On my 94 E320 I have noticed at least 2 occasions within the last month of driving when there is a groaning noise when turning at low speeds. It sounds as if its coming from a steering component near the front wheels (its difficult to tell if its isolated to one side or the other). It has only done this 2 times (that I can remember) in the last 500 miles or so. Any ideas that I should check?

I found in the archives that the PS fluid could be a bit low, I'll take a look and report back.

Thank!

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Daily Driver: 02 E430 4MATIC
In the family: '03 E500 // '04 ML500 // 64 220SE

Checked the PS fluid, the car was warm at the time, but the fluid was between the min and the max marks. I noticed that they said min 20C and max 20C so I will have to check it later when the car is about that temp. I assume the fluid will go down as the car cools (correct?) so it is possible that the fluid is just a bit low. I'll check the level again tomorrow.

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Daily Driver: 02 E430 4MATIC
In the family: '03 E500 // '04 ML500 // 64 220SE

is water frozen or rust in the ball joint. i would try injecting grease into the boot of the ball joints with a needle. if your boot is cracked this wont help for long. and the boot will need to be replaced as a minimum. if the bj is loose then it will need to be changed too.

this has worked many times for me.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

i'll take a look a tthe ball joints. This is what is suspected (and dreaded a bit) as the 94-95 w124 has the control arm ball joint as one piece.

Thanks for the suggestion

BTW the car is parked outside (shame on me...i know, but its only until aug.) so it has to suffer through the artctic Wisconsin winter

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Daily Driver: 02 E430 4MATIC
In the family: '03 E500 // '04 ML500 // 64 220SE

The same thing happened to me but it was constant when I turned the wheel. I was told it was lower ball joints. That cost over 500.00. When I picked the car up, it still made the noise. I left the car at the shop until the noise was found. It was the bearing in the steering column. It was cleaned, greased and put back in. I wasted 500.00.
Lesson learned: Check the bearing first, it msy not be the ball joints.

Mary

thanks for the suggestion, my steering doesn't make the noise the entire time i turn, not yet anyway. I'll be sure to take a look at it though.

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Daily Driver: 02 E430 4MATIC
In the family: '03 E500 // '04 ML500 // 64 220SE

When I got similar problem first think came to me was same think Ps pump or any related parts but it was breaks, resurfaced installed more quality pad its gone

Good Luck

Thats what happend to me before I realized that the control arms needed replacement(ball joint more specifically). I had 230k or there about miles on the car and then when I finally replaced them it is/was like driving a new car!I had no idea how bad they were until i replaced them, well worth it!! I got mine from Phil here, they were made by Bilstein!!!
Chris

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94 E320 with:
18" ///AMG Monoblock II's,AMG Gen II front bumper, H&R spings,500E sway bar, Bilstein sports, Eisemann Exhst, K&N,E500 Headlamps, Crystal Clear Corners, Avantgard Grill ...and more stuff to come! oh yeah 241k miles!!


My Car WOO HOO...... Now SOLD
New car.... 2001 Jaguar XJR!!!!