GEDaggett

I have developed a lovley blood curdling rubber on metal squeeking when ever I turn the wheel, hit the slightest bump or the weight shifts at all on my car. It is seriously loud enough that it woke up all the dogs on the block when I turn out of the driveway this morning. It is in the driverside front and sounds like it is lower rather than high but sound and vibration are kinda funky so I am not totally sure. Have any of you run into this and how did you remedy.

Thanks

TheGerman

is it just while your car is going up and down oder just when you are steering?

GEDaggett

both up and down or steering right or left

ds190

I bet lower control arm bushings, and a long shot sway bar bushings.

GEDaggett

Will lubing them do anything for that or do they just need to be replaced?

STLe320

My rear end squeaks going up and down too!
LOL

GEDaggett

So I lubed the snot out of everything on the suspension (sway bar bushings control arm bushings spring seats and anything that looked like it might be rubber). No change at all no difference. I think it is coming from either the spring, control arm bushings or anti-sway bar bushings? Any thoughts?

GEDaggett

Squeeking stopped for about 5 miles this morning on my way to work. So something under there got enough teflon lube to make a difference. The good thing is now I can hit the joints one at a time to locate the issue. My bet is the springs.

termite

My wagon just started doing exactly the same thing yesterday...only on the driver's side and it is a loud squeak when the suspension moves. My swaybar bushings are toast and new ones, along w/ the Limo bar are on order but it doesn't seem like that is the cause...

STLe320

It seems like my squeaking is coming from the rear driver's side.

GED, is your squeak a high-pitch or more of a err-urr squeak? (like a funny bed)

GEDaggett

It is a bit lower in tone. Very heavy sound. I am going to try and pin point it a bit better tomorrow.

Zytek_Fan

I've got a squeek on my driver's side rear. It's definitely a bushing, I just haven't had the time to get under there and grease the **** out of everything. lol.

TheGerman

There are to parts who can make terrible sounds.
At first of all, there are the stabilisator rubbers. This is no problem. Yust chance them, will cost a few $$...

2nd purt is the upper link, sorry for my bad technical english...
If it makes sounds, you need to change this verry quick, elseif you will loose your wheel.

GEDaggett

What fails that causes a seperation of the linkage thier. Does it just pop out of its bushings??

GEDaggett

Does anyone know what upper link he is talking about and if this has credence. If this is true I am concerned about driving till I get it fixed. As I look at the suspension and steering linkage the only thing I can see that would cause a catastrophic failure is the cross link, tie rod or the ball joint both of which are top shape on my car and not the source of the squealing.) All the other things under there are Stabilizer bar bushings, control arm bushings, spring seats or shock absorber contacts. None of these things seem to me to be able to cause you to "loose your wheel". Am I overlooking something? I am going to grease all the contacts one at a time to locate the issue. When I sprayed them all at the same time with Teflon spray the noise subsided for about 4 miles of my commute to work. I am hoping by singling out each point of contact I will locate the issue.
Any input would be greatly valued.

thanks

GEDaggett

Located the cause of the squealing. It is the Shock absorber. Apparently there is a polyurethane guide bushing in the larger lower unit. I popped the outer tie rod to rule out something on the linkage. It still made the noise so I lubed up the absorber shaft with Sea Foam deep creep and with the tie rod end unhooked I worked the hub and absorber back and forth. With in a minute the squeaking went away. I don't know if I got enough dressing on it to "fix" it but I will find out soon.

STLe320

Good find on the problem.
Maybe I'll go this route and try that

GEDaggett

If you do just raise the car and take the wheel off. You can then raise the protective sheath and spray the lubricant directly into the perforations or spray it on the shaft and let it run down into it. Again I don't know how long this will work but I will update.

appatula

I'll join the squeeking club! Last year when I started working on my car I was so **** about replacing all the joints and rubber bushings because any strange noise was just ABSOLUTLEY unacceptable. Tie rods, all 10 rear suspension links, front and rear flex disks, differential mounts, front control arm bushings, ball joints, sway bar bushings, shock tower mounts, steering damper, drag link, rear subframe mounts, I did EVERYTHING. This past week the rear end started giving me lip everytime the back end bobbed up or down (including when people get in or out of the car) So I suppose the ONLY bushing I did not do was the rear control arm bushings . Anyhow I went insane with my WD-40 a few days ago and sure enough this morning no squeek! Hopefully this will last till summer. I guess all W124 owners deal with squeeks sooner or later. Glad you did find the culprit though, I'll have to give my front absorbers a quick spray next time I have the wheels off. (Can't wait till my Mono's go back on!!)

GEDaggett

Squeak returned. Gotta replace the absorber.

STLe320

Appatula:

Where did you spray the WD-40 for the rear control arm bushing?

appatula

Bilstein HD's FTW

appatula

Honestly, I sprayed it EVERYWHERE haha. Above, below, both sides, I drenched it. It took 2-3 days for the squeek to subside and its been about 3-4 days that its been gone.

GEDaggett

If I were keeping the car for any long term I would do exactly that. However. I am going to launch this one before the body starts causing it to loose value. I am going on "limp mode" in the repairs. I gotta do a head gasket and the shock then I am selling her off. I really want to get a 420 that is in good condition but I need to get my wife something first so it may be a bit before I can pull the trigger on another 124. I am not selling till spring.

appatula

Sorry to hear that, I bet a nice 420 would be a dream for you though . There have been many occasions in which I ask myself why I don't just go and buy a newer W124 but when I think about the time and money I have into my current beast, I shut right up. I'll also be doing my headgasket and valve stem seals once the weather warms up, good luck on that.