I've got a very odd (rotational) noise coming from my CLKs gearbox area!

[seymansey]

Hi All,

2006 CLK 320 cdi, 722.9 (7g tronic) 99k. Gearbox oil changed by Mercedes (at my request) about 5k previous.

In the last couple of weeks, the car has developed a weird rotational noise. The car shifts perfect in C or S, but under heavy load, there is just this weird sound. It got ever so slightly louder when i removed the shifter cover. Could be either the propshaft or (hopefully not) from inside the 'box. The noise does get 'harder' when i went around a mini roundabout at speed.

I don't have much access under the car, so managed to get the covers off and have a look. The flex discs both look fine, and I couldn't immediately see anything bad.

Granted noise related questions are difficult to answer, but i'm super stumped at the moment!

EDIT: I should add that i've also tested coasting in neutral with the engine off - noise still apparent.

 

[Howard]

Handbrake cable loose and rubbing on the prop shaft ?

Very common on 208's , May be the same ?

 

[seymansey]

Maybe so. I need to get this up on a ramp to check for this, along with a check of the centre bearing.

 

[BlackC55]

+1 Parking brake cable on prop. Very very common.

 

[seymansey]

+1 Parking brake cable on prop. Very very common.

Hit the nail on the head!

For the benefit of others (and googlers) this is what I found:

Lift car on ramps and take off two heatsheilds above the exhaust to reveal the propshaft. You'll be greeted with with the parking brake resting on the propshaft, you can see the snapped blue clip and you can see where the prop has been 'polished' by the cable shroud:

Now I guess the "proper" way would be to purchase new clips, but I had a bit of spare metal around the workshop, so a new 'bracket' was formed to hold the parking brake cable solid using the centre bearing mounting point, and that isn't going to be snapping off anytime soon:

Very happy, and I have a silent CLK again!

 

[Howard]

Pleased you got it fixed

 

[richardgr88]

Hi All,

Sorry to revive an old thread. Just brought myself a 2008 CLK 280 Sport A209 which I'm loving so far other than a niggly noise which I'm hoping is the same as in this post.

Just so I'm clear is it likely the handbrake will be rubbing on the propshaft at the rear near the differential or at the front near the gear box.

Many thanks in advance. This is my first Mercedes I've owned but have just given back a C250 AMG Line Premium Plus which was a lease car :-(

 

[Auto-mobile]

More towards the gearbox, you will need to peel back the heat shield for the exhaust in order to see it, there are 2-3 clips holding the cable to the car, it only takes one to break.

 

[richardgr88]

Finally found the time to jack up the car and have a look. It was a bit tight but pleased I have found and fixed the problem.

Could see the clips initially and though everything was all well then I took the exhaust heat shield and what should hit the floor but a piece of broken plastic clip.

Here are some piccie's which hopefully people will find useful. Hoping my cable tie concoction will hold the test of time. Now have a silky smooth quiet CLK again

Two Clips:

Damage to propshaft:

Damage to handbrake cable:

Broken Clip:

What fell on the floor!:

Hoping that this will fix it:

 

[Auto-mobile]

It's a worrying sound isn't it! If you chose to fit a new clip you have to get a long extension and a hammer and whack it on to the thread, don't see why the zip clips won't do the same job.

 

[Leng]

Finally found the time to jack up the car and have a look. It was a bit tight but pleased I have found and fixed the problem.

Could see the clips initially and though everything was all well then I took the exhaust heat shield and what should hit the floor but a piece of broken plastic clip.

Here are some piccie's which hopefully people will find useful. Hoping my cable tie concoction will hold the test of time. Now have a silky smooth quiet CLK again

Two Clips:

Damage to propshaft:

Damage to handbrake cable:

Broken Clip:

What fell on the floor!:

Hoping that this will fix it:

Currently have exactly the same issue and found this thread helped massively. I too looked underneath while doing a complete suspension refresh and all seemed well so was thinking it was probably something else more problematic but without the heatshields removed you wont see it.
Thanks