E-Class (W212) 2010 - 2016: E 350, E 550
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: CARiD

Knock from front end

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old Dec 3, 2022 | 01:01 PM
  #1  
Mburke87's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 1
Likes: 1
W212
Knock from front end

Hi all, new here but need some advice. (UK resident)

I have a 2015 e class saloon 74k on the clock, and on a rougher road surface there is a constant knock which sounds as though its coming from front passenger wheel, I have been to 3 garages who can't diagnose the problem, I have had the garages change rear springs, front ball joints, had the shock absorbers off all 4 corners and checked they are still working properly. My next step is to change all suspension bushes out for new and hope this solves the problem, before I do this, could there be anything else that I may have missed or not even considered? I am at my last straw before the car gets sold and left for somebody else to resolve.

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Thanks for your time.

Michael
​​​​
Reply
Old Dec 3, 2022 | 01:08 PM
  #2  
Blkvip's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 495
Likes: 47
From: south shore
12' E559
im not sure about a constant knock. but i know my front thrust arms are going. i get a knock at lower speeds under any kind of bump. your constant knoc could be from the "rough road" surface. try a smooth road see what happens.

#12 https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/OLMAA...3x/s-l1600.jpg
Reply
Old Dec 3, 2022 | 07:02 PM
  #3  
SteveE400's Avatar
Super Member
10 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 725
Likes: 189
From: Chicago area
2015 E400 and 2015 GLK350
Check the anti-sway bar links. If these are loose or worn, they will make a tapping sound when the corresponding wheel goes over imperfections in the road.
Reply
Old Dec 3, 2022 | 10:07 PM
  #4  
Siegmann's Avatar
Super Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 961
Likes: 103
10-second E550
Originally Posted by SteveE400
Check the anti-sway bar links. If these are loose or worn, they will make a tapping sound when the corresponding wheel goes over imperfections in the road.
This ^

These can make a constant annoying rattle when they get worse. Replacing them is a pretty easy job. If you can rotate them back and forth very easily, they are shot.
Reply
Old Dec 5, 2022 | 01:31 AM
  #5  
S-Prihadi's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 6,600
Likes: 6,547
From: Jakarta-Indonesia
2014 - W212.065 - E400 ( M276.820, 3 liter Turbo) RWD not Hybrid
Define you knock sound.
More of metallic or more of rubbery+metallic but not all out mettalic.

Suspension, steering and engine mounting can make sound.
Where the is a :
- Rubber bushings, we have plenty
- Ball joints or moveable joints , we have plenty
- Suspension bearing and its top mount
- Engine mounts rubber internal parts

Basically any component allowing play in the name of comfort and/or requirement for controlled deflection, can make noise when they are worn out.
Reply
Old Dec 5, 2022 | 01:54 AM
  #6  
S-Prihadi's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 6,600
Likes: 6,547
From: Jakarta-Indonesia
2014 - W212.065 - E400 ( M276.820, 3 liter Turbo) RWD not Hybrid
This is a loose sway bar link sound.
The sound is from : Between the ball joint of the sway bar link to either the swaybar or to the strut (front damper). This is not from the rubber bushing holding down the swaybar.



When I installed a Super-Pro swaybar link, their reccomended tightening torque value was too low at 40Nm and hence it got loose fast.
MB link is at 90Nm. So I use 75Nm and all good. Super-Pro was counting on