Front strut rattle
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Newbie
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4
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2014 CLS550
Front strut rattle
I have a 2014 CLS 550 that has a rattle in the passenger side front strut. It seems to occur only in cold weather. I had the same problem on the driver side 2 years ago and the dealership replaced the strut and it went away. The only problem was it cost $2400. Last year the passenger side started making the same noise so I took it to an independent mechanic who "tightened everything up" and the noise went away. I spent the last year cursing the dealer for changing me so much when the indy fixed it so easily. But, now the rattle is back. Wondering if I should bite the bullet and have the dealership replace the passenger side strut or if anyone has a better suggestion. At this point the car is my high mileage commuter so I'm not looking to spend a bunch of money on it. Thanks for your help!
Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 173
Likes: 22
2012 CLS 550 Launch Edition
I have exactly the same issue - bad rattle from the front passenger side when it’s cold.
Everything I’ve read says it’s something with the sway bar or bushings. I’m going to take mine to my local indy soon as it’s getting worse. I’ll let you know what they find.
Everything I’ve read says it’s something with the sway bar or bushings. I’m going to take mine to my local indy soon as it’s getting worse. I’ll let you know what they find.
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
2014 E63
Crazy but true. There was a rattle on my W218 ..... after investigating and pondering and wondering.... it landed up being the plastic engine cover. One of the clips had broken off and gave of this rattle. The clip in the front under the Star was broken. Initially it felt like a ball joint, bushing or arm..... but the car drove fine for it to be that. Yah, when it was cold, it would act up more. Check that before going though suspension items.
Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 173
Likes: 22
2012 CLS 550 Launch Edition
Crazy but true. There was a rattle on my W218 ..... after investigating and pondering and wondering.... it landed up being the plastic engine cover. One of the clips had broken off and gave of this rattle. The clip in the front under the Star was broken. Initially it felt like a ball joint, bushing or arm..... but the car drove fine for it to be that. Yah, when it was cold, it would act up more. Check that before going though suspension items.
Member
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 78
Likes: 20
2012 MB CLS550 ( C218)
Wtf are guys serious right now? I have a ball joint clicking sound that sound like rattles when you're driving slow and when you turn the car to the left and sometimes to the right it's never consistent. However I know for fact that my engine cover clips are broken in fact they know two of them are. So I will remove them completely from the engine bay and see if that would remove the sound. Thanks for the tip
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 40
Likes: 17
From: Accokeek, MD
2014 CLS550, 2016 Audi A7
I had this same issue, passenger side. I looked and looked and couldn't find anything with the suspension except the level sensor there, the bracket was loose on the suspension arm and in the wrong spot, just flopping around. I unclipped it and bent the bracket a little to make it fit tight again and afterwards, took it to dealer for alignment. They had to put some camber adjustment bolts on the front end. But afterwards, the sound went away. I never even told the dealer about the sound, I just wanted an alignment because it was off a little bit. Whatever they did, they must've tightened or fix something that was loose. Dont know if it was them or if it was that loose level sensor arm and bracket just wiggling around on there. But it only ever happened in the cold and now it's no more.
