Front End Squeak 99 E320
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 45
Likes: 1
From: Gretna, LA
2008 E350 Sport/2016 E350
Front End Squeak 99 E320
As always, looking to you guys for guidance. I have a squeak, but not all of the time. When exiting a driveway it will make noise, but if you push on the front fender to re-create it will not happen.
I have been told that it is the torsion bar, but nothing further than that. I imagine this might just be the bushings on the torsion bar, so I am looking for input from the forum. I have read several threads, but they all stop short of giving complete information.
I have attempted a few different jobs on this car and all has gone well. Is this the kind of job that someone with limited tools and okay ability should attempt?
If it is, what should be checked/changed while I am doing this?
I have a 99 E320 with 93M miles on it. Any input would be appreciated.
I have been told that it is the torsion bar, but nothing further than that. I imagine this might just be the bushings on the torsion bar, so I am looking for input from the forum. I have read several threads, but they all stop short of giving complete information.
I have attempted a few different jobs on this car and all has gone well. Is this the kind of job that someone with limited tools and okay ability should attempt?
If it is, what should be checked/changed while I am doing this?
I have a 99 E320 with 93M miles on it. Any input would be appreciated.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 270
Likes: 1
From: Western Michigan
2003 E320 4Matic Wagon & 1997 E320
Your car has two bushings (to sub frame) and two links (to lower control arm).
Just go under the car (no need to jack up the car) and grab the torsion (sway) bar and try to move (shake) it around. It should not move. If it does (you may hear the noise), then that is the source of the noise.
Parts are cheap and it is also easy to replace them.
Just go under the car (no need to jack up the car) and grab the torsion (sway) bar and try to move (shake) it around. It should not move. If it does (you may hear the noise), then that is the source of the noise.
Parts are cheap and it is also easy to replace them.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 45
Likes: 1
From: Gretna, LA
2008 E350 Sport/2016 E350
Thanks for the reply. I did as you said. Initially, there was no movement, but on the the second or third tug, the bar moved about a quarter of an inch. It did not make any noise, though when I did it.
Does the movement indicate that the bushings need to be replaced?
Does the movement indicate that the bushings need to be replaced?
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 270
Likes: 1
From: Western Michigan
2003 E320 4Matic Wagon & 1997 E320
You have 93M miles on the car. Are the bushings/links original?
Also the force you used to move it is much less than the 3500 lb car making a turn/twist.
You can take a look at the center holes of the bushings to see if they are enlarged.
If I were you, I would replace these as they are cheap and also your car is at near 100k miles unless you can pin point another part that is making the noise.
Also the force you used to move it is much less than the 3500 lb car making a turn/twist.
You can take a look at the center holes of the bushings to see if they are enlarged.
If I were you, I would replace these as they are cheap and also your car is at near 100k miles unless you can pin point another part that is making the noise.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 45
Likes: 1
From: Gretna, LA
2008 E350 Sport/2016 E350
I bought the car with 46M miles on it and I have not changed them, so I would think they are original.
I think I will give it a shot. Would you recommend changing anything else while I do this?
I think I will give it a shot. Would you recommend changing anything else while I do this?
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 270
Likes: 1
From: Western Michigan
2003 E320 4Matic Wagon & 1997 E320
I would not touch anything else now unless you are sure other parts are causing the noise.
The sway bar bushing/link are the most common wear items in the front suspension for this car.
You can get some plumber's grease (hardware store) to make the installation of the bushing much easier. It will not deteriorate the rubber like some other types of grease,
The sway bar bushing/link are the most common wear items in the front suspension for this car.
You can get some plumber's grease (hardware store) to make the installation of the bushing much easier. It will not deteriorate the rubber like some other types of grease,
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 45
Likes: 1
From: Gretna, LA
2008 E350 Sport/2016 E350
Good enough. Two links and two bushings. Thanks - I will follow up after I complete the job. Soccer and school activities for the kids may prevent me from doing it this weekend, unless it does not take too long to get done. Any estimation of how long this should take?
Trending Topics
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 270
Likes: 1
From: Western Michigan
2003 E320 4Matic Wagon & 1997 E320
I forgot a little tip.
You can save some time by doing one side at a time so you do not need to take the whole sway bar out and put it back on with two hands.
Just disconnect both links and slide one bushing out. Leave the other bushing in but loosen the bracket. Then you just do one at a time.
It should not take very long. Get the kids to do it.
and buy them some Adidas shorts afterward.
You can save some time by doing one side at a time so you do not need to take the whole sway bar out and put it back on with two hands.
Just disconnect both links and slide one bushing out. Leave the other bushing in but loosen the bracket. Then you just do one at a time.
