Suspension Squeak at Low Speeds/Small bumps
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 342
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Suspension Squeak at Low Speeds/Small bumps
How you guys all do'n again? I've come seeking suggestion, advice, and even harrassment from anyone one of you...
I JUST YESTERDAY started getting a very loud, high-pitched squeak coming from what I can audibly tell is the rear, driver side tire area. This will not happen at all times and speed can vary as well. I can hit a pretty "decent" sized bump in the road, and it won't squeak; or I can be going 20 mph, hit a tiny crack in the road, and it sounds like I just ran over a small, chirping bird.
It's a very high-pitched squeal, and I'm 99% sure it's not metal on metal; it's not that type of sound. Tire rubbing is also one other thing I'm confident, is NOT the problem.
At first I'm thinking that my bushings may need to be lubed, and am still standing by this until tomorrow when I am taking to my alignment guys to see what is going on.
I also wanted to reference this thread I found when I was doing a search. Seems like my problem to the T...
https://mbworld.org/forums/clk-class...queak-pic.html
Has anyone else run into this issue before?
I sincerely appreciate the help as always, gentlemen.
I JUST YESTERDAY started getting a very loud, high-pitched squeak coming from what I can audibly tell is the rear, driver side tire area. This will not happen at all times and speed can vary as well. I can hit a pretty "decent" sized bump in the road, and it won't squeak; or I can be going 20 mph, hit a tiny crack in the road, and it sounds like I just ran over a small, chirping bird.
It's a very high-pitched squeal, and I'm 99% sure it's not metal on metal; it's not that type of sound. Tire rubbing is also one other thing I'm confident, is NOT the problem.
At first I'm thinking that my bushings may need to be lubed, and am still standing by this until tomorrow when I am taking to my alignment guys to see what is going on.
I also wanted to reference this thread I found when I was doing a search. Seems like my problem to the T...
https://mbworld.org/forums/clk-class...queak-pic.html
Has anyone else run into this issue before?
I sincerely appreciate the help as always, gentlemen.
Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 195
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From: San Diego
02 CLK430
About how many miles are on it? Can you reproduce the sound if you push down on the lr trunk/quarter panel area?
Last edited by Ruination Fan; Aug 26, 2010 at 09:07 PM. Reason: needs to learn right from left
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2006
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I've tried to shake it, push down on the side...NOTHING. Can't get it to reproduce the sound unless I'm actually driving.
To also note my suspension:
Voghtland Springs
Bilstein Sport shocks
Ghostrider rear camber kit
KMAC front camber kit
Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 195
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From: San Diego
02 CLK430
could possibly be the sway bar end link bushings. Also, the rear caber kit utilizes heims correct? If so, and they are not teflon lined may want to try and lube them along with the sway bar end links, and maybe the sway bar bushings as well. Sometimes the rear lower control arm joint (part where it mounts to the knuckle) boot will tear and cause a squeek, but most of the time it will squeak everytime you push down on that area, but still something to check.
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: UK
2000 CLK430 Convertible
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 342
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Thanks a lot for the advice, guys!
TPWUK, I'm almost positive that what you're talking about is not my problem. I have a ton of stuff in my spare tire well, and I know that area is very secure.
I think Ruination is right about it being bushings. I still think that's the problem as well. I know sounds pretty well, and when rubber squeaks, it's pretty definitive.
I'm about to head out to my appointment, and I'll report back later today what I find out.
TPWUK, I'm almost positive that what you're talking about is not my problem. I have a ton of stuff in my spare tire well, and I know that area is very secure.
I think Ruination is right about it being bushings. I still think that's the problem as well. I know sounds pretty well, and when rubber squeaks, it's pretty definitive.
I'm about to head out to my appointment, and I'll report back later today what I find out.
Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 195
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From: San Diego
02 CLK430
Another thing to think about that I just encountered is the rear suffrage mount brushing. Just had a 211 that had a blown mount on the front portion causing noise to come from the left. Just another thing worth checking.
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Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 473
Likes: 8
From: San Diego
2004 E55 AMG, 2008 G55 AMG
Its your rear camber arms!! FOR SURE!!! Mine did the same thing! so annoying!!! Spray them down with a white lithium grease! It worked well on mine. still no squeak after a month. should work fine! dont use silicon grease or anything like that cuz it will dry up after a day or two! Go with the white lithium grease and soak both ends of the camber arm with the grease!
you should be good to go after that!
you should be good to go after that!
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OG...I thank you very much!
However, I don't know if it did the trick, but as soon as I checked the forum on my phone while I was out, I had them spray lithium grease on every bushing and both front and rear camber kits.
The alignment shop couldn't get my car to squeak when they initially took it out for a drive. They inspected the sway bars, control arms...everything. They found nothing loose or broken.
I bet you were right, and it was the camber arms. If I get the squeak to come back, I'll resurrect this thread. But until then, I'm gonna settle with problem solved by way of white lithium grease!
Thanks for all the help and suggestions, fellas.
However, I don't know if it did the trick, but as soon as I checked the forum on my phone while I was out, I had them spray lithium grease on every bushing and both front and rear camber kits.
The alignment shop couldn't get my car to squeak when they initially took it out for a drive. They inspected the sway bars, control arms...everything. They found nothing loose or broken.
I bet you were right, and it was the camber arms. If I get the squeak to come back, I'll resurrect this thread. But until then, I'm gonna settle with problem solved by way of white lithium grease!
Thanks for all the help and suggestions, fellas.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 473
Likes: 8
From: San Diego
2004 E55 AMG, 2008 G55 AMG
Are you still squeak free after all this time? I had to buy new camber arm ends from ghost rider because my original camber arm end bushing deteriorated, and had to buy new poly bushings to replace the original ends. Hope all is well with the car!
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I hope that doesn't happen to me, man...sorry about that happening to you, Sir. Being that you live out in San Diego, the humidity could have had an influence on that I imagine...
I live in the dry desert...You know...I had the squeak come back on me after 6-7 months of Lithium greasing them. After the first time I Lithium greased them it literally stopped for long. It came back, I greased them again, and now it's been about 3-4 months and still no squeak.
However, I did have my alignment shop do it, so I don't know first-hand how they look. I'm getting my car's alignment checked next week and I will personally go look under there and see how they are holding up.
Thanks for the heads up with this, buddy.
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Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Poke-a-Fellow
None. Sold the last one and never looking back.
Its your rear camber arms!! FOR SURE!!! Mine did the same thing! so annoying!!! Spray them down with a white lithium grease! It worked well on mine. still no squeak after a month. should work fine! dont use silicon grease or anything like that cuz it will dry up after a day or two! Go with the white lithium grease and soak both ends of the camber arm with the grease!
you should be good to go after that!
you should be good to go after that!
I had originally sprayed silicone down there to no avail. After reading this thread, I bought a can of white lithium grease and used almost a half a can on all of the bushings under the rear passenger side of the car. I was frustrated because it didn't work immediately.
I drove it to a friend who works for Les Schwab to get his opinion. This distance (about a mile) is all it took. It's been about a month and haven't heard any more squeaks. I felt like an idiot because I had complained to him so much and then it was silent.
When it warms up, I will probably soak all of the bushings under the car.
