W108 Squeaking suspension?? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

seforme · #1 08-09-2003, 09:31 PM

Great help on the Pertronix/Crain question, went with the pertronix runs great. Now I have a question regarding a very annoying squeak coming from the front left side of the suspension. I recall PSFred mentioning having to lubricate a suspension part that is prone to squeaking. The noise drives me crazy every time I hit a road bump or I can stand outside push down on the driver front fender and the squeak returns. Help!!!!

72 280 SEL 4.5 - The Sled
84 Carrera - The insurance bandit
00 QX4 - This one makes sense!

#2 08-09-2003, 10:13 PM

yeah, everyone seems to mention that there's 16+ grease points on the W108, yet no one seems to accually point out where they are.

Anyone want to accually take the time to explain where they are, instead of a vague discripsion on how many are there?

1967250s · #3 08-10-2003, 12:50 AM

Here are the grease point, the map will follow...from the CD

1967250s · #4 08-10-2003, 12:53 AM

the map......

#5 08-10-2003, 03:55 AM

wow, thanks

. Also, do you have a more detailed version of the second image?
send it to manyas@iprimus.com.au

psfred · #6 08-10-2003, 12:51 PM

The part that usually squeaks is the lower kingpin trunion. This is exposed to the most road splash, so seems to get "stuck" the most.

The grease fitting is behind the kingpin nut up inside the outer end of the lower control arm. You will probably have to dig out a pile of old grease and road dirt to find it.

From here, the major problem is actually getting grease into the joint. Mine were surrounded by old, hard grease that had leaked out around the grease gun end rather than going in, and I've still not gotten as much in as I would like.

I will, when I get over this nasy cold I've got going, remove the zerks again (they are at a funny angle, about 45 degrees from vertical) and fill the hole with clean grease after blasting it will some penetrating oil. Screwing the fitting back in should shove some grease into the threads of the bolt where it has a chance to soften the old hard stuff.

A screw on grease gun will help here (I need to get one of those fittings!) -- the kind were there is a threaded lock collar rather than the spring type you pull sideways to remove. The spring type won't develop enough pressure to drive the grease into this fitting.

The ride softens up remarkably when you get proper grease in there, even just a little.

The upper trunion can squeak, too, ditto for the inner bushings, but in my experience they are easy to grease and not likely to squeak.

A quick description of fitting locations:

Kingpin -- upper trunion is a right angle fitting in the center on top facing back. Steering knuckle is in the center -- turn wheels hard right, LH side on the rear, RH side on the front of steering knuckle. Lower trunion inside the outer end of lower control arm, up high, 45 degree angle.

Upper control arm inner bushings: on the outer end of the bushing cap, front and rear

Lower control arm inner bushings: Angle fitring under (I think) the inside of control arm front and rear.

Add enough grease to push all the old grease out, then wipe off. Grease running down the steering knuckle is GOOD -- it means someone actually greased them!

Peter

250SE · #7 08-10-2003, 02:58 PM

And I thought I was the only one, well not really. I'll have to save this page and check it out. My car doesn't really squeek on one side its just squeeky everywhere. More so in the front I guess. So annoying especially when I'm trying to make an entrance. :p Nice info guys.

How many 108 drivers do we have here? I have only seen about 2 on the road in the past 8 months that I have had my mercedes down here with me in San Diego. And none of them have been 250's. All laters ones. They must be pretty rare....

psfred · #8 08-10-2003, 03:20 PM

The combination of 1950s styling, neglect, and rust, rust, rust has eliminated most of them. Lots of them are appearing in junk yards at the moment, the parts are too expensive and they don't have all that much collector value, so we Americans throw them away.

Sad, since none of the newer ones have the panache of hte W108/111/113 chassis, IMHO.

Peter

300SDog · #9 08-10-2003, 07:42 PM

Squeeks when leaning on fender? There used to be list of nuts and bolts that need retorque every couple of years - something similar to Dan's chart on grease fittings.

Its been awhile but can remember engine mounts, subframe bushings, sway bar mounts and Bilstein fittings being on the list.

jerryyoung · #10 08-11-2003, 11:30 AM

I have a 1971 280SE that is currently under going a suspension rebuild and replacement of valve guide seals and water pump. Have a bunch of other stuff to replace/update on the car but the above are the major items.

Tomguy · #11 08-11-2003, 06:15 PM

Yeah Dan, if you have a better quality ersion of that map I'd love a copy too. Send it to Tomguy24@hot mail.com (I put the space in there so that spam bots won't pick up my email addy - and they DO, too!

)

1967250s · #12 08-11-2003, 08:33 PM

Because of high demand, I have uploaded the PDF on a sever for you all to download. Click the GREASE CHART to get it. It is 450kb and as more than the chart.