It should not take very long. Get the kids to do it.
and buy them some Adidas shorts afterward.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes Teases Updated EQS With Steer-By-Wire and a Yoke
Verdad Gallardo
8 Mercedes Models With Poor Reliability Records
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 45
Likes: 1
From: Gretna, LA
2008 E350 Sport/2016 E350
Good input, thanks. While you are offering tips - I am seeing crazy price differentials for the parts. The links at Autohaus are around $14 per side. There is a 4 bushing sway bar kit for $22. Does this sound right?
Since I have not gone under the car yet to see, do you recall needing any special tools? Thanks for your help with this.
Since I have not gone under the car yet to see, do you recall needing any special tools? Thanks for your help with this.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 270
Likes: 1
From: Western Michigan
2003 E320 4Matic Wagon & 1997 E320
No special tools.
That price does sound right. If they sell a kit it is always cheaper.
The left and right links are different. The bushing should be $5-7 each.
That price does sound right. If they sell a kit it is always cheaper.
The left and right links are different. The bushing should be $5-7 each.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Chicago northwest burbs
1996 e-320
A side note on the plumbers grease.
Use dishwashing soap. It serves the same purpose as a lubricant, and after the first rain it is washed off. We used to use it for farm machinery and dirt bike chains. It stopped chain breakage, because at the end of the day you could hose everything down and re-lubricate.
Squeaky clean, BUT... You gotta like the Lawrence Welk Show , for the bubble action.
Aardvark.
Use dishwashing soap. It serves the same purpose as a lubricant, and after the first rain it is washed off. We used to use it for farm machinery and dirt bike chains. It stopped chain breakage, because at the end of the day you could hose everything down and re-lubricate.
Squeaky clean, BUT... You gotta like the Lawrence Welk Show , for the bubble action.
Aardvark.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 45
Likes: 1
From: Gretna, LA
2008 E350 Sport/2016 E350
I have not had a chance to get under the car and take a good look at what I have to do, but I have looked at several forums regarding changing the bushings and links. On one site, a DIY shows that the tie rods need to be removed, but a diagram that I looked at does not show this. Can someone let me know which is accurate?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 5
From: Pittsburgh,PA, Cambridge, Ontario, CN
2003 S210 3.8L Brabus wagon
Do not remove tie rods. Bushings are split in the back and slip right off with little effort. Do as suggested above and remove/replace one side at a time. You also may want to consider poly graphite bushings as a replacement. Much more durable and firms it up quite a bit. just a another thought.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 45
Likes: 1
From: Gretna, LA
2008 E350 Sport/2016 E350
Do not remove tie rods. Bushings are split in the back and slip right off with little effort. Do as suggested above and remove/replace one side at a time. You also may want to consider poly graphite bushings as a replacement. Much more durable and firms it up quite a bit. just a another thought.
Thanks for the input. I have been looking for the bushings, but have only located a couple of places that have them. Autohaus does not have them for the 99 E320. Do you know who carries the the poly graphite bushings?
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 835
Likes: 2
From: Bay Area, CA
09' E320
Do not remove tie rods. Bushings are split in the back and slip right off with little effort. Do as suggested above and remove/replace one side at a time. You also may want to consider poly graphite bushings as a replacement. Much more durable and firms it up quite a bit. just a another thought.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 45
Likes: 1
From: Gretna, LA
2008 E350 Sport/2016 E350
I actually called and spoke to someone at Autohaus AZ who said they did not carry it. Any thoughts on the polygraphite bushing?
***Just called Autohaus AZ again, the 1403230985 is for the 96-97. Almost. Thanks for the help.
***Just called Autohaus AZ again, the 1403230985 is for the 96-97. Almost. Thanks for the help.
Last edited by skipsantos; Jan 29, 2009 at 04:17 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 270
Likes: 1
From: Western Michigan
2003 E320 4Matic Wagon & 1997 E320
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 45
Likes: 1
From: Gretna, LA
2008 E350 Sport/2016 E350
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 270
Likes: 1
From: Western Michigan
2003 E320 4Matic Wagon & 1997 E320
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 45
Likes: 1
From: Gretna, LA
2008 E350 Sport/2016 E350
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 270
Likes: 1
From: Western Michigan
2003 E320 4Matic Wagon & 1997 E320
2103231785 is the number for "from 06/99" and they do not have it.
Then you just need to get them from these online dealers that sell on the Internet. Mercedes of Annapolis is one of them.
Sorry, I pulled the number from my 1997 E320 file and thought they were the same pre-facelift cars.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 45
Likes: 1
From: Gretna, LA
2008 E350 Sport/2016 E350
Importecparts.com seem to have all of the parts - roughly $6.50 per bushing and $12.50 per link. Free shipping for orders over $50, so I will throw in an oil filter to get there. Thanks to everyone for the input.
I will follow up with how the job goes after it is done.
I will follow up with how the job goes after it is done.
