mrbobby

My '05 CLK 500 cabriolet exhibited a clanking noise from the driver's rear suspension, heard when going over a bump hard enough to unload the suspension. I had the car put up on the hoist and there's no evidence of anything broken bend or worn out with the suspension. This happened after changing rims and tires. The noise seems to be gone now. Does anyone have any idea what could cause such a noise?

Glyn M Ruck

Make sure you have not sheared off a wheel bolt. Also make sure you have used the correct length lug bolts with your new wheels or you can foul the e brake assembly in the hub hat.

mrbobby

Thanks for the suggestions. These were yhe first 2 things I checked. There is adequate clearance with the caliper and the bolts are the originals. The "new" rims were AMG's from an '05 CLK 55.
I suspect that when jacking the car with a floor jack, using the prescribed Mercedes jacking points that perhaps the springs were affected. It seems as if now the problem has lessened (springs re-settling?). What do you think?

Fatz

What size rims and tires did you change to? Are they the same size as those replaced?

Since you have to "unload" the suspension and reengage to hear the noise, it could be a wheel/tire clearance issue.

mrbobby

They're 8.5 rear and 7.5 front, by 17". The noise is metallic and not the typical tire rubbing body noise. The clang hasn't been evident for the last couple of days so it may just be the spring resettling.

The rear spring appear to be recently replaced as the description stickers are still very visible. As long as the "clang" goes away and doesn't reappear I'm happy. I just wondered if anyone else had experience something similar.