W204 Clunking/Knocking noise on Suspension

[190]

No just the shock under warranty.

 

[Damaino]

UPDATE

Had both front shocks replaced on Friday. Replaced them with Sachs shocks. When they removed the struts they checked the strut mountings and discovered the driver side mounting bearing was worn(Thanks Grober for advising to check the mounting bearings ) had this replaced as well.

Replacing of the shocks has cured the problem of the clunking noise - all gone and quiet!:bannana:

However, ive noticed before i changed the shocks, whenever i hit a medium to hard bump i get feedback on the steering as if theres some play somewhere in the suspension, my first thought was that its the shocks causing this issue and replacing them would resolve it. Got the car back Friday and it's still there!!!! Theres no knocking noise but slight play when i hit the bump.

I replaced the LCA, Anti roll bar links, shocks, mounting bearings. The only thing i can replace now to basically say the entire suspension has been overall, is replacing the upper control arms/torque arms and track rod ends.

Im no mechanic, but can the track rod ends be causing this as its linked to the steering rack which in turn gives the feedback i feel on the steering wheel?

Cheers

 

[Yugguy]

Daft question but are you sure it was the shocks and not just the mounting that was causing the knock?

 

[Damaino]

Daft question but are you sure it was the shocks and not just the mounting that was causing the knock?

Good question infact - that was my first thought when they told me the driver side bearing was shot, but to pay the labour cost twice wasnt worth it, so replaced the shocks as the well as i got them at a good price.

They only had to replace the one side as the passenger side was perfectly fine.

 

[Yugguy]

Cool, cheers

 

[grober]

SEE POST 3 of this thread the front suspension torque arms would resist any backward movement of the wheel/ hub on hitting a bump

 

[ampwhu]

easy to comment after the event, but if you were going to change the front shocks, the upper and lower control arms were there to be changed at the same time. labour wouldn't have been much more.

I think is your next move. (post 14)

 

[Yugguy]

Just an update from me, if anyone else is getting this.

Just had top mounts and shocks replaced and my noise is gone. Can't say which one fixed it though. Didn't feel like paying two times the labour charge to find out.

From what I could see though the old mounts actually looked ok.

 

[Blue30]

I did my torque arms aka front lower upper arms or whatever they're called the other week, they made a big difference at 130k miles. I used the Mayle HD arms. The steering is sweeter and there's much less harshness from bumps in the road. I still have a slight knocking though. Next will be front shocks and top mounts.

 

[Yugguy]

Mine sounded like someone knocking their knuckles on a metal panel, a dull sound on low speed bumps.

It is so nice to have it gone.

 

[Jezgsx1400]

Assuming you have had the ARB links and the lower control arms changed at the front Maybe its the torque arms- they are a known weak spot on the w203 and w204

Mercedes-Benz W204 Torque Strut and Bearing Replacement - (2008-2014) C250, C300, C350 | Pelican Parts DIY Maintenance Article
Torque Arm Bearings Popping...again - MBWorld.org Forums

If these are the "lowercontrol arms" you referred to already then ignore this suggestion---[terminology can be misleading and I may have misunderstood ]

Hi Grober, I’ve replaced the shock absorber and the complete bearing that mounts it to the body at the top of the shock and the drop link but still getting the dull thudding at low speed over bumpy roads, it’s driving me crazy! Can you recommend the next bit to replace please? Is it the item the red arrows points to? and what do they call it??
thanks jez.

 

[grober]

SEE POST 3 Of this thread. item 200 in the diagram
STEERING KNUCKLE AND CONTROL ARM MERCEDES C-KLASSE [Car] [CHASSIS] (EUROPA)

 

[Jezgsx1400]

SEE POST 3 Of this thread. item 200 in the diagram
STEERING KNUCKLE AND CONTROL ARM MERCEDES C-KLASSE [Car] [CHASSIS] (EUROPA)

Thanks Grober, I’ll try that part next

 

[markjay]

I have replaced only the hydro-bushes (210, and dust caps 215), not the complete arm (200), but having seen the amount of work required to extract and fit the bushes into the arms, I would suggest that a complete new arm is a more economic approach.

Additionally, I bought original MB bushes, but given their short life, I would suggest buying complete Lemforder arms (not MB).

(I also replaced the front struts top mount - just the rubber part, not the ball bearing, which was fine - and the drop links).

 

[Jezgsx1400]

Mine now solved was the lower control arm.... after replacing the shock and shock upper bearings and drop link...so glad the dull thudding/thumping has gone but got misguided on here on the various items it could have been...

 

[kit17]

Control arms are notorious on the C classes , w203 in particular but the w204 suffers too. You can’t beat taking it to a good MB specialist sometimes otherwise you can end up throwing money at it without any resolution.
Knocking noises on suspension are annoying so good you got it sorted.