On our 1993 190E a groaning squeek has developed at the passenger side right front wheel. I squeeks/groans when the steering is turned and when the up and down movement of the shock is actuated. I suspect it is the shock rather than a tie rod end or other part. Can anyone confirm my suspicion? If it is the shock what is the solution to eliminate the noise? Is there a way to lubricate the shock or is this a common problem for the 190 series that requires replacement? Shocks are one of the last things that I expected to go bad on a Mercedes at 87,000 miles.

Has anyone had a similar experience with the conditions as described above?

If it is shocks... any reccomendations for replacement?

Thanks.

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Earl



1993 190E 2.3
2000 Toyota 4x4 Tundra

last time I had this was the ball joint further down than the shocks.
Moonlighting MB mechanic charged me 80 bucks parts and labour ?5 yrs ago,not expensive.

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Tom 2010 C250 4-matic Sport (Canada)

Thanks Tom that certainly is a possibility. I just spent the afternoon taking everything apart bit by bit to try to find the squeek. I took the tie rod end off and the squeek was still there. That left the pinion and the shock as possible squeekers. So I unbolted the shock from the wheel and neither the pinion nor the shock squeeked.

However the rubber brake line hose was now extended tight and it sqeeked when I turned the wheel because it was rubbing against a metal part of the whaeel assembly. At this point the shock was fully extended and not under any pressure. Nothing squeeked except the rubber brake line.

I put everything back together again and kept an eye on the brake line an it cleared everthing once the shock was bolted in place so it would no longer squeek.

After putting everything back together again I tested the steering and the shock and to my surprise the loud groaning squeek was gone. It was a quiet as the day it came off the show room floor. Drove it around for as test and it remains quiet.

I am at a loss as to why it no longer squeeks and groans. Possibly by extending the shock, sometning happened to the compression inside and it will soon start squeeking again.

Anyway, I sure would appriciate hearing from someone who has experienced this phenominon. I am baffled.

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Earl



1993 190E 2.3
2000 Toyota 4x4 Tundra

Well my wife drove the car the following day and sure enough the groaning squeek has returned.

Is there a design feature with the Mercedes shocks that allows them to temporaily recharge if they are fully extended?... thus eliminating the binding squeek sound. As it is I can't tell if the shock or the pinion bearing ( or what ever its called) is making the sound because the shock pivets along with the pinion.

Thanks. I think I need an old pro on this one.

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Earl



1993 190E 2.3
2000 Toyota 4x4 Tundra

The noise is very probably the lower ball joint. If you want to try this test. you can be sure. First make a hole in the ball joint rubber use w-d 40 or similiar with a extenter tube on it and fill the inner partof the rubber all the way full of spray. Make sure you really fill it up!! Drive around awhile (it might take a while to work but the niose will go away if its the problem.

put some silicone sealer over the hole in the rubber after the test to keep moisture out of ball joint.

I had the same problem on my 190E when I owned it. It was the lower control arm bushings. Almost never got the old ones out - had to take a torch to them and burn them out.

Please help me with the terminology. Are the lower control arm bushing and the lower ball joint the same thing?

By the way... the squeek also occurs if I rock the front of the car up and down. Would this point toward a shock or will these bushings also move when rocking the front end?

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Earl



1993 190E 2.3
2000 Toyota 4x4 Tundra

hi I'm going to do this on mine...will the ball joints be ok should the noise goes away..?I'll give an update tomorrow

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1993 Lexus SC300
1987 Mercedes 300E ..totaled out..
1991 Saab 900Convertible ..gave away..

I too believe it is the lower ball joint. I lived with the squeak for over a year - very annoying on certain days. I used WD40 as recommended to verify, and the squeak went away for a week or so. After replacing the lowers it was gone for good. Paul

Thanks everyone... Looks like its ball joint to me rather than the shock.
I'll do the WD-40 test to verify.

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Earl



1993 190E 2.3
2000 Toyota 4x4 Tundra

Here's the update...took WD-40 to the front end ..springs, ball joints and squeaky is GONE...Mechanic wanted $400 to replace ball joints..My mechanic said they were fine..I adore this Benz

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1993 Lexus SC300
1987 Mercedes 300E ..totaled out..
1991 Saab 900Convertible ..gave away..

I too determined that it was the ball joints by trating them with a rust cutter. The car is quiet again. However is understand that this method is simply a test to determine if the problem is with the ball jooint , shock or other...

I understand that as soon as the Wd-40 evaporates, then the squeek will return.

I went ahead and ordered the tools to do the job myself... including two new ball joints from Fast Lane... I think they were $23.00 each with very fast shipping.

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Earl



1993 190E 2.3
2000 Toyota 4x4 Tundra

Had balljoints replaced today..no more squeaks.. drives awesome.. from another mechanic price for labor was $175

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1993 Lexus SC300
1987 Mercedes 300E ..totaled out..
1991 Saab 900Convertible ..gave away..

I also have this problem, but with a twist on my 85 W124 (Euro). When it is raining, there is no squeek.
When things dry out, the squeek returns in a big way. Before I did a search on this topic, I sprayed all bushings (well, all rubber items) on the suspension, like the sway bar bushings, tie rod joints, etc with WD-40. This helped, but did not make the squeek go away. Since this is a Euro in the first year of the W124, I am unsure what repair manual to get. There are some (at least one) part on this car that is for the preceeding model (W123?) and not on the "normal" W124. FYI, this part is the socket for the front corner lamp. The wiring harness is for the "two-prong" but the parts dude at the stealership says that the W124 takes a 3 wire socket. Things like this are giving me huge headaches in the upkeep of this ride. So I guess what I am saying is, any suggestions on where I can go to get some instructions on the replacement of the ball joints? While I am under there, are there any other things I should look at/replace? Earlier in this thread, it was mentioned that there are special tools for this job. What would these tools be? I might be in a bit over my head with this excellent car.

BTW, I "smoked" a ricer in his Intregra yesterday. I laughed so hard seeing the look on his face (through the haze of diesel smoke that smells like corn chips since I added a gallon of corn oil and two ounces on Power Service in this tank) in my rear view.