Hi fellow C-class mates.

Problem #1: With a little less than 20K miles (or 30K km) on the odo, the left front shock absorber has started to make a squeaking sound (not very loud, but still hearable from inside the car). Isn't the shocks supposed to last longer than this? Is changing the shock the only solution to make this annoying noice go away?

Problem #2: When braking from high speeds there are some small vibrations (combined with this typical noice from a skew brake disc). All this is most noticeable when applying only modest so "semi"-modest pressure on the brake pedal. My service advisor told me that I havn't been braking hard enough and that the vibrations were a consequese from this (he never looked at it, but guessed there were small rust-spots on the rear discs).
Is changing the rear brake discs a difficult operation, or something I can do by myself? Or is there anything other I can do. I've tried to brake hard from really high speeds (two days ago I was in Germany and did some heavy braking from 230 km/h to 100 km/h, but it didn't seem to help ).

Thanks in advance.

/Daniel

 

"the left front shock absorber has started to make a squeaking sound "

Shocks usually don't "make squeeking sounds" but if you're sure it's the shock then replace it.

" Isn't the shocks supposed to last longer than this?

Hopefully and usually.....yes.

"Is changing the shock the only solution to make this annoying noice go away?"

If it's the shock. If you take it off and compress/release it does it make the noise? Sway bars have been know to make "squeeking noises".

"When braking from high speeds there are some small vibrations (combined with this typical noice from a skew brake disc). All this is most noticeable when applying only modest so "semi"-modest pressure on the brake pedal. My service advisor told me that I havn't been braking hard enough and that the vibrations were a consequese from this (he never looked at it, but guessed there were small rust-spots on the rear discs)."

Over here we say "Your SA is bull ****ting you." (is that OK to say?) That is an impolite way to say they aren't really sure what the problem is but a wink is as good as a nod to a blind horse.

"Is changing the rear brake discs a difficult operation, or something I can do by myself?"

Anything can be difficult the first time but discs are not hard to change.

"Or is there anything other I can do. I've tried to brake hard from really high speeds (two days ago I was in Germany and did some heavy braking from 230 km/h to 100 km/h, but it didn't seem to help ). "

Sigh....my car is governed to cut off before 230 km/hr even if I thought I could safely get away with it. What makes you think that the shock is the noise source?

Disclaimer: I am not a professional mechanic but I don't know if that's good or bad.

 

Daniel, I wonder if the squeaking noise you're hearing is the problem I had, noisy sway bar bushings. The noise was most noticeable when going over a bump and turning. It was like a deep "rubbery" squeaking sound. They fixed it once during my "A" service about a year ago, but it came back in the last few months. I just had my "B" service it took them 2 times to fix it. After it wasn't fixed the first time I drove around w/ the service foreman who diagnosed it immediately when he heard it. They ended up replacing the bushings -- had to leave my car there 3 days for the parts. I got it back tonight and I do believe the noise is gone.

BTW, while the guy was driving w/ me I tried to show him how the driver seat does that shift thing during turns but it didn't happen, or, he didn't notice it. He said there were lots of linkages where there could be some play -- anyway, I'll try to have it fixed next time.

 

Thanks for your replies mleskovar and MarkL.

@mleskovar
"Or is there anything other I can do. I've tried to brake hard from really high speeds (two days ago I was in Germany and did some heavy braking from 230 km/h to 100 km/h, but it didn't seem to help ). "

Sigh....my car is governed to cut off before 230 km/hr even if I thought I could safely get away with it. What makes you think that the shock is the noise source?


I don't think the shock absorber is the source of this breaking-vibration/noise. If I would make a guess, it would be on a skew disc as the source of this - but that's only a guess. When looking at the rear right brake disc, there are something that lookes like small cracks. Wonder if they are responsible for the vibrations/noise???

...and yes, I think you're right about my SA. I've been bull-****ted by him before. He's highly incompetent

When asking if changing the discs was a difficult operation, I meant on the W203 specifically. I've done a similar operation on an old Benz (W123) once (without ABS, ESP and all these nice gadgets) and don't remember it beeing that difficult. However - that was, as I said, on an old car, and the front discs.
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@MarkL
...The noise was most noticeable when going over a bump and turning. It was like a deep "rubbery" squeaking sound...

This is a perfect problem description! I guess the shock absorbers are allright and that the sway bar bushings are to blame then. I've noticed one strange thing with this, and it is that the squeaking get worse when it's hot outside! Maybe a consequence from that the bushings are coated with something or that the rubber getting softer when it's hot? Strange it is anyway.... Since my car is out of warranty and I can imagine fixing this is an expensive opreation, I guess I'll leave it be (until I can't live with the squeaks anymore... :p )

Regarding the shifting seat, I've been pointing that out every time I've had the car in, but they claim there is no problem (or that a small shift is "normal due to the construction of the seat". I think statements like this is nothing but BS, so I've resigned and learned to live with the shifting. By the way, a while ago the seat started to make loud "click"-noises everytime I was driving over a bumb or moved around in the seat. This was fixed by changing some plastic clips and metal pins.

You and I seem to have had alot of similar problems with our cars - wich makes me a little curious when, and where, your car was built. My was built in April 2001 in the Bremen plant.





Thanks again for your replies!

 

Problem#1:
I agree. I have an old Honda and the front struts / shocks make the similar noise like you describe. It happens more often during winter.

Problem#2:
I also think you have a warped disc. It also happends to my old Honda when the car was pretty new. The dealer resurfaced the disc and the problem disappear.

So far my C240 don't have these problems.



Good luck.

 

Hi people,

I have been having this similar problem. I was getting really frustrated I don't know what to do. Each time I make a turn, my car sounded like almost falling apart. Each time I pressed the brake pedal, it made the same noise. Does it come only from the front side of the car? I have this car for one year and approximately 10,000... Next week, i have an appointment for my "A" service, I really hope all the noises will be gone after the service.... it's really frustrating... =(

Are there any other suggestions for me to do, so they (the service department doesn't fool around with me) I'm really sorry to say this, because I had a bad experience with them... A really bad one...

Thank you,

 

Yes, the sway bar noise definitely worsens with hotter temps. In fact, during the winter I only heard it after heavy idling (i.e, engine heated things up). I had the car in once in cold weather to have the seat heater repaired and they didn't hear the noise. I waited until summer heat when I knew it would be consistent. BTW, the guy said the bushing swap is a small job, and if it weren't under warranty it would be about $150 (US). My advice would be to drive the car with them present (to be sure they hear it) and then get the estimate for repairs and decide...

My car was built in July 2001 in Germany, I believe Bremen. Is that on the label, or I guess you can tell from the VIN#. Mine begins WDBRF61J12F...