front end grinding noise when turning
 

ok my 03 c240 4matic wagon is makeing a grinding noise when i turn left or right even the slighest turn it makes a grinding noise sounds like the brake backing plate its fine when driving straight seems to be front end where the sound comes from

any ideas

all my boots are in good shape no play in the wheels when i jacked it up and moved them around

May be the spring... does it go and come back at times? On mine is the spring that spins when i turn but i have noticed that i am not the only one with this problem :nix:

your tire might be rubbing the dust cover behind the front bumper.

RU sure there is no play in a wheel bearing? Presume your brake pads are OK?

brake pads look ok

no rubbing on anything in wheel well

jacked car up and shook wheels up/down and left/right no play that i could see my RR wheel bearing was bad and had just over 1/8 play

the sound is really like the disk backing plate is getting rubbed or a pad dragging its loud enough I can hear it in the car with windows up and ac on low

its fine when straight but if i turn the steering wheel even 1/2 inch (either way) it makes the noise even when brakeing the noise is there when turning

as for springs i do have a broken LR spring but im sure the noise is up front and ive got the springs on order

It could be something as simple as a pad anti rattle shim that has become displaced or damaged by a stone etc.

Can you feel it through the steering? Are all engine mounts in good condition? It's not the engine moving around when cornering & touching something?

You don't have Conti tyres with feathered & cupped shoulder tread do you? They can cause worn bearing type noises & you can generally feel some grumbling through the steering.

RU quite sure it's not aerated fluid in the powersteering system venting through the relief valves. Check fluid level.

OH SNAP! Mine dont do that when i brake.. only when I turn and its only once in a while. it goes and comes. it sounds as if it would be the CV joint boot but i've checked and its the spring :nix:

well tires are nice and even PS fluid is right on

will take the wheels off on sat and look at the brake pads any other ideas???

oh you cannot feel it thru the steering it steers just fine same as it allways has

well found the problem the LF outer cv joint was siezed you could barely move it by hand

had it replaced and noise is gone

Oh! ****! Pleased you found it. And the boot was still intact? unusual.

In my experience the LHS joint is always the first to fail. My first suspicion would have been CV joints but when you said the boots were fine I dismissed it. That was dumb on my behalf.

Hi,

I am having the same noise. I thought it was the steering rack. I changed the spring and no result. what does the LF outer cv joint look like? i got it checked by a mechanic, they could not fault anything. Mine happens on and off.

Thanks

I.I

Hey,

I have a similar noise, that really stands out when making a slow right turn. However, it sounds as though it is coming from the left side. The tires are Conti Procontact with the discussed shoulder wear primarily on the right side. At a recent oil change, I told my Indy about this and he checked the wheel bearings. Said the right side was loose and tightened it up. Interesting other point, since I bought the car which now has 142K, I have replaced the serpentine belt twice. Possible engine mount issue?

Does anyone know how much Indy garages typically charge for CV joint repairs ? Do you need to replace both sides at the same time?

Which tires do you suggest instead of using Contis?

Thanks!

Mine does the same thing, i could hear it when we have low temperatures. Once it's below the 50's at night i hear it when i make a slow right or left turn. Never happened on a hot day, wondering why

Im getting the same sound and I think i found my problem today when flushing my tranny.

Could you guys check out my picture and tell me what it could be AND if I could "save" it by DIY replacement? The leak is seen on both sides (both boots).

I know this could potentially be costly.:tear:

-Steve

The part your pointing is actually the[boot on the] inner tie-rod. That is not the CV joint.

Thanks PCY.

I was wondering...If this is leaking, could that be the cause for the creaking noise I get when I turn the wheel? How would I replace these "boots" if nothing else is the problem?

Thanks again,

- Steve

Evidently, grease should not permeate the boot. However, the quality of the lube used may not be what the axle required according to MB specs.
Now, this would be the bright side. More common would be failure due to "delayed maintenance".

:zoom::zoom::zoom:

Joe...I'm hoping that it wouldnt be delayed needed maintenance. The car only has 36k miles on it.

Does anyone know the brand/type of spray lube I could buy to spray these fittings? just to see if this is the cause of the creaking sound.

Of course, I go to an indy and I can't make the sound again. Then when I get home, turn into my spot and the sound comes....

Thanks,

- Steve

If there is oil in the rack boots you have a power steering fluid leak from the rack.

All the others posters that think you might have a bad CV joint in front, that is NOT possible unless you have a 4-matic equipped C-Class.

So the rear-wheel drive (c240) does not have CV joints in the front? I can't imagine the back wheels having any. So there are no CV joints at all in non 4-matics?

A RWD C240 has CV joints on both rear side shafts

Thanks Glyn. But if the rear wheels do not turn, how would I ever know if the CV is going bad? Is there specail noises the that back CVs make when they go bad?

I have not driven or worked on RWD before, so excuse my ignorance. thanks.

Same symptoms as CV's on front wheel drive. Typically torn, leaking boots, grinding/clicking/groaning noises. Since the rear wheels don't turn, CV's typically last MUCH longer in rear drive applications vs. front.

Excellent. One less thing to worry about. I will check the back boots, just to make sure.

Thanks John.