creaking from right front
 

My daughter has been complaining of a creaking sound from the right front when first driving in the morning that disappears after a few minutes of operation.
I took it for a drive today and she is right about the creak.
It is only heard when the steering wheel is turned at low speed( I could not hear it when cruising} and it sounds like it is coming from somewhere under or in front of the passenger footwell.
It was quite cold this AM 8*F, so it was quite loud and lasted for most of the 10 minute drive but was gone by the time I got home.
Ball joints are fairly new as are the tie rods and steering damper.
The rest of the front end is original.
Any ideas?

Could be that a tie rod end or the steering damper is a bit tight when cold. When the car is warm its not there? Did you also replace the steering idler bush?

I'm assuming here that you have them, you didn't mention the vehicle model.

Guide Rod Mounts

These go from the bottom of the lower control arm back to the frame in the area of the interior footwells. On a 300D they're basically bolted to the body, and on a 300SD there's a bracket assy that holds the mount to the frame. I'd assume a 240D is similar to the 300D.

The guide rod keeps the lower control arm steady during braking. The mount has a ball joint in it with a rubber boot. If the boot fails, the grease goes away and the joint fails. It will squeak most noticeably when going over any uneven surface, especially rough railroad tracks and the like.

You can replace them yourself without too much problem, but you'll be best off with an alignment afterwards.

It does have guide rods and the while I have not looked closely at it lately, I did notice that the boot spun freely around the joint where it mounts to the body. Is this normal or should it be snug?
I have not repaced the steering idler bush though the damper has 10k on it.
It has really just started in the last month and the weather has been well below freezing for most of that time and today is the coldest in a while.
I need to get the old girl inside for a once over but the shop has been filled with the Dodge for the month with just repaired fuel and starting problems and now the GMC plow truck driveshaft is on the workbench for new ujoints before the supposed coming snowstorm; so the Benz will have to wait a bit longer before I can look at it.
In the meantime it has been my DD while the Cummins was down and I really like driving it in the cold snow we have. Its the only time I can drift the ol 240; foot to the floor, throwing rooster tails!!

Without holding one in my hand, my guess would be snug as you need to seal against water intrusion. Just like a tie rod or ball joint cover.

Get someone to bounce the front end while you touch the guide rod. You may "feel" the squeak.

If it is the guide rods, there's no immediate rush to replace. Uneven/increased wear on the tires is the only real driver.

I had a bad creak noise up front, (CD) turned out to be a failing lower or supporting joint.

The rear guide rod mounts will cause more of a thump or clunk than a squeak. The car will also "wander" while driving.

Leaving the car on the ground (not jacking) and rocking the car back and forth is the way to check the rear mounts. If guide rod "pulls in and out" of the mount as you rock the car back and forth.... The mount is shot.

I can pretty much guarantee you it is the lower support joint. Most likely the boot is gone or cracked. You can spray wd40 into it as you turn the wheel and listen to the sound disappear.

Mine has that early morning creak also.
The car and I are a matched set!

Still holds alignments so I'll leave it alone until i feel like putting up with my creaks to crawl under and take a closer look.

All the lube was gone from mine. when it was pushed up and down, it would creak. I agree, though, that the action over rough ground/railroad tracks/etc. is clunking rather than creaking.

I have not heard any clunking.
The car tracks straight with no wander.

It does sound like a lower ball joint. How "fairly new" are they?

Typical guide rod sound will be a "thunk" when braking. Though it might "creek" if it is cold or just starting to wear. You can check by jacking the wheel off the ground and prying at the base of the mount. I believe there is a threaded clamp on the rod that I pry with a crow bar. It should be tight with little or no back forward movement.
Your description sounds more like a ball joint than the guide rod. It might just be starting to go or might be just the cold.

10k on the LBJ

10K on a LBJ should not creak if installed properly. What brand and who installed it? What kind of press was used?