Squeeky W124

[JumboBeef]

My W124 (1992 E220 estate) has started making a strange squeeking noise today.

It *seems* to come from the f/n/s corner when driving on a bumpy road, and it sounds like two bits of rubber rubbing on each other. You don't hear it until you are doing about 30mph, then it goes at about 45mph ish. Over 45mph, all is quiet.

I tried rocking the car when it is parked, and I cannot hear anything from any of the four corners. What could it be please?

Thanks.

 

[bluevenetian]

I'm no expert, but ball joint? a similar thing happend to me http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=65071&highlight=creaking
and it was indeed the ball joints.
At speed there was no problem, but turning at slow speeds and it was really noisy

 

[andy_k]

check your ball joints and your anti roll bar bushes. Also have a look at the drop links - they tend to crack as they get older and can lead to all sorts of weird noises before they finally give up the ghost - they cost about a tenner each to replace

 

[JumboBeef]

OK, thanks.

How can I check my ball joints? What/where are the drop links?

The noise is not affect by turning the wheel from side to side: I don't know if this makes a difference.

I do already have a clunk from the o/s/f, and I was guessing that that noise was an anti roll bar bush on that side which needs replacing.........

 

[andy_k]

if it's a clunk it will probably be the drop link - have a look under the front wheel arch, you can see them very easily

 

[grober]

W124's don,t have drop links to the anti-rollbar at the front as the bar is bolted directly to the front wishbones but certainly worth checking the roll bar bushes as mentioned.

 

[andy_k]

W124's don,t have drop links to the anti-rollbar at the front as the bar is bolted directly to the front wishbones but certainly worth checking the roll bar bushes as mentioned.

they have extenders/drop links/mounts at each end - fixed to the front chassis rail

 

[grober]

terminology mix up?

Sorry we are talking at cross purposes. I assume you mean the roll-bar mounting brackets item 35 here called "clamps" .http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...+++717.413&CT=F&cat=44R&SID=32&SGR=060&SGN=02

What I would call a drop link is more like item 20 "rod" found on the rear anti roll bar here.http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...+++717.413&CT=F&cat=44R&SID=32&SGR=195&SGN=04

whatever hopefully the poster will get the idea.

 

[Ian B Walker]

Have a look at the steering cross shaft and idler that is situated on the passengers side of the car. They have a tenancy to cause all sorts of weird noises.

 

[JumboBeef]

Thanks for all the info.

As this is my first MB, and I've had it less than 2 weeks, I don't really know what I'm looking for! I'll have a poke around tomorrow and see what I can find (anyone near Penrith, Cumbria who could come and have a look for me?)

 

[andy_k]

Sorry we are talking at cross purposes. I assume you mean the roll-bar mounting brackets item 35 here called "clamps" .http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...+++717.413&CT=F&cat=44R&SID=32&SGR=060&SGN=02

What I would call a drop link is more like item 20 "rod" found on the rear anti roll bar here.http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...+++717.413&CT=F&cat=44R&SID=32&SGR=195&SGN=04

whatever hopefully the poster will get the idea.

yep, we are at cross purposes, the brackets and clamps you refer to are a common failure - the clamps split and allow the anti roll bar bush (or rubber mounting ) move around and can cause all sorts of weird noises.

They are just forward of the front wheels and can be easily seen by just looking underneath the front bumper

 

[JumboBeef]

Is it an easy DIY fix, if that is the problem?

 

[andy_k]

Three bolts and about 15 minutes a side (if that's the problem). The brackets/hangers cost about £12 each from MB

 

[JumboBeef]

Right, I've had a look underneath........

If I grab the anti-roll bar, I can pull and push it back and forth by a few mill.......should I be able to do this? I can hear a clunking sound on the driver's side where the bar goes into the bush on the end...........this must be the clunk I can hear when driving. The supports/drop links (whatever they're called ) seem solid where they are fixed to the car, but they both do flex by a few mill when I grab the bar: is this right or wrong?

Secondly, the squeek. I asked my FIL about this yesterday (he is a retired motor mechanic and MOT tester, and still works from home, with 50+ years of experience, and he is normally right about things!) and he straight away said 'they all do that'. He said the rubbers are just a bit dry, and once it rains it will stop. He also suggested WD40/brake fluid on the rubbers to make them stop long term (I have WD40ed them, and I'm going out shortly so we'll see if that works).

 

[andy_k]

there should be some movement but not a few mm - if I were you, for what it costs (in time and money) I'd swap the bushes

The supports/hangers/brackets should flex - it's usually the band on the front that cracks

As for WD40, well whatever works for you, it may well work as a temporary measure, as for the "they all do that" comment well neither of our W124s squeeked so, no they don't all do that

 

[JumboBeef]

So, I'll get a new set of bushes (four of them?) Is MB the best place to get them from? Any idea how much they'll cost and I assume they are an easy DIY fix........?

 

[andy_k]

The only tools you need are a couple of 13mm spanners/sockets (IIRC) and some washing up liquid (to make the bushes slide easier).

 

[BlackC55]

I suspect it will be the ball joints making the noise. If it is get them changed asap as they do snap and cause loads of damage and potentially dangerous.

DONT put brake fluid on rubber parts.

 

[JumboBeef]

Thanks for the replies.

Well, the squeak is gone. I can only assume it was dry rubber and the WD has now sorted it out. I have bought a pair of outside rubbers for the roll bar from MB (they didn't have any inside rubbers in stock) and tomorrow I'll see if that gets rid of the clunk.

Thanks again.

 

[kth286]

You can always leave the anti roll bar off for a while to do some test driving to eliminate it completely as the cause of the noise.

You do need to do some tests because if it is the lower swivel ball joints that are making the noise they can let go immediately with quite dire results, as they hold the suspension together.