Hi Memebers,
In the past two days, there is a clunk coming from the rear suspension area of my 86 190E. Remove everything in the trunk area that might cause noise but it is still there. The clunk happens when it goes through bump and when the rear end is lifted while braking. Jack the car up and everything seems to be tight because the wheel is free of play. So need help on where to start looking for the problem. Thanks.

Mitchell I had the same type of clunk coming from the right rear of my '95 E320. I would jack the car up and could not make it do it. Finally without the car jacked up I grabbed the link that connects the anti-sway bar to the suspension arm and shook it real good and I was able to duplicate the clunk. I removed the link and could see where the steel bushing inside the rubber bushing had been rubbing pretty hard against the bolt that holds it in place at the suspension arm end. I tried to center the steel bushing and then sprayed it with WD40 and now the clunk is gone. I will probably just replace the link/bushings if the clunk comes back. I did not see where the clunking was hurting anything - it was just aggrevating.
good luck
engatwork
'95 E320, 87,xxx miles
'97 Honda CR-V, 66,xxx miles

For 190e.....check the bushes in the links for the rear suspension. They may be torn,melted or whatever, but the centre wont be concentric to the outer part of the bush( with the weight of the car on the bush).
Later links are more heavy duty.

You might also check the condition of the couplings on the tailshaft. The coupling at the transmission end is more likely to have "chopped out".
A good test is to "kangaroo" the car ...LIGHTLY... each time the throttle direction is changed , CLUNK! CLUNK!......

Engatwork -

I have the same problem with my 300E. Was your clunk a solid thump, or sort of a rattle?

I cannot duplicate my clunk/rattle by shaking any of the links.

Chuck

Mitchel

Steve was kind enough to send me the following advice which may be of use to you. This was for my 300E. Let me know if you need the schmatic he refers to.

From Stevebfl:

The prime areas of wear in the rear suspension are; the pivot at the outside of link #3 (lower cont arm) and the inside ends of the link that goes forward at 45degs to travel. We have also had problems with the links that go mostly forward. It would be item #7 on the attached picture, which doesn't represent angles very well.

The blue arrows designate the rear differential mounts these go bad regularly and do "clunk.” The stab (stablizer)
links also can make noise item # 10.

Chuck

it was a solid thunk - no rattle.
with the tires on the ground try to grab the link that connects the anti-sway bar to the lower arm of the suspension and try to move it back and forth hard. It was the lower end where there was metal to metal movement between the steel bushing and the bolt.
engatwork

My 1984 190E had the same "clunk" -- found out the top mounting bolt on one of the rear shocks had vibrated loose. I'd say check out the top mounting bolts on your rear shocks. Access is through the trunk.

Brian

The shock mounts were the first thing that I checked, and they were fine.

Chuck