I should have originally titled this "Squeak from front end of C230". Any way, I have tracked down the squeak and it was the front sway bar bushings. This seemed logical since the only time it would squeak is when I would go over a speed bump where both sides experienced the same amount of "bump" at the same time. If I hit a bump just on the left or right side then no squeak. So I changed the bushings and now... NO SQUEAK. As far as the steering damper, I changed it because it was leaking and I find no difference in handling other than the steering feels a little "heavier", more like I am driving a bigger car. I wonder if they put that in there for the same reason they used to put the big piece of metal in the plastic telephones, to make them feel more substantial.

Mike

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1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra