'53 C320 Coupe - Rattle when turning right - CV's or W/Bearings?

[barki]

Hi,

My C320 Coupe (manual g/box) have developed a quite subtle rattle when I turn right. Its quiet enough that I can't hear it with either window open, but when going around a roundabout at 20mph+ I can hear a rattle through the chassis.

- I cant feel anything through the wheels/pedals/seat, just hear it.
- It stops as soon as I centre the wheel or turn left
- Dipping the clutch doesn't stop the noise
- It sounds to me like its coming from the front, although its hard to tell

Having read a bit about CV joints, it sounds like this may be my problem.

Car was MOT'd last week, the only advisories where slight play in front wheels bearings both sides...(could these be causing the noise?) and there is a note that the lower engine tray was fitted, presumably this means they didn't inspect the front CV joint boots......


I've not actually done a CV joints before, but im pretty sure I can do it using the guides on you tube....my problem is,....where can I actually get one? Neither GSF or Euro stock them for my car....and I've no doubt that MB will ruin me.

I might run it for a bit to see if it gets any worse (no doubt it will). For the time being its not causing a problem or intrusive, but I can definitely hear it.



If I take the front wheels off and have a look, will CV damage be obvious (I could see earlier that the outer ones certainly aren't split/leaking, but I cant tell if they are knackered internally.


Are there any other common C320 faults that might cause this noise that I should be aware of before I write off next weekend getting oily?

Car is on 60k miles.

Cheers!

Tom

 

[hotrodder]

You won't find any CV joints at the front of a rear wheel drive car...
Wheel bearings typically whine when they're knackered and feel/sound nasty when spinning the offending wheel by hand. If the MOT advisory was slight play i'd expect we're talking a slight 'tick' of movement rather than properly sloppy but it's one (of many) aspect of the MOT that's down to individual testers opinion*. In either case a loose wheel bearing isn't gonna cause a rattle that's audible through the floor/an open window.
While the undertray would've hindered/prevented a visual inspection of some of the steering & suspension it won't have stopped the tester from feeling for play by levering the suspension this way and that. If there was excess play it should've been noted but things like undertrays might stop the tester from identifying a specific ball joint or bush as the culpret

It could be a loose/badly fitted/bent undertray or heat shield etc that's rattling against/contacting something, either as a direct result of steering input or due to the various loads on the car when turning right i.e. compliance in all the rubber bushes, engine & g/box mounts etc allows a tiny bit of movement and things will move in different directions when accelerating or braking and turning left or right

* one persons idea of a slightly loose wheel bearing can be anothers idea of spot on which is why MB spec an endfloat measurement rather than relying on the fitters/mechanics feel

 

[LTD]

Stone guard at the rear of the front brake disc ?

They can become loose due to rust around the fixings.