a space, not a complete circle but does not have that 'broken' look. And it is fairly thick structural material, so it might not be broken, that might be the way they are. I can't compare that to the other side because that front area of the bracket is obscured by the oil filter canister. Is yours a complete ring or does it have a space? Anybody?

The shock resists rebound very nicely. I think it is in perfect working condition. But who knows it could be the squeaker. What is the appropriate way to remove the shock? Looks like a flat screw slot on top to resist the nut loosing?

Are you talking about the suspension damper or the engine damper? I've never heard of an engine damper making noise as the suspension flexes.

To remove a front suspension damper/shock use the slot to keep the nut from turning the shaft as you lose the nut. If you're reusing the shock anyway. If you're replacing it, blast away with a motorized wrench.

Sixto
83 300SD
98 E320 wagon

...ummm be a bit wary about accidentally undoing the centre shaft in shock absorbers - probably not life threatening but a mixture of gas and oil escaping might not be what the doctor ordered!

(I've never actually dismantled a shock absorber before so perhaps it isn't as bad as the warnings suggest - still I don't like mess - and I hate cleaning even more)

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

As far as the car rebounding that is the suspension shock. The engine mount shock is the one i am trying to determine if that bracken is factory slotted or broken. It might be a slot to let you get the rod into the ring? I need someone to open their hood and look at theirs to see if the ring is split or whole. Thanks! The sound seems to be farther frontward than the shock, but who knows....

I simply googled "Mercedes V8 Engine Shock" and came up with this:

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
Mike Murrell
1991 300-SEL - Model 126
M103 - SOHC
"Fräulein"

Thanks. That seems way different than on this W126. I was looking at testing the chassis shock theory and decided to start soaking those nuts with PB blaster. While under the hood I notice the sound might be coming out of the spring holder. Some silicone in there on the coil greatly reduced the noise. Must be some rubbing in there. I haven't driven it yet, using one of the trucks today, but this one might be solved ... I'll report back later.

What engine in your w126? could it be W124 2.6 or 3.0 engine

It is for sure an standard issue (german gas v8 - not north america). But I am of the mind now that the engine shock is not the noisemaker. I'll report after driving it.

OK, drove it. All is good after the spray lithium grease on the coil spring.

It was pretty embarrassing to have people gawking in parking lots. Even let a big groan when I got in or out. But it's all over now...

I wonder if there is some underlying issue which brought this on, I might have only treated the symptom not the cause.

I did a very thorough inspection and torques everything under there, but almost nothing budged at all.