Hi - I've got an '94 E320 and recently it has developed a "clunking" sound coming from the front left suspension components. The only time I notice this sound is when I'm moving slowly in reverse and apply the brake and immediately after I put in in D and engage the brake.

At first, I thought it may be the brake caliper moving cause the sound was related to braking action in either direction - of course this wasn't the problem.

I've jacked the car up and have visually and physically shook all the obvious components for play - none found.

I'm wondering if this is a common problem that I'm just not recognizing.

I also have slight steering wheel shake and am wondering if this problem is related to my clunking noise?

Any comments greatly appreciated.

Vic

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'94 E320 - 16" Monoblock replica 225-50-16

124' are notorious for breaking the inner sway bar mounting brackets. With the wheels hanging you won't get any free-play, so take a good look at the brackets where they bolt to the frame. Good luck.

Nope - checked the sway bar bracket and it looks good.

Any other suggestions?

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'94 E320 - 16" Monoblock replica 225-50-16

Sway bar bushings or upper strut mount. If the mounts have cracks, the interior is gone, replace them. Loose strut mounts will cause wander.

Check the tie rod ends, too.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Make sure the lower control arm bolts are good and tight. I've seen a few that needed to be re-torqued to resolve noises that seem similar to yours. Make sure you don't turn the bolt though. Hold it with a box wrench and tighten the nut. If you turn the bolt you'll change the caster/camber.

Hi Vic,

I´m just back from the garage were I replaced the engine mounts on my 1984 500 SEL. The reason - clunking noise at garage shifts, when going over speed bumps, sometimes at start up, a car that felt quite loose in the front end and wandered on the road. When I took the old mounts the rubber had collapsed with 1/2 Inch on one and 1/3 of an inch on the other one.

After the replacement the clunks and the wandering and looseness in the steering is gone (except for a little bit of play in the steering box that I will do some other day).

I was convinced for a long time that one or the other of the steering parts was broken or extremely worn out to give this much problems.

Just some input that might help - Good Luck

Mikael