I cross-posted this in the tech section too. Hope that's OK.

The car is an 83 300D w/188K showing.
My wife mentioned to me that when turning the front wheels she hears a creaking noise, kinda like an old wooden boat, coming from underneath the car. I don't hear very well but can feel something in the floor a bit when it's making the noise. I suspect bad lower ball joints. The car does have a tendancy to exhibit a very slight pull, sometimes to the left, sometimes to the right. There is no vibration or excessive loose feeling while driving, even at high speeds. The upper section of the front suspension, some big aluminum looking casting, appears to have been replaced in recent times, i.e. it is clean and shiny. I can't really tell much about the lower ball joints. I've jacked up the car and tried wiggling the wheel with my hands at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock and can't feel any play, not sure if this is a valid test for a bad ball joint though. The creaking definitely only occurs when steering the wheels though.
Can anyone give me an idea what to start replacing first? If I need to do the ball joints, should I do the tierods and those "stabilizer" things that connect up to the firewall from the control arm?
Thanks for any advise.

sounds like ball joints or guide rod mounts. i have the same problem. its my upper ball joint and i dont have the $$$ to replace the upper control arm.

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How can you tell where the noise is coming from? Will it still make the noise with the car jacked up?
Thanks

Well, it is not my ball joints after all, at least not on the passenger side. I jacked up the car and had my son turn the wheel a little. I could feel/hear the creaking the strongest at the tie-rod. I removed the tie rod from that side and can still feel the creaking towards the middle of the steering mechanism. Are there rubber bushings near where the steering damper is that should be examined/replaced? The drag link? Steering box (no real play in the steering though)? Nothing looked real bad. Can the steering damper itself make noise? I didn't want to take too much off because I need the car for tomorrow. At least I don't think there any problem that will make the wheels fall off. The ball joints actually looked very good, I thought the boots were ripped, but they are fine.
Anybody got any ideas?? Thanks Much.

idler arm bushings maybe?

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TXBill



Former owner of a few diesel MB cars
1998 Lexus ES 300 In Chicago We Trust

You know, it could be that, It's kind of a rubber type squeak as opposed to metal on metal noise. Is the idler arm bushing replacable by semi-skilled home mechanic? Do you have to do anything with the front springs (I hear they are killers)? Is the idler arm the piece that moves the drag-link which in turn moves the tie-rods??
There ain't nothing in the world dirtier or nastier than front underside of an old MB diesel. What a greasy mess.

Could be the shocks.

The under side of my MB is clean and not a greasy mess, is your CCV plumbing leaking. Mine was when I got it, but I replaced the MB 1/2 a$$ tubing with my on tubing. I still have a little leaking from steering gear box, but it's not too bad.

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'10 Chrysler T&C Stow-N-Go White. Grandpa's ride.

'13 Chrysler 200 Touring Candy Red. Grandma's ride.

Age and cunning will always over come youth and vigor.

Don't think it shocks mostly because with tie rods off and moving the wheel by hand all was pretty quiet. Turning the steering wheel while in this condition still produced the squeak even with no load on the front-end. CCV ? Crank Case Ventilation? I thought all that got sucked back inside the motor? I'm doing to rent a pressure washer and clean up the underside. Probably never been done to it before. Hey Old Navy, got your tag line printed and taped on the refrgerator. Way to live :-)

I am betting on dry ball joints. Its happened to me on two of my diesels.

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82 Rabbit diesel (first d), 84 Jetta turbo d (300k when sold), 83 240d (305k when sold), 84 F250 6.9d w/Banks turbo(parts truck), 86 F250 6 cyl.gasser(waiting for 6.9d), 84 300d ( 347k Sold 8/04), Y2k New Bettle TDI (185k miles), 95 740IL (wifes), 87 300TD (206k Sold 7/05), 05 Passat TDI Wagon

Not the ball-joints. Had the tie-rods disconnected and creak is still there. Turning the wheels by hand withthe tie-rods off and no sounds at all. Some kind of rubber busing I think, just have to clean the underside and disconnet stuff until I find it. Could a bad steering shock make a creaking niose. I'll take that off next !

It'll be the idler arm, guaranteed. Just rebuild it, last I checked the kit was 25 bucks. On the difficulty scale it's about 2 out of 10, right up there with changing a light bulb.

- JimY

From **************.com. $28 complete kit.
[IMG]http://www.**************.com/store/images/fs/idlerarmkit.jpg[/IMG]

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'10 Chrysler T&C Stow-N-Go White. Grandpa's ride.

'13 Chrysler 200 Touring Candy Red. Grandma's ride.

Age and cunning will always over come youth and vigor.

Rebuild kit will be ordered tonight and installed on labor day. That's gotta be it. Might put in a new steering shock too just so it knows I care

************** is good, but very slow shipping. Got my parts and am hoping to fix the thing over the weekend. My plan is to drive the car up on ramps, disconnect both inside tierods and move the steering wheel to confirm noise still exists (it should). Other than taking normal safety precautions, is there any reason I can't do this idler arm bushing replacement with the car on ramps? Is the steering box able to be serviced like this, like checking fluid levels and/or replacing fluid? Seems like it'd be a lot easier to work under the car on ramps than on jack-stands.
The car does not make any squeak/groan noises going over speed bumps or anything, only when turning the steering wheel and that is in either direction.
Advice appreciated. Thanks.

I had the exact same problem (I'm betting) on my 300D when I got it. Started as a prolonged squeek when turning the wheels and evolved into a kind of groaning...just like a boat rubbing a piling at the dock. Idler arm bushing kit fixed it. Run a search, I can't remember but I think there was a trick..maybe putting the new bolt in upside down.. Anyway, I remember it was easy and I also replaced the steering damper as you suggest you may do. Piece of cake and the noise will be gone gone.

Fred