Front end clunk ... ?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 50
From: SoCal. Desert
'16 E350, gone: '03 c230k
Front end clunk ... ?
I was hoping it was just the tie rod ends, but not...
I'm hearing a 'clunking' like something is a little loose when I go over a slightly rough road or make a turn going thru a drainage gutter. Seems to be coming from the driver's side. I was grabbing and manhandling everything I could under the car but can't find anything loose. I replaced the tie rod ends hoping one was the culprit, but I still hear the clunking.
Any ideas on what else it could/might be?
I'm hearing a 'clunking' like something is a little loose when I go over a slightly rough road or make a turn going thru a drainage gutter. Seems to be coming from the driver's side. I was grabbing and manhandling everything I could under the car but can't find anything loose. I replaced the tie rod ends hoping one was the culprit, but I still hear the clunking.
Any ideas on what else it could/might be?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 11
From: Toronto, Canada
2019 C300 Wagon; '75 Triumph TR6; previous: 2004 C230 6spd sold after 17 years of driving
Lower ball joints on the control arm will cause this as well. 02-04 C230 are notorious for front suspension ills. I have replaced every single part on the front since the car was new to stop clunking. Luckily everything was replaced under warranty other than the 2 tie rods which I did last summer.
the front suspension parts were under engineered and the majority have been superseded by a A204 XXX XX XX number rather than the original A203 XXX XX XX which only proves that this car had significant suspension issues
Jack up the front and support on jack stands and grab the tire at 12 and 6 and feel if there is any play.
Don't worry that you replaced the tie rods as they need replacement by 60,000mi or 100K km anyhow.
As Johnand said the bushings in the torque strut are also a weak item and that could be the cause
the front suspension parts were under engineered and the majority have been superseded by a A204 XXX XX XX number rather than the original A203 XXX XX XX which only proves that this car had significant suspension issues
Jack up the front and support on jack stands and grab the tire at 12 and 6 and feel if there is any play.
Don't worry that you replaced the tie rods as they need replacement by 60,000mi or 100K km anyhow.
As Johnand said the bushings in the torque strut are also a weak item and that could be the cause
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 50
From: SoCal. Desert
'16 E350, gone: '03 c230k
Guess I was up too late then up too early as I mis-typed earlier...
I replaced the sway bar end links (NOT the tie rod ends) yesterday hoping that would take care of things, but not. Guess I'm on the hunt. I'll try manhandling the tires while jacked up and see if I can detect play that way.
So the castor bushes (bushings?) would be the next likely thing to suspect?
Also, can I assume the car is all right to drive as-is until we find the problem?
I replaced the sway bar end links (NOT the tie rod ends) yesterday hoping that would take care of things, but not. Guess I'm on the hunt. I'll try manhandling the tires while jacked up and see if I can detect play that way.
So the castor bushes (bushings?) would be the next likely thing to suspect?
Also, can I assume the car is all right to drive as-is until we find the problem?
Trending Topics
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 11
From: Toronto, Canada
2019 C300 Wagon; '75 Triumph TR6; previous: 2004 C230 6spd sold after 17 years of driving
If it is clunking, there is a problem somewhere as the engineer did not design it to be loose and noisy
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 11
From: Toronto, Canada
2019 C300 Wagon; '75 Triumph TR6; previous: 2004 C230 6spd sold after 17 years of driving
Super Moderator
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,365
Likes: 12
From: Orange County, CA
GMC - Miata - Trek - P-Car
^ No doubt each aforementioned piece of hardware can manifest untoward noises when their useful service life has been exceeded.
Seems I’ve replaced every suspension consumable (most more than once) over the course of ~102,000 miles in search of solid steering feel and/or improved performance.
IIRC, you’ve also an H&R anti-roll bar fitted up front. My bar’s bushings headed south within a year of initial installation. A horrible ‘clunk’ was the unfortunate result.
A friendly call to H&R’s U.S. importer [(888) 827-8881] netted a gratis pair shipped overnight without any proof of purchase shenanigans.
Seems I’ve replaced every suspension consumable (most more than once) over the course of ~102,000 miles in search of solid steering feel and/or improved performance.
IIRC, you’ve also an H&R anti-roll bar fitted up front. My bar’s bushings headed south within a year of initial installation. A horrible ‘clunk’ was the unfortunate result.
A friendly call to H&R’s U.S. importer [(888) 827-8881] netted a gratis pair shipped overnight without any proof of purchase shenanigans.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 50
From: SoCal. Desert
'16 E350, gone: '03 c230k
Thanks for the replies guys! Yep, I have the H&R sways front and rear, along with the Bilstien sports. I did double check the sway bar bushings and they looked good (both the mounts and the bushings themselves). I had to get the proper mounts and new bushings when I put them on about 1.5 years ago now. I put new hats/bushings/bearings in at that time too, so I could just pop out the old strut assy and pop in the new one.
It seems like the beginnings of something, as I can only feel/hear it over the small rough stuff (i.e. small roacky road surface) and not the bigger stuff. I just really hate the car not being 'right'. I should have a chance to jack it up and manhandle the wheels tomorrow.
It seems like the beginnings of something, as I can only feel/hear it over the small rough stuff (i.e. small roacky road surface) and not the bigger stuff. I just really hate the car not being 'right'. I should have a chance to jack it up and manhandle the wheels tomorrow.
