Severe squealing when turning steering wheel lock to lock and odd brake pedal feel.

[Mintyfresh77]

Hi Guys,

So today our 2009 E220 Cdi AG (S211) suddenly started to make a nasty loud squealing noise when the wheel is turned to full lock. The noise only happens when the wheel is over on full lock not during it's travel there. Same sound both left and right and sounds like a horrific belt slip but Conti belt kit with tensioner and idlers fitted last year so belt etc is in great condition.

Additionally the front end is now feeling a little wooly and the brake pedal felt odd too earlier, almost like it shimmied a bit with a creaking sound coming from the front when coming to a stop.

A regular any makes garage failed it for lower ball joints in June on MOT and replaced them, have they done a s++t job I wonder?

- Checked pwr steering fluid - Level OK
- No groaning/grinding noises from PWR Steering Pump.
Torch inspection of front springs for breakages seemed fine but it was dark and the wheels were still on the car.

From looking at forums the bad belt squealing could be caused by AC Compressor pulley or Altenator clutch pulley because when the wheel is turned full left or right it momentarily puts extra load and tightness on the belt which in turn will cause any weak pulleys to cause the belt to jump. I didn't see the belt physically jumping earlier while my wife turned the wheel but it could still be snatching enough to make the noise I guess.

Dunno? Any clues on where to go with this guys?

 

[Tonygw]

tough one to diagnose but you could be on the right track with the AC compressor or alternator, The alternator has a clutch pulley (as do most cars these days) which can go bad only way to check it is to remove the belt and try to spin it in both directions.

The AC compressor, does the issue go away with the AC turned off? as that could be a clue.

As to the woolly feeling and creaking, could be brake related. are the disc and pads in good condition. My right-hand brake caliper creaks when going slowly on a turn. Im on my second set of dics and pads but still it does it.

However, I am wondering if maybe its pulley related affecting the speed of the PAS pump causing the odd Woolley feel?

 

[Riva811]

sounds like you have a suspension arm issue

 

[Flyinspanner]

Check crank pulley is running ‘true’ - if it’s wobbling about it could be loose on its keyway! - and if it or any other pulley/tensioner are wobbly, (pas pump pulley?) it may have loosened or damaged the recent belt, so check tension, spray belt with dressing, and try lock/lock if it’s gone quiet, then it may be the belt!

 

[E55BOF]

Does the squeal vary with engine speed?

See also this thread: Squeal when on full lock in reverse? | Engine

There may be nothing wrong...

 

[Mintyfresh77]

Sorry for delay in reply to all that kindly commented on this issue. I took a punt on a new Altenator clutch pulley made by INA after reading about a number of other cases that sounded similar to my own in terms of the screech when turning onto full lock and this cured the issue . The part that threw me and some other commenters off the scent was the braking/handling symptom which appeared at the same time and was actually just coincidence not causation. I found a ball joint with blown gator on the front n/side so that explains that. Car running perfectly now. Thanks again for your input guys

 

[E55BOF]

Glad it's sorted. Was the balljoint with the duff gaiter one of those the garage replaced? If so, you'll be wanting a little chat with them...

 

[Mintyfresh77]

Glad it's sorted. Was the balljoint with the duff gaiter one of those the garage replaced? If so, you'll be wanting a little chat with them...

Sorry for delay in reply E55BOF. It was indeed the same ball joint. It was a Moog brand ball joint which I have now replaced with a Lemforder. I would have expected more lifespan than that but then I had an indy fit 2 x Lemforder engine and 1 x Trans mount in July last year and I currently have all the symptoms of mount failure at the moment so honestly I've become so disenchanted with the car, brand and trust in garages. Totally fecked off with it all.

 

[E55BOF]

Lemforder are an OE supplier for MB, or have been in the past, and I've had Terry Gates fit Lemforder mounts to a 211 55K in the past without demur. What mileage have you done since they were fitted?

 

[Mintyfresh77]

Lemforder are an OE supplier for MB, or have been in the past, and I've had Terry Gates fit Lemforder mounts to a 211 55K in the past without demur. What mileage have you done since they were fitted?

Exactly mate, this is why I purchased Lemforder. I'll give you some history. Car is 2009 S211 with almost full MB history and in Spring 2022 had done about 125,000 miles and now on 131,000 miles. The issue at the time was a bizarre intermittent rough idle and pulsing/rocking feeling in car at idle which after throwing some parts at it was still there and some forum members rightly suggested maybe the mounts were to blame. It actually turned out to be poorly sealed pipes between HPFP and fuel filter and is now fixed thankfully but back to last year and the 1st indy couldn't find a fault and charged for diagnostic and software update but when I went to collect car at end of day it was chugging like a gooden, indy witnessed it and said perhaps injectors. Reconditioned injectors were quoted at about £265 a pop and they weren't even sure if that was the issue. No thanks.

I planned on fitting the Lemforder mounts myself but on my OM646 Evo lump it looked at first glance like the DPF was in the way of fitting the O/side mount (from below) and being a truck driver and Dad to a 5yr old I didn't have the time to go down that rabbit hole so ended up asking a different Indy to do the work and explained the history of the car and also asked them check for the mysterious rough idle issue. The indy said that they would fit the mounts but would not warrant the parts as they were not supplied OE by them. I agreed to this without concern because the parts were genuine Lemforder purchased from Autodoc.

The mounts were done end of July 22 (and no rough idle issue found again ) but thankfully the random idle issue was resolved accidentally in Aug/Sep 22 by the replacement of the 8 month old fuel filter so I was getting ready to sit back and enjoy some trouble free motoring for a change but by late November 22 I was starting to notice considerable dashboard rattling/vibration with foot on brake, stationary while either D or R but not in neutral. No noticeable vibration on the move initially but it is becoming a little more pronounced out on the move now at low speeds under load.

I should have gone back to the Indy that fitted the mounts but it's not close to where I live, I would of been reminded about the 'Not Warranted Parts' and I've thrown enough money down the drain paying people to tell me the time off my own watch. I have been waiting for better weather to come so I can get underneath and have a good look because the sound and vibration could easily be an exhaust system in contact with the underside of the car.

Any ideas?

Side Note - A rather dubious MOT garage failed it in March 22 for 'Insecure exhaust system' which was repaired but what part failed and how they repaired is unclear .

 

[Smiley]

Lemforder used to be 100%, now seeing various not so good comments about the products. Either quality has slipped or there are counterfeit Lemforder products in the market.

 

[Mintyfresh77]

Lemforder used to be 100%, now seeing various not so good comments about the products. Either quality has slipped or there are counterfeit Lemforder products in the market.

The company I purchased then from are very reputable (Autodoc GMBH) so the counterfeit risk is low but somebody could in theory of sent counterfeit mounts back to Autodoc and the items could have been re-stocked without checking and then sent out to me.

It could be that a bodge job of the exhaust system in March followed a few months later by the fitting of brand new mounts has eventually caused contact between the body and exhaust underneath causing the vibration. I honestly don't. Just clutching at straws tbh.