Where do you LUBE your suspension?

[kamil]

Hey,

Today I started hearing some type of noises coming from somewhere in the front of the car. When I turn the steering wheel it sounds like rubber rubbing against something. I'm not sure what the heck is going on with the power steering since it works perfect but that sound is pissing me off a bit.... maybe I need to lube something ?

Any advice guys ?

[BF_JC230]

well it could be...
anything - did you do a good visual inspection for dry and worn out parts...

there are only a few spots with rubber -
the upper control arms, the swaybar (fun), the eccentric, the track mounts (guide rod), upper spring cup -

it could also be a shock tube if its turn sensitive
or a ball joint...when i first got my w123 and did basic overhaul i was shocked as to how destroyed the ball joints were because they shown no signs of wear...like much of the suspension.

steering -
might be the steering dampner, mine did not have one so i installed one, there are two to choose from a German one, and a Mexican one. could be the idler or a rag joint in the steering column...

so hard to say without being there to hear it...sorry
Jake

[dmorrison]

W123 suspension parts are lubed for life. So there is no place to lube.
A creaking sound while going over bumps and turning is usually associated with the Guide Rod Mount.

Low fluid level in the power streering pump will gice a growling sound.

Otherwisse check your steering linkages, all of them. Look for worn parts, torn boots, grease coming out of boots, loose connections in the linkage.

Dave

[BF_JC230]

"W123 suspension parts are lubed for life. So there is no place to lube." - Dave


sorry i was not too clear on the details there...thats what i meant.

Jake

[Marcb]

I had a similar sound on my 124 MB and it was the lower ball joint.

[wolf_walker]

I used to lube the lower control arm bushings on the VW's every 50K or so. Rubber gets hard and stiff and it collects so much road crud down there. It's so easy to pull the arm on them it was worth doing.

The sway bar bushings are noisy on my w123 when it's really cold out, looks like to much of a headache to pull and lube them though..

Although most everyone here wants to offer help when we can, it is somewhere between difficult and impossible to troubleshoot a noise or vibration over the internet.

You might try getting someone to turn the wheel while you get up front and listen.

Good luck,

[P.E.Haiges]

Kamil,

I lube the ball joints and tie rod ends every 25,000 miles by using a hypodermic type grease tool I bought at a parts store many years ago. My '80 300SD has 250,000 and none of the suspension parts have been replaced except the steering damper.

This tool has a fine hollow tube with a sharp point and a zerk fitting on the opposite end.. You just stick it thru the rubber boot and give it a few squirts of grease. To me, parts lubricated for life have a shorter life than parts that can be lubricated.

P E H