The noise associated with the brake application you described generally means guide rod mounts (does the car swerve or want to change direction when you apply the brakes?). You can change these yourself without dropping the lca (lower control arm). You won't need a spring compressor. This could also mean lower ball joints too. 159K isn't too bad unless its an east coast or TX/AZ car.

There were some photos posted recently of some really bad lca bushings. If yours look like those, they need replacement. You'll need to get under the car and inspect those for wear. The bushing should be intact and you should be able to see the rubber all the way around without too much cracking.

You need to make a decision as to whether you want to keep the car a long time. A complete overhaul (lca bushings, lower ball joints, guide rod mounts/bushings, idler arm bushings, tie rods and upper control arm bushings + misc) would be most satisfactory but also $. Most of the parts are not that much money, there are just a lot of them. Doing the labor yourself will save you $$.

Sometimes getting a full understanding of the front end, is best done on an alignment bench with someone who knows MB. This way the full condition of the front end can be reviewed including side to side and FtoR movement, Please don't waste any time or effort at the Sears, Firestone, PepBoys etal chains. They know not what they preach!

If you can't locate a good alighment shop call a foreign auto body shop and get a referral.

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84 300DT Puke Yellow. Totalled after 438,000
84 300DT Orient Red. 169,000 (actual mileage may vary)
2002 Explorer EB (wife's)