TimC300

What does it say for 677? Im finding different meanings, either AvantGarde/Standard Suspension or Lowered Comfort Suspension. Unless they mean the same thing.

Is there a label on the back of the struts, facing the engine. May be able to turn the wheel and stick your phone back there to snap a photo of it.

jetson

Well today I spent some time under the car. With the first pump of the jack the car starts with the noise. Sounds like a spring creaking, metallic sound. I unhooked the sway bar but no change. I got another salvage strut/coil assembly and installed it. Again, still makes the noise. I got the pry bar and couldn’t find any movement at the knuckle with any of the connections. Really don’t know what to do.

TimC300

Wonder if the sound is the control arm end rotating where it is attached at the bushing. What did you torque the control arms down to when installing?

if it were me I would be using my stethoscope to locate the origin of the noise.

I have a few jacks so I would jack up the car, remove the wheel then use one of my floor jacks and place it under the wheel carrier, jack the wheel carrier up and down listening for the noise.

The stethoscope does work. I was using it on my idler pully bolts with the engine running, the pulley I had replaced was quiet, the one I had not yet replaced was extremely loud like the headphone volume was cranked all the way up.

jetson

I gave in and took car to Indy mechanic shop that was recommended. Said he tightened up things??? I used the MB specs for torquing. And the noise reduced by 80%. Said need new strut/coil assemblies. Offered to install FCS for almost a grand. I said no. I will pick up later today and see how it goes.

TimC300

I had a feeling the control arm wasnt tight enough and was moving/rotating instead of staying solid and the bushing rotating instead.

I asked what torque spec you used because im having trouble finding it myself. Im finding specs for the W212 and all other models, just not the W204 4matic. And some of those specs say they have been revised, like 80nm +120 degrees.

jetson

I picked up the car and as soon as I turned the steering wheel there was the creaking. He said struts needed replacing. How is that possible since I just swapped the strut the night before with a salvage one and it didn’t change anything? What are the chances that both are bad????

TimC300

I was hearing a creaking that sounded like it was coming from my passenger side which i thought may be the top of the strut. the other day I noticed its been silent lately. The only thing that i've done is spray silicone spray lube everywhere once in awhile. I even inserted the straw thru the tiny openings in the top of the plastic cap of the strut and squirted some down in there. I have no idea if it lubricated anything. I would hear the noise when backing out of a parking spot while turning the wheel. Whenever i have the wheels off im always spraying the rubber parts down.

This may be way off but have you checked the stoppers where the hood contacts when its closed? When I clean the engine bay which is often im always cleaning the contact points and giving them a little squirt of lube. I read a few threads awhile back about people having issues with it squeeking.

jetson

This is a short clip of the sound it makes upon jacking it up. It is worse when under load and turning back and forth .