creaking from front end during low speed turning - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

xdjio · #1 03-14-2009, 05:24 PM

So, I was out for a drive today, in the rain. All told about 140km, mostly high speed freeway.

At home, pulling into my parking spot, I noticed a new noise I have not heard before. It only happens at low speed, like when parking - but it is a very distinct rubbery "creaking" noise coming from the driver's side front.

Could this just be bushings, or am I looking at ball joints? I hope it isn't too expensive to do? Given that I have a daughter on the way in a couple of months I am extremely safety-minded and will likely be taking it to my trusted dealer for the work. But before I do, I want to talk it through with you guys to try and do a little diagnosis.

I also have the dread hot idle shake, but it isn't very bad. What I do sometimes hear is if I am shaking at hot idle, and I shift into N (this is an automatic) I can hear a rhythmic knocking noise that is exactly the same frequency as the shake, coming from around the middle of the car. I wonder if my centre carrier bearing is shot?

Thanks for any help!

t walgamuth · #2 03-14-2009, 05:32 PM

Could be a dry ball joint or one which has water in it and has frozen. Either way you can often get more life out of them by squirting in some grease with a needle through the boot.

In fact I need to do it to my car and I'm gonna go do it right now! (My right front is groaning....also on a windy day like today the steering is overly sensitive to wind input because the suspension is not free to do its thing unobtrusively).

leathermang · #3 03-14-2009, 06:13 PM

If dry ball joint or something mechanical it is important you find and fix fast... making noise is at the extreme end of their life and safety margin.

However, a fast way to rule out actual rubber things like bushings is to get some ' Ru-Glide' ... which is dilute muratic acid.. used to lube rubber...
You used to be able to buy it in a one gallon container with a hand sprayer attached...it only had a little in it and you added water to get the diluted ratio .. no reason to ship water across the country when you can add it at site...

toomany MBZ · #4 03-14-2009, 06:26 PM

I had a similar creak, turned out to be a dry lower ball (supporting) joint, and yeah, have it replaced, if that's the culprit.
Inspect all ball/support joints for torn boots. These have no grease fittings.

t walgamuth · #5 03-14-2009, 08:50 PM

They will squeak while still tight. If they are loose, then they need to be replaced.

xdjio · #6 03-15-2009, 01:58 PM

I'm sending it in on Thursday a.m. to have the noise diagnosed, so I will let you guys know what I find!

xdjio · #7 03-19-2009, 08:40 PM

So, I just got back from the shop, and here were the findings. I spent a while talking with my service manager and also drove around a while with the actual service tech who is roadtesting the car and works on all the W123 / W124 models the shop gets.

Verdict: My lower ball joints are getting near the end of their life and have a nontrivial amount of play in them, on the order on 1 - 2 mm. Tie rod end are also getting loose and probably ought to be replaced. This makes sense to me as the steering can seem a little loose around town and on the highway. It also could probably explain a lot of the creaks and groans I have. I'm getting new ball joints and tie rod ends put in next month.

I have some other creaks and groans that sounds very much like old and worn bushings, but it's probably not a safety things to be concerned about.

As well, there is a fair bit of play in my steering box, which apparently near the max adjustment limit. I want to get that done, but the story appear to be that getting new ones just doesn't happen anymore, so the other option is to rebuild. What are you folks' thoughts on this?

Anyway, it was in the shop for just about $175 worth of time -- given that I have a young family I feel like this was $$$ well spent to learn about some issues I need to take care of in order to stay good and safe!