W221 Front Suspension squeaks
Discussion
Terrible squeaking from the front! Can feel wheel movement when jacked-up, so ball joints clearly shot at 90,000 miles. S350L BlueTec Airmatic
There are three control arms, two lower and one U-shaped upper.
Assume that it will just be the front lower arms (70) that need replacing but wondering if it would be worth replacing the rear lower (120) or indeed upper (180) at the same time?
Image for reference, would probably go with brand named parts (febi bilstein etc.)
Any advice?
There are three control arms, two lower and one U-shaped upper.
Assume that it will just be the front lower arms (70) that need replacing but wondering if it would be worth replacing the rear lower (120) or indeed upper (180) at the same time?
Image for reference, would probably go with brand named parts (febi bilstein etc.)
Any advice?
Edited by Mogul on Monday 21st June 13:04
Hi Mogul,
I am also experiencing a squeak from the front of my W221 albeit older at 2008 with 38,000 on the clock.
Upon purchase I had some play in my leading lower arms (non-Strut ones) so changed those due to their inner bushes creaking over bumps (bad rubber noise like rubber soled shoes on an old wood floor).
My drivers side wheel (front right) had play and that was due to the wheel bearing - some tightening solved the wheel movement as they are tapered I would recommend you check this first.
Then I was experiencing a squeaking noise when applying lock to the steering wheel - my outer tie rods had play in them and although not visibly damaged boots, changed them and once in hand sure enough you can turn them by hand and hear/feel a loud creaking noise so these were also changed this stopped my squeak while turning.
However my squeak is still there over bumps so I'm guessing its either the arms you have attached a pic of or the upper arms which I am betting it is more than likely the lower ones - so if you do get to the bottom of it please do post back as I am having the same issue and would love to know what cured yours!
That aside lovely things for eating miles these W221s.
Slim
I am also experiencing a squeak from the front of my W221 albeit older at 2008 with 38,000 on the clock.
Upon purchase I had some play in my leading lower arms (non-Strut ones) so changed those due to their inner bushes creaking over bumps (bad rubber noise like rubber soled shoes on an old wood floor).
My drivers side wheel (front right) had play and that was due to the wheel bearing - some tightening solved the wheel movement as they are tapered I would recommend you check this first.
Then I was experiencing a squeaking noise when applying lock to the steering wheel - my outer tie rods had play in them and although not visibly damaged boots, changed them and once in hand sure enough you can turn them by hand and hear/feel a loud creaking noise so these were also changed this stopped my squeak while turning.
However my squeak is still there over bumps so I'm guessing its either the arms you have attached a pic of or the upper arms which I am betting it is more than likely the lower ones - so if you do get to the bottom of it please do post back as I am having the same issue and would love to know what cured yours!
That aside lovely things for eating miles these W221s.
Slim
Good call to think about the wheel bearings.
I did a quick search and found an excellent video on the 'tube search for > "Mercedes-Benz W221 Front Wheel Bearing Adjustment (RWD)" - perhaps overkill on the 3d printed tool to replace the dust cap! Is it that tricky to keep it straight?
I had a rear suspension problem recently which I correctly diagnosed as the rear Airmatic sensor/rod for which I was hoping to get away with a £150 bill, but my local Merc specialist managed to double that so when he then said £600 to replace the 'ball joints' I thought I would investigate further...
Clearly you need to change the control arms (and not just the ball joints on the W221) but brand named steel arms that carry the strut (#70) can be sourced for £150 a pair, and I think I should be able to find someone to fit them for less than £450
The other lower arms are alloy (#120) and also have a ball joint which could of course be contributing to the squeaks... They are also around £150 a pair, so perhaps worth throwing a pair on at the same time as it's not much effort, but invariably any garage will just pick the default job time from the book and double the bill accordingly.
I did a quick search and found an excellent video on the 'tube search for > "Mercedes-Benz W221 Front Wheel Bearing Adjustment (RWD)" - perhaps overkill on the 3d printed tool to replace the dust cap! Is it that tricky to keep it straight?
I had a rear suspension problem recently which I correctly diagnosed as the rear Airmatic sensor/rod for which I was hoping to get away with a £150 bill, but my local Merc specialist managed to double that so when he then said £600 to replace the 'ball joints' I thought I would investigate further...
Clearly you need to change the control arms (and not just the ball joints on the W221) but brand named steel arms that carry the strut (#70) can be sourced for £150 a pair, and I think I should be able to find someone to fit them for less than £450
The other lower arms are alloy (#120) and also have a ball joint which could of course be contributing to the squeaks... They are also around £150 a pair, so perhaps worth throwing a pair on at the same time as it's not much effort, but invariably any garage will just pick the default job time from the book and double the bill accordingly.
Edited by Mogul on Thursday 24th June 13:11
I DIY a lot of stuff so tbh didn't use the tool to keep it straight rather a large socket but for the passenger side just tapped it home.
Yes I am all for replacing the arm opposed to just a ball joint as it's quicker cost difference is negligible and I'd hate to replace a ball joint only to find out later an inner bush had gone bad to do it all again!
My suspension noise is quite odd in that there seems to be a squeak from the NSF but the OSF tends to click not squeak and backing off my drive I can hear it creak/Squeak under the car sort of around the middle which made me think it's not a ball join as such - weather pending I'll whip the covers off at the weekend and have a look.
There doesn't seem to be a lot of W221 owners on here chiming in - a shame really!
Yes I am all for replacing the arm opposed to just a ball joint as it's quicker cost difference is negligible and I'd hate to replace a ball joint only to find out later an inner bush had gone bad to do it all again!
My suspension noise is quite odd in that there seems to be a squeak from the NSF but the OSF tends to click not squeak and backing off my drive I can hear it creak/Squeak under the car sort of around the middle which made me think it's not a ball join as such - weather pending I'll whip the covers off at the weekend and have a look.
There doesn't seem to be a lot of W221 owners on here chiming in - a shame really!
I may be accused of overkill, but at 90k miles if it's on original parts I'd change both lower arms, the upper arms, and the tie rods too. They'll all be miles past their best and you'll be in and out changing them over the next 10/20k miles or so anyway, so get it all done and forget about the front suspension for another 90,000 miles.
Wait for a 38% off day at Autodoc and you can get Lemforder parts for less than your local factors will want for Chinese crap, as long as you're happy to wait a couple of weeks for it to turn up.
Wait for a 38% off day at Autodoc and you can get Lemforder parts for less than your local factors will want for Chinese crap, as long as you're happy to wait a couple of weeks for it to turn up.
Agreed with the above and just FYI I changed my drop links which removed the clicking noise I was experiencing over bumps etc and the lower arms as pictured by OP were changed which also fixed my annoying squeak/creaking I was experiencing.
Hope that helps anyone else who comes across a Squeaky class it is an easy enough job for someone that can DIY as long as you can get the car high enough off the floor for the inner bushing bolts.
Slim
Hope that helps anyone else who comes across a Squeaky class it is an easy enough job for someone that can DIY as long as you can get the car high enough off the floor for the inner bushing bolts.
Slim
Gassing Station | Mercedes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff