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?

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1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily

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?

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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

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.

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mjk

'84 300SD 119KMi (Liesl der Diesel)
'84 300D 326KMi when the oil left (former parts car)
'82 300SD 253KMi (new parts car)

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!!

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1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily

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.

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mjk

'84 300SD 119KMi (Liesl der Diesel)
'84 300D 326KMi when the oil left (former parts car)
'82 300SD 253KMi (new parts car)

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.

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AJ

1985 300D (SOLD)

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

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83 SD

84 CD

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.

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Charles
1983 300D, bought new, 215k+ miles, donated to Purple Hearts veterans charity but I have parts for sale: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=296386

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

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 167,870 July 2025
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

I don't remember the brand, I removed the whole unit from the car and had an indy euroshop press the new ones on.

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1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily

I also had a creaking noise from RF that would come and go for a year or so before I took action. I also had a bad UCA bushing (body mount) where the rubber totally disintegrated (can be seen with wheel jacked up and hanging). I didn't know for sure where the creak was coming from so I rigged up a guitar contact mic with a magnet, ran it into the car with an extension, plugged it into a cassette recorder mic input with head phones and moving the mic around discriminating by volume to localize the source. I did the UCA first but the creak remained. Doing the LBJ got rid of the creak. Before doing those 2 items, steering was pretty bad in a turn, especially when carrying a lot of weight in the back- almost scary. It handles much better now..

ps the creak was heard onlywhen the car goes over bumps, not while turning. The old ball joint had a torn boot and was dry.

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 167,870 July 2025
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

I finally crawled under the car today to loosen the lower alt bolt and adjust the belt {New years first MB resolution done} and had a good look and feel of the front end components. Everything seems tight and right.
The temps have moderated and the creaking has stopped....

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1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily

Woo Hoo!!

That is good news and a cheap fix. So, you don't think it was suspension related at all? That is great.... Susp. work is a PITA!

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AJ

1985 300D (SOLD)

I guess if it was suspension related it is also cold related.
I will see next cold snap.

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1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily