Mercedes 211 E Class front suspension noise?
Discussion
Ive posted similar in the Merc forum but trying here for more exposure...
Ive just had replaced on my S211 E Class:
Shocks
Top mounts
Drop links
Tie rids (inner and outer)
Suspension arms
Ball joints
Engine mounts
Gearbox mount
Despite this I still have a clunk which feels like its coming from the nearside front when the weight transfers front to back, like after slowing right down and then setting off again.
I can feel it almost under my feet, mostly under the left foot rest from drivers side.
Any ideas? Have checked everything is tight.
The wheel alignment is way out, so could this cause it? Like the suspension binding and unbinding causing a noise and clunk?
Its only at low speeds it does it.
Ive just had replaced on my S211 E Class:
Shocks
Top mounts
Drop links
Tie rids (inner and outer)
Suspension arms
Ball joints
Engine mounts
Gearbox mount
Despite this I still have a clunk which feels like its coming from the nearside front when the weight transfers front to back, like after slowing right down and then setting off again.
I can feel it almost under my feet, mostly under the left foot rest from drivers side.
Any ideas? Have checked everything is tight.
The wheel alignment is way out, so could this cause it? Like the suspension binding and unbinding causing a noise and clunk?
Its only at low speeds it does it.
It sounds like you've done/replaced/had replaced most of the obvious suspects. I assume as part of the exercise, you or your garage/friend have double checked all the new components and ensured they're not faulty, despite being new.
Only other thing that springs to mind is the subframe mountings. On a Mondeo years ago, which had a slight oil leak, one of the mountings had been gently soused in engine oil over a long period and become soft. It clunked in exactly the manner you describe despite not being obviously loose. Holding it on the front brakes while gently applying fore/aft load from alternately raising the clutch in 1st/reverse identified it.
As an idea which possibly could help, something I've done before while trying to work out precisely which front wheel bearing was noisy on a Jaguar, was gaffer taping a microphone to each of the suspension turrets in turn, feeding the wire back to the mp3 player it was connected to, which I then set recording while I drove the car. It was very obvious from the recording which was the culprit. Someone else has clearly come up with a more sophisticated and modern solution here: https://www.giuliaforums.com/threads/suspension-no... I think I'd be tempted to replicate that with a cheap set of earbuds which have mics.
Do let us know how you get on.
Only other thing that springs to mind is the subframe mountings. On a Mondeo years ago, which had a slight oil leak, one of the mountings had been gently soused in engine oil over a long period and become soft. It clunked in exactly the manner you describe despite not being obviously loose. Holding it on the front brakes while gently applying fore/aft load from alternately raising the clutch in 1st/reverse identified it.
As an idea which possibly could help, something I've done before while trying to work out precisely which front wheel bearing was noisy on a Jaguar, was gaffer taping a microphone to each of the suspension turrets in turn, feeding the wire back to the mp3 player it was connected to, which I then set recording while I drove the car. It was very obvious from the recording which was the culprit. Someone else has clearly come up with a more sophisticated and modern solution here: https://www.giuliaforums.com/threads/suspension-no... I think I'd be tempted to replicate that with a cheap set of earbuds which have mics.
Do let us know how you get on.
Thanks for the replies.
Its all Febi, Lemforder and Sachs stuff, not cheapies.
Ive been underneath this morning and tightened everything to f***ing tight and it seems better or certainly less noticeable. I took a short trip and went over some speeds bumps so maybe that's helped it all settle in properly.
I think I'll get it aligned and see what its like after that.
Its all Febi, Lemforder and Sachs stuff, not cheapies.
Ive been underneath this morning and tightened everything to f***ing tight and it seems better or certainly less noticeable. I took a short trip and went over some speeds bumps so maybe that's helped it all settle in properly.
I think I'll get it aligned and see what its like after that.
Bit more investigation done last night by mechanic; we jacked the car up using the centre front Jacking point and could feel a ping on the end of the anti roll bar where the drop link is - this is the same on both sides.
We put the car on ramps and undid the drop links, lowered it, drove it around the block, raised it again and reconnected the drop links - noise still there.
We loosened the shock bolt and nipped back up, loosened the control arm bolts (the slotted kind) and nipped back up. Noise still there!
All we can think is that because the alignment is so far out (lots of neg camber and toe is out) that the suspension is under so much load it is sort of twanging when the load comes off. It doesn't do it at speed or over bump bumps so I'm wondering if at low speed the wheels are sort of scrubbing? As speed rises the wheels will toe out a bit as is normal and the car settles down a bit? It definitely can be felt in the footwell (makes sense if its roll bar) and can be heard in the car.
Any ideas?!
I think im just going to have to align it and see what happens. The car didn't do this before and all components are new quality parts.....
Gassing Station | Suspension, Brakes & Tyres | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff