Clunk sound comming from front
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From: Austin
2001 C240
Clunk sound comming from front
I have noticed over the past 1.5k miles or so every once and a while I hear a single 'clunk' sound comming from the front of the car (2001 c240). It seems to happen at all speeds and only when I am hitting my brakes slightly. It seems to occur more often when I am turning and applying the brakes but not every time. It seems to be happening more often the longer it goes.
When I had it in the dealer about 1k miles ago I asked them to take a look while doing regular maintenence and they said they didn't find anything wrong (atleast with respect to the clunk noise, they billed me for plenty of other problems heh).
The sound reminded me of a cv joint going bad however it is not a front wheel drive car so I am at a loss. Does anyone know what might be causing this or had this happen to their C240?
When I had it in the dealer about 1k miles ago I asked them to take a look while doing regular maintenence and they said they didn't find anything wrong (atleast with respect to the clunk noise, they billed me for plenty of other problems heh).
The sound reminded me of a cv joint going bad however it is not a front wheel drive car so I am at a loss. Does anyone know what might be causing this or had this happen to their C240?
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CLS
Originally Posted by f00b4r
I have noticed over the past 1.5k miles or so every once and a while I hear a single 'clunk' sound comming from the front of the car (2001 c240). It seems to happen at all speeds and only when I am hitting my brakes slightly. It seems to occur more often when I am turning and applying the brakes but not every time. It seems to be happening more often the longer it goes.
When I had it in the dealer about 1k miles ago I asked them to take a look while doing regular maintenence and they said they didn't find anything wrong (atleast with respect to the clunk noise, they billed me for plenty of other problems heh).
The sound reminded me of a cv joint going bad however it is not a front wheel drive car so I am at a loss. Does anyone know what might be causing this or had this happen to their C240?
When I had it in the dealer about 1k miles ago I asked them to take a look while doing regular maintenence and they said they didn't find anything wrong (atleast with respect to the clunk noise, they billed me for plenty of other problems heh).
The sound reminded me of a cv joint going bad however it is not a front wheel drive car so I am at a loss. Does anyone know what might be causing this or had this happen to their C240?
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 462
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From: By the City by the Bay, CA
2001 E320 (210.065), Brilliant Silver; 2002 Ducati ST-2, Arrest-me Red
Struts, probably
Hey foob4r. That sounds like a classic strut noise, particularly if you're up around 75K or have driven on lots of poor roads.
In this case, rather than the dealer, I'd suggest taking it by a front-end shop; they have lots more experience with this than the dealer. Once you get their estimate/parts list you can then decide if you want to do it yourself. If it is struts you have to replace them in pairs and that will whack the alignment, so see if you can negotiate a package price with the shop.
Good luck and enjoy the ride,
Greg
In this case, rather than the dealer, I'd suggest taking it by a front-end shop; they have lots more experience with this than the dealer. Once you get their estimate/parts list you can then decide if you want to do it yourself. If it is struts you have to replace them in pairs and that will whack the alignment, so see if you can negotiate a package price with the shop.
Good luck and enjoy the ride,
Greg
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From: Central NJ
C230K Coupe/Orion/C4/C5/CD/AMG Spoiler/V60/TeleAid, 2 MGB's
Originally Posted by f00b4r
The sound reminded me of a cv joint going bad however it is not a front wheel drive car so I am at a loss. Does anyone know what might be causing this or had this happen to their C240?
bushings...warranty...call dealer
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From: Austin
2001 C240
respdoc; Thanks for the informative reply. FYI I did do a search and was not able to find any posts refering to anything similar to my problem. If it has been posted many times before would it be too much trouble to post the url or perhaps some search terms that would help me locate more information?
Rick; Would the wheel bushings make a clunk sound? Seems like they would make more of a grinding but then again I don't know much about cars. I did call the dealer and had them look at it at the last visit and they said nothing was wrong. I was hoping to get some feedback as to what other people have done with similar symtoms since my dealer doesn't seem to be familiar with the problem.
Greg; Interesting. My car has about 46k miles on it however it is possible I have driven on some rough roads during that time... (as well as a lot of up and down in the parking garage and speed bumps!). I will look more into this thanks!
Rick; Would the wheel bushings make a clunk sound? Seems like they would make more of a grinding but then again I don't know much about cars. I did call the dealer and had them look at it at the last visit and they said nothing was wrong. I was hoping to get some feedback as to what other people have done with similar symtoms since my dealer doesn't seem to be familiar with the problem.
Greg; Interesting. My car has about 46k miles on it however it is possible I have driven on some rough roads during that time... (as well as a lot of up and down in the parking garage and speed bumps!). I will look more into this thanks!
