Lowering spring rubbing on the inside of the upper spring pocket...sounds horrible
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 601
Likes: 6
From: Kansas
2001 CLK430, 2012 CLS550
Lowering spring rubbing on the inside of the upper spring pocket...sounds horrible
So for about the past 3 weeks I've been hearing a crunching sound at small speeds when going over minor bumps and cracks in the street. It's been getting worse lately and now has progressed to more of a screeching sound.
For a while I was thinking it could be some type of bad bushing or what not but after removing the wheel I noticed on the backside of the H&R sport spring that the blue powder coating was wearing off and that the backside of the spring is making contact with the inside of the spring pocket approx 2 coils down...
I think the change in noise was caused by the blue powder coat wearing down and now completely worn through and causing metal on metal screeching so to speak.
I also noticed the backside of the spring pad (#1) keeps fielding a little inward thus pushing the spring closer to the problematic inside part of the pocket. I've reseated the pad and it still rubs constantly. The bottom of the spring has always been in the correct position and never moves.
It's like my spring is bending and pushing out too much causing the spring to clip the pocket. What I mean is instead of the spring being like this / it's more like this ) thus the rubbing.
Has anyone dealt with this and if so how was it resolved?
I should not my front camber has not been corrected and its pretty bad to be honest. Could this be the reason?
Any help with this matter is greatly appreciated. It's been embarrassing driving my car lately unless on the highway...I do now own a spring compressor so I can make changes relatively easily now.
Thanks guys,
Alex
For a while I was thinking it could be some type of bad bushing or what not but after removing the wheel I noticed on the backside of the H&R sport spring that the blue powder coating was wearing off and that the backside of the spring is making contact with the inside of the spring pocket approx 2 coils down...
I think the change in noise was caused by the blue powder coat wearing down and now completely worn through and causing metal on metal screeching so to speak.
I also noticed the backside of the spring pad (#1) keeps fielding a little inward thus pushing the spring closer to the problematic inside part of the pocket. I've reseated the pad and it still rubs constantly. The bottom of the spring has always been in the correct position and never moves.
It's like my spring is bending and pushing out too much causing the spring to clip the pocket. What I mean is instead of the spring being like this / it's more like this ) thus the rubbing.
Has anyone dealt with this and if so how was it resolved?
I should not my front camber has not been corrected and its pretty bad to be honest. Could this be the reason?
Any help with this matter is greatly appreciated. It's been embarrassing driving my car lately unless on the highway...I do now own a spring compressor so I can make changes relatively easily now.
Thanks guys,
Alex
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 601
Likes: 6
From: Kansas
2001 CLK430, 2012 CLS550
One thing I thought about was removing the spring and grinding down the inside of the spring pocket where it's coming in contact with the spring however I'm not sure if that's a great idea and/or if the spring wouldn't eventually more further over anyways.
Ahh the joys of owning a lowered ride.... Smh...
Ahh the joys of owning a lowered ride.... Smh...
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 601
Likes: 6
From: Kansas
2001 CLK430, 2012 CLS550
Also just so nobody has to ask, the spring is installed in the correct up and down position.
I'm running
19" wheels
235 35 19 tires
H&R sport springs
#1 pads all around
Koni adjustable shocks
No camber fixes yet
Can't figure out why this pad keeps folding in on me. Doesn't do it on the passenger side either.
I'm running
19" wheels
235 35 19 tires
H&R sport springs
#1 pads all around
Koni adjustable shocks
No camber fixes yet
Can't figure out why this pad keeps folding in on me. Doesn't do it on the passenger side either.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 601
Likes: 6
From: Kansas
2001 CLK430, 2012 CLS550
Last night I was able to remove the spring and inspect a bit more. Here is what I found (although the spring pad was seated just fine)
Thius is the inside of the drivers side spring pocket after spring was removed.
the spring...You can see where the blue has worn off.
So i ground down the inside of the pocket a little with my dremel.
It seemed to be a little better but I can still here something and it almost sounds as if its coming from the left front or middle front of the vehicle. I almost wonder if something else has failed thus causing the spring to move closer to the pocket and rub. Some typed of gasket or bushing perhaps?
Looking back on my dealership notes, they have a note that my steering shock is worn out. Could a worn out steering shock lead directly link to the problem im having and would a worn out steering shock also create the grinding/crunching noise Im hearing mainly over small bumps at low speeds?
Somebody please please chime in if you have any advice, thanks.
Thius is the inside of the drivers side spring pocket after spring was removed.
the spring...You can see where the blue has worn off.
So i ground down the inside of the pocket a little with my dremel.
It seemed to be a little better but I can still here something and it almost sounds as if its coming from the left front or middle front of the vehicle. I almost wonder if something else has failed thus causing the spring to move closer to the pocket and rub. Some typed of gasket or bushing perhaps?
Looking back on my dealership notes, they have a note that my steering shock is worn out. Could a worn out steering shock lead directly link to the problem im having and would a worn out steering shock also create the grinding/crunching noise Im hearing mainly over small bumps at low speeds?
Somebody please please chime in if you have any advice, thanks.
Last edited by Gundo; May 28, 2013 at 03:24 PM. Reason: adding wordage
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Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 249
Likes: 5
From: Kansas City/Lawrence, KS
2001 CLK 430 w/5.4 swap, 2000 CLK430
I'll take a look at mine. I have the same springs and if I hit a dip too hard it rubs. Hard to tell if it's the tire hitting plastic or the same thing you're experiencing. My problem doesn't seem to happen as frequent as yours. I have stock pads all around though.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,435
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From: Nebraska
99CLK320,
I sounds like the spring has distorted. Just a guess. I can't imagine the the spring extending beyond the diameter of the spring pad above it unless it was tweaked out of shape. is the spring pad moving around or is it snug in place?
Last edited by dlbehrns; May 31, 2013 at 05:59 PM.
