Clunk in the front?
 

After reading about the squeaks from shocks in the rear...could that be the source of the "clunk" from the front suspension in our 98 M320? Quiet as a mouse driving but clunks like a shot bushing on potholes and bumps. I can find no bad control arm bushings, and do not know about the torsion bar parts.

Any clues anyone?

Sure, another common early ML problem.
It probably needs new front sway bar links. This is hard to describe, I'll do my best.
The inner swaybar links are the supports that hold the bar up, they are under each fram rail. There are updated ones available, here's a description to tell if you have the old style ones or not.
If you look at the top of the link, it fits between a bracket and held in place with a good sized bolt. Look between the sway bar link and the bracket it bolts too. The old style link fits tight between the braket, and has sort of an aluminum looking face on each side of the link. The new style link has about a 1/8" gap on each side, you can see the gap between the link and the bracket. There is an inner spacer inside the new style link where it contacts the bracket. I can get you part numbers if you need them for the new style link.
Nothing is loose, guess you can consider it a design flaw, so don't try tightening anything, doesn't do any good.
We have been having some troubles up here in loosening up the outer clamps on the lower control arms to replace the links, maybe it won't be such a problem on a southern truck, no salt or any mess like that.
Gilly

Front sway bars
 

Hi Gilly,

if they could clone you and make you std issue at all MBUSA shops, we'd all be happier owners!

Gilly, I have a 99ML320 and 99ML430. Both are out of warranty. But both are having this soft clunking sound in the front (in addition to the rear shock squeaks). Is something like a sway bar update covered under warranty even though I'm past my warranty period?

Thanks

I'd say you have about the same chance getting the sway bar links replaced for free as getting the rear shocks at this point.
It was never a bulletin/service campaign that I am aware of, we just did alot of them while they were under warranty.
Are you positive you have the old style links? We've had a few ball joints go bad too, it may be those. I'd say probably no chance of getting help if it's ball joints, considered a wear item.

Gilly

Again.
Hats off to you.
This is the first and only real forum for Mercedes.
Thanks,

experiencing the same thing
 

Gilly,

Any chance you or a someone else could provide the part number(s) for the end links?

I still have a bit of noise from the front after the shock install.

Robert

Robert:
Read through that first response I posted on this thread and try to determine if you are in need of the new links.
I would LOVE to have someone post a picture of the old and new style links, it's hard to describe it. I had made a crude drawing of it, don't know if I ever posted it or not. I need a digital camera is what I need, I would do it myself. No show under the Christmas tree this time (again!).
I can provide the part numbers for the new links, yes. I believe they are the only links available though.

Gilly
ps, they are not the "end" links, it's the 2 "brackets" that hold the sway bar to the frame. Is the noise you still have a rattle noise when going over bumps?

Gilly,

I'll gladly share imagery of the current support brackets on my 98 ML in exchange for the part number of the updated fitment. :)

Robert

Gilly, you make alot I bet!
 

My friend is a mercedes technician, he makes $20 US an hour with bonuses.. u're a master technician I bet you make more than him! with that money a digital camera is nothing =)

It's just not really high on the 'ol priority list.
To some people, who are not from what you would call a "wealthy" background (family of 8 kids, stay at home mom, dad ran a service station and us guys all had to work there)(a background I wouldn't trade for anything BTW), a couple hundred bucks will never be "nothing".

Gilly

Left bracket 163-320-00-90
Right bracket 163-320-01-90
Bushing kit (only need to order 1 kit, includes all 4 bushings):
163-320-00-44

If the clamps on the bar ends are seized, you need
163-320-03-73 (requires 1 for each clamp that is seized) and also for each clamp you need 1 bolt, 910105-010010.

Torque specs:
for the large bolt on top of the bracket, it's 100nm, and needs to be tightened with the weight of the truck on the wheels.
The 2 bolts on each bracket (clamp around the sway bar on the bottom of the bracket) are 50 nm.
The clamps on the end of the sway bar (the ones that seize) are 68 nm. Use caution when trying to remove the bolts on the end clamps, as they are very close to the outer CV joint boots.

Gilly

Gilly,

Thank you for the part numbers.

So as to obtain and post appropriate imagery, do you mean where item 18 in the following image bolts to the frame rail?

Yes, they show 3 #18 parts. The top #18 is the bracket, that's where the noise is coming from, and has been updated. The "middle" #18 and also #19 (the lower part of #19) are the bushings, I recommend replacing these at the same time.
The top part of #19 is the outer clamp that the bolt can seize into, it is actually 2 pieces.

Gilly

Gilly, is it old or new bracket?
Thanks, Mike

That's a new style bracket.

Gilly

as promised..
 

Then here's the old design. :(

Thanks again for the tip and part numbers!!!

Off to the dealer tomorrow as I have yet to find an online store yet that carrys them.

http://www.f150online.com/galleries/...-505-46657.jpg

http://www.f150online.com/galleries/...-505-46659.jpg

Robert

Yes, excellent pictures, those are the "knockers" alright!
Maybe when you have the old ones off, just prior to installing the new ones, you can take a picture of both the old and the new side by side.

Gilly

Gilly,

you got it chief.

Robert

sway bar links changed
 

Gilly and all,

Hopped under the Benzo this afternoon to change/de-clunk the sway bar links and am happy to report the clunk/knock is NO MORE!! Having the Rolex 24 on in the background made it a more enjoyable evolution.

Here is a side-by-side of the new vs. old as requested.

sway bar bushings
 

I just replaced the Sway bar bushings on my 98ML and I can tell you that it was well worth the 20 minutes and <25.00 cost for the bushing kit. I was having some front end noise when I went over Speed Bumps and offroad ruts. It was sort of a hollow squeek / clunk sound. I used a rubber mallet and wacked the sway bar a few times ( after I had read in these forums about sway bar bracket noise ) and was able to duplicate some of the noise. The bushings that I removed had "shrunk" slightly and and were literally as hard as steel. The new ones were solid, but flexable. I removed the sway bar and put in the new bushings. I used the torque specs provided in another post by Gilly ( thanks ). Test drive immediatly confirmed the fix. It was like night and day, with zero front end noise present. I wish I had done it last year.

Yup, real irritating noise on the front if you have the old brackets. There's just a TON of things on these first year or three ML's that can be fixed if you know that fixes exist!
Gilly