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: By the City by the Bay, CA
2001 E320 (210.065), Brilliant Silver; 2002 Ducati ST-2, Arrest-me Red
It's possible it's one of the bushings, but they generally take a lot more time to wear out unless you've been jumping curbs in your spare time. 
If I were tearing into it that would be near the bottom of my list unless there's a specific tsb on it.
I'd agree that 46K would seem soon for a strut, but they're like any other mechanical contrivance and can fail at any time. Sounds like you'd prefer bilsteins anyway!
Rather than beating yourself up with it I'd still take it to a good front-end shop. They won't charge you for examining it and then you'll have the diagnosis. Just don't go to Sears.
If I were tearing into it that would be near the bottom of my list unless there's a specific tsb on it.I'd agree that 46K would seem soon for a strut, but they're like any other mechanical contrivance and can fail at any time. Sounds like you'd prefer bilsteins anyway!
Rather than beating yourself up with it I'd still take it to a good front-end shop. They won't charge you for examining it and then you'll have the diagnosis. Just don't go to Sears.
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From: Abingdon, MD
Wheel bearings- get in right lane before a left hand sweeper, take foot off gas and turn into the sweeper changing lanes all the way to left lane (use blinker and ensure there's no traffic). If you hear a squeal, it's the righthand bearing. Take exit, turn around, do same thing in opposite direction, but left lane to right lane. Again, if you hear a squeal, it's the outside bearing.
Alt- jack vehicle up and support with jackstand. Put hands on 12 and 6, try to shake, it the wheel moves and clicks, it's a wheel bearing.
Control Arm Bushings (CABs)- In reverse, turn wheel to full lock (left or right) and see if car skips, or suspension binds making a thud. Either way replace both at same time if noise is observed.
Tie-rods- jack vehicle up and support with jackstand. Put hands on 9 and 3, try to shake, it the wheel moves and clicks, it's a tie-rod. Replace both left and right.
Alt- turn key to position 2, do not start. Place hand at 12 on the steering wheel and move back and forth. If you hear click/thud/bang/noise, get buddy, offer bear, isolate sound, inner or outer tie rods, steering rack, hub/wheel bearing.
Strut- really lean into that sucker and bounce car up and down. See if you can duplicate noise.
Sway endlinks would be any bump but are also a possibility.
etc. etc. etc.
---I know I am more abusive then most MB owners here, but I replace the stuff all the time. I was going through endlinks like fat girls do cake, I am on my 3rd set of CABs and arms, etc. It's really surprising how inferior some of these parts are compared to some other cars on track.
Alt- jack vehicle up and support with jackstand. Put hands on 12 and 6, try to shake, it the wheel moves and clicks, it's a wheel bearing.
Control Arm Bushings (CABs)- In reverse, turn wheel to full lock (left or right) and see if car skips, or suspension binds making a thud. Either way replace both at same time if noise is observed.
Tie-rods- jack vehicle up and support with jackstand. Put hands on 9 and 3, try to shake, it the wheel moves and clicks, it's a tie-rod. Replace both left and right.
Alt- turn key to position 2, do not start. Place hand at 12 on the steering wheel and move back and forth. If you hear click/thud/bang/noise, get buddy, offer bear, isolate sound, inner or outer tie rods, steering rack, hub/wheel bearing.
Strut- really lean into that sucker and bounce car up and down. See if you can duplicate noise.
Sway endlinks would be any bump but are also a possibility.
etc. etc. etc.
---I know I am more abusive then most MB owners here, but I replace the stuff all the time. I was going through endlinks like fat girls do cake, I am on my 3rd set of CABs and arms, etc. It's really surprising how inferior some of these parts are compared to some other cars on track.
Last edited by nukblazi; Jun 14, 2005 at 09:35 PM.
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 570
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From: Montreal, Quebec
2001 C240 Tectite
Armlinks needs to be replaced, common problem, can also be the springs broke, both of mine broke in front, so the springs were not sitting properly.
have your dealer check it out, 95% sure it's the armlinks.
have your dealer check it out, 95% sure it's the armlinks.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 177
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From: Los Angeles, CA
c240
i had the same problem (only turning left), it turns out it was the stabilizer linkage (?), it looks like a black rubber ball, supposedly that keeps everything "still", but anyway, it costs about $40, let me know if that's the cause (you could tell its bad if it looks like it is cracked)
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 8
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From: NoVa
2002 C240
I have a 2002 C240 with 55k miles that just developed the same problem, no problem on the highway but in local streets and in the city, especially with passengers, the car sounds more like a Yugo than a Merc.
Lot's of good posts here and now I can bring it to the dealer and see what they say.
Thanks,
Erich
Lot's of good posts here and now I can bring it to the dealer and see what they say.
Thanks,
Erich
