Knock knock

[Chris_J]

and a not who's there?

I'm getting a sort of knocking or hollow clunking sound from I think the steering when I hold it past a certain point one way or the other. Only really noticeable when I'm parking. Pretty constant clunk clunk clunk. However, I think I have a similar noise when braking, and the car is doing somewhere between 5 and 10mph (only when I'm slowing down with brakes on).

 

[Chris_J]

Definitely there under braking.

 

[television]

Is the serpentine belt in good condition and not skiding jumping,,are the pulleys all good, you say under braking, thats too slow for the disc to be out of true, and if you could feel them at that speed it would be worse at 40MPH

 

[grober]

Are you trying to turn the wheel--steering further than the stops on the suspension. If you turn the wheel far enough you are instructing the steering mechanism to try to move the wheels further than physically possible which places a strain on the steering rack/pump and might generate a knocking noise? Mercedes are famous for their excellent steering lock but there is a limit.

 

[Chris_J]

LOL no not turning that far. I never noticed it today, but under braking it's sometimes there sometime not. It could be that it's there all the time, but I can only hear it at really low speeds.

I jacked the car up, and the control arm whatsit called looked straight, and not out like someone has in another thread.

It does go bang a bit too when going over bumps or small pot holes, but I really don't know if that's normal for this car. My last one was a Civic Type R and that always went bump bang bump IIRC.

 

[BlackC55]

Thrust arm bushes are sooooooo common on the 203 and knock just like you describe.

 

[Chris_J]

I think I'll book in with WDM or Andy Gale when I get chance. Cheers guys

 

[Chris_J]

As well as the above, I've also noticed the wheels feel like they're going side to side under braking at low speed.

Could out of shape tyres cause this? Any garage I've taken the car to in the past say theyy can't find a problem. I still feel what I can only describe as a grinding under foot, no noise though and also something feeling loose under there too, but again nothing found.

I don't really see it is out of shape tyres, as it has done it since these tyres were new, and they've been swapped round, and it also did it on the Continentals which were on previous.

 

[television]

If the disc are out of true that could cause that, but if it was you would feel it also when braking at speed

 

[Chris_J]

That's the thing, I had warped discs on a 106 GTi I used to have years ago, and they were very noticeable.

When I spin the wheel when the car is jacked up, I hear the disc catching on the pad, that metal scraping sound.

I also notice if I do a very steady 30 on flat road, it feels like there is resistance and then none, on and off and almost feels like the car "floats", drives as normal and then resists again. Now that's got to be odd

 

[television]

That's the thing, I had warped discs on a 106 GTi I used to have years ago, and they were very noticeable.

When I spin the wheel when the car is jacked up, I hear the disc catching on the pad, that metal scraping sound.

I also notice if I do a very steady 30 on flat road, it feels like there is resistance and then none, on and off and almost feels like the car "floats", drives as normal and then resists again. Now that's got to be odd

A lazy or stuck pad/ piston could be the problem I think

 

[blackscooby]

My W203 C32 had exactly the same issue as yours. Almost a "grumble" from the front as the car is coming to a halt. Not noticable at any other time, or certainly mine wasn't.

After 12 months or so mine have just started to grumble again. Last time it was the bushes on the suspension. Someone mentioned the thrust arm bushes. It's a common fault / weakness.

 

[c240yaz]

Worn suspension links / rubbers always knock under slow movement and fast lock turns, when stationary, driving slowly. Not just on MB, all cars and HGVs.

Trade Secret: They teach you this at college when serving your apprenticeship in the motor trade. Fact, and proven 100%

 

[Chris_J]

I just need to get it booked in. What would I be looking at as rough repair cost? It's just so annoying that nobody could find a problem with it in the past. There was no noise, but I've always noticed this annoying rumble/vibration that doesn't make any noise and makes the car feel a bit unsteady. They all drive like that.

 

[c240yaz]

Now it is my turn for knock knock. Last 2 days it has started. O/S/F. Sudden overnight happening.

It will have to wait to see what the cause of this is. More than likely a suspension joint, but it can wait. No time just now for teardown

 

[television]

Now it is my turn for knock knock. Last 2 days it has started. O/S/F. Sudden overnight happening.

It will have to wait to see what the cause of this is. More than likely a suspension joint, but it can wait. No time just now for teardown

Disc can warp just like that,, mine did, and not even a hard stop, only felt under braking though

 

[c240yaz]

Disc can warp just like that,, mine did, and not even a hard stop, only felt under braking though

TV, definately not a disc, Happens slow moving during steering full lock. Could be a susp rubber or link etc. Anoying, but not serious.......I hope

 

[television]

TV, definately not a disc, Happens slow moving during steering full lock. Could be a susp rubber or link etc. Anoying, but not serious.......I hope

Anti roll bar links make click and clonks when worn owing to the stresses on them when turning,, so easy to check

 

[Ian B Walker]

I am not sure if this is relevant or not but I have just worked on a car with a rattle from the front wheel. Turned out to be that the calliper pins were shy of grease and the callipers were knocking. Re greased them and rattle gone.