W124 Font End Steering Noise
 

My 1991 300D has 134,000 miles and based on records, has never had any front end work.

About two weeks ago, I started getting a clunk when turning the steering wheel. The clunk happens when in motion AND when sitting still. With the wheels set straight ahead, the clunk happens almost immediately upon turning the steering wheel (IE if the wheel is at 12 o’clock it will clunk before The wheel gets to the 10 or 2 position). I can feel the clunk in the wheel and oh so slightly in the floor.

My initial guess is ball joints, but I want some opinions before i start buying parts.

Thanks in advance,
Norm

Tie rod would be my guess

Tie-rod end X2. Had exactly this same noise on the SL. Would make a sort of "pop" noise. The Right-side tie-rod end had completely come apart...how it was even on the car anymore was a miracle. DON'T IGNORE THIS.

Test parts, don't guess.

Have someone turn the wheel while you poke around looking for noise. If you get noise over bumps, the upper strut mount might be cracked where the shock rod bolts to. The strut mount rubber could also have failed and the safety bracket is now clanking while it is holding things together.

Tie rods and ball joints don't suddenly get so loose that they are ready to fall off, they wear gradually. Running these to the point of falling off is a sign of a poor inspection and maintenance program.

Also check the steering shaft and joint ( in and under car ) / steering box where it bolts to the frame.

Follow up...

Turns out (no pun intended) that the passenger's side end of the center drag link has a fair bit of play. The popping noise was the drag link end, popping up and down in the tie rod assembly.

I recently replaced my entire front end except steering box. It was neither hard nor expensive but made a big difference. At 134k it’s probably due.

I replaced the center drag link yesterday. The joints on both ends were floppy-loose... so loose I had to hold the center link still with one hand in order to get the steering shock bolt out.

With a new link and shock in place, the noise is gone. It was a surprisingly easy repair, made easier with the Ball joint separator from HF (https://www.harborfreight.com/3-4-quarter-inch-forged-ball-joint-separator-99849.html).

I'll freely admit to being very anxious cranking down on that separator. I kept myself as far out of the way as possible, got it uncomfortably tight, then slid myself out from under the car to wait. As I was sliding out, BAM! I'm pretty sure I peed myself a bit when my head hit the underside of the radiator... my "fight or flight" response thought the car was coming down on me (but hey, it was on ramps). I did the same on the other end (without urination, mind you). Handy tool though... wish it had ACME threads but hey for $19 I can't complain.

Tie rods were tight. I couldn't get them to move any by hand. Bolts looked clean/new so I'm guessing the PO had them replaced at some point.