Nasty Scraping Noise
 

83 300D
I have a noise coming from under the car that I originally thought was the exhaust system. I don't think it is now. It seems to follow the rotation of the wheels. It doesn't make the noise right away, only after driving around a bit. It is very cold, very wet and very miserable here in New England and I'm trying to avoid crawling around underneath right now. I'm curious, is the exhaust system close enough to the drive shaft that it could scrape if one of the rubber donuts holding the exhaust broke? The rear-end wouldn't make a scraping sound would it? The car's got 187000 on it. I think I remember having a scraping noise in one of the front wheels, sounded like the backing plate hitting something. I figured it was just rust and crap and would clear up by itself. If wheel bearings were so bad I could hear them in the car it would be pretty obvious no? I'm just trying to determine if the thing is safe to drive or not and hoping someone ran across something similar. Brakes were re-done this summer, pads only.

Just an idea. I once in awhile will kick up a pebble from my gravel driveway, and it'll get caught in the brakes, either between the sheet matal backing plate, or the caliper,and the rotor. Makes a gawd-awful scraping noise. Usually it'll eventually fall out by itself.
But that's just one reason for the noise, and the most optomistic one.;) Hope ya figure it out.

I had a bit of limestone gravel get between the splash sheild and the rotor on the 220D. I finally pulled the hub to get rid of it. Never did wear down enough to fall out.

Peter

Read my responce in this link:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=48714&highlight=rust

The fact that its rainy leads me to think you are experiencing the same problem I had (the moisture makes the rust/crud buildup in the area expand and really make some noise).

GregS
'84 300D, 178k
'90 300CE, 170k

I had a similar situation last year, and it ended up being a stuck brake caliper. Caliper and rotor had to be replaced.

I get a strange squeel from somewhere in the back whenever I make any prolonged right turns, such as on a winding road. I haven't been able to find the source of the noise yet. Nothing loose, no rocks between the shields. It happens with or without the brakes on. No squeels going straight or on left turns.

Scraping from rear in turns
 

Last time my '85 300TD did this, it was a broken rear sway bar link. They're plastic, cheap, and easy to replace. But you've got to get on the ground or pull the wheels to check them.

VeggiePup, does a 300D have this sway bar, or is it only on the TD's.
Thanks.

Could this be the part that if broken might make the scraping sound??

Sway bar links
 

The sedan, coupe, and wagon all have a rear sway bar, and all use the same links. The picture you posted is the correct part for all 123s, as far as I know. If they're worn, they will rattle. If one is broken, it will allow the sway bar to rub the inside of the wheel in turns.

Mine are fine.