just purchased 98 C230. Front right wheel area groans when going through a puddle. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

White951 · #1 06-09-2003, 01:14 PM

I just noticed this the other day on my wifes car. It poured over the weekend, of course, and when i went through some puddles there would be a groan coming from the front right. It would last about 20 seconds until I went through another puddle. Any idea what this could be? I was thinking water getting a cv joint, if there is one on the front of the car. I have yet to crawl under this car since getting it in December so I don't know what the front suspension looks like. ????? Actually i did crawl under to change the oil and realized the cannister was on the top.

mike690003 · #2 06-09-2003, 01:22 PM

sounds like you might need new ball joints

White951 · #3 06-09-2003, 01:26 PM

Why would you think ball joints. Wouldn't the groan be from something that is moving, like a wheel, and causing some friction. I will jack up the car and check the play in the wheel, but does a worn ball joint make noise?

mike690003 · #4 06-09-2003, 01:51 PM

That is the same problem I encountered with my old 300e. Each time after driving in the rain the car would squeak and groan. I temporarily fixed it by spraying wd40 in the area I thought the squeaking was comming from. This worked, until it rained again. It turned out to be that the ball joints were stiff,and I needed new ones. I greased the old ones up really good and after that it was trouble free.

White951 · #5 06-09-2003, 03:36 PM

Do the ball joints in these cars take grease or are they permanently sealed? If they are sealed then how did you grease them?

mike690003 · #6 06-09-2003, 03:38 PM

I am not sure about them being permanently sealed. I just sprayed wd-40 directly on the ball joints. It soaked into the metal and the squeaking and groaning stopped.