Annoying creaking!

[Smithy860]

afternoon all,
I was wondering if you could help me with a knocking noise from passenger side front, sounds horrible at low speeds over slight bumps.
I have tried to reenact it when stationary but can’t. My dad and I checked the wishbone, strut, changed the drop links, brakes sprayed every moving part and cannot do anything to locate or stop the noise.
I used lofty guide and I checked all parts, including wheel bearings and everything seems solid and nothing came up on mot 3 months ago.
I would appreciate any ideas, it’s irritating rather than anything else!.
I don’t want to start changing parts in order to narrow it down as it’s an older car and I don’t want to throw money at it. If I could narrow it down though then I would happily repair the problem part.

 

[Smithy860]

I did wonder if it could be something to do with the sway bar, they look like they have rubber bushings? Maybe worth undoing the clamps and spraying some grease in , or I could be clutching at straws!

 

[kid-jensen]

Take the anti roll bar off (drop links as well) and drive it round the block...

If the rattle/knock has gone, it's probably the ARB rubbers...

 

[OneForTheRoad]

possibly LEMFORDER OEM CONTROL ARM LOWER BALL JOINT MERCEDES BENZ CLASS A & B W169 W245 | eBay

or


2 FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT FOR Mercedes-Benz W164 ML280 ML300 ML320 ML350 06-11 | eBay

whichever is fitted.

 

[clk320x]

get it up on a ramp , can’t diagnose over internet

 

[wu56Shoozz]

^ SuperMechanic to the rescue...Lols!

 

[Smithy860]

get it up on a ramp , can’t diagnose over internet

I did, I just wondered what I need to look for

 

[wu56Shoozz]

Whilst its on the ramps, you could spray the bushes with WD40 and test drive after to see if its gone, that way you'll eliminate the problem temporary. Once found coat the offending bush in silicone grease and your good to go...had this on my Jeep which is poly bushed, once coated, squeak gone...

 

[GLK]

There's one little trick Forrera told me a while ago: sometimes the spring is too close to the wheel arch lining - simply pushing it outwards a few mm would stop the noise (although I have a suspicion this is a different type of noise?).

Also, if the very tip (about an inch) of a spring is broken off, it won't be immediately apparent - worth double-checking.

I recently had my OSF spring snap in half (whilst parked) - now that was a noise and a half!
New ball bearings, as well as (by now) all four new springs ... I guess 12 years is not too bad for original sports springs

 

[Petrol Pete]

There's one little trick Forrera told me a while ago: sometimes the spring is too close to the wheel arch lining - simply pushing it outwards a few mm would stop the noise (although I have a suspicion this is a different type of noise?).

Also, if the very tip (about an inch) of a spring is broken off, it won't be immediately apparent - worth double-checking.

I recently had my OSF spring snap in half (whilst parked) - now that was a noise and a half!
New ball bearings, as well as (by now) all four new springs ... I guess 12 years is not too bad for original sports springs

Reminds me about what happened to a mate of mine. Stuck in very slow moving traffic on the M4 in his ancient Ford Fiesta , the BANG ! front right hand spring broke in half !

 

[Smithy860]

Thanks guys, I jacked it up and took wheel off today. I put a small bar in between the lower ball joint and there was probably 5mm of movement and the knocking noise.
New ball joint ordered, thanks again

 

[Smithy860]

Oh and the boot itself was not intact unsurprisingly!

 

[Smithy860]

Thank you for your help, changed the lower ball joint today and it sorted the problem

 

[thebandit]

@Smithy860

Hi. Turns out I'm going to have to replace an OSF lower arm. The ball joint nearest the hub has lost it's grease and it's grinding when warmed up.

How was easy/difficult was it to replace this part? Any special tools or procedures needed?

Did you buy parts from MB or elsewhere?

Cheers!

 

[thebandit]

I now see the ball joint closest to the hub can be separated from the main control arm. Part No. A 169 333 01 27 refers.

Did you replace this part and the control arm (A 169 330 10 07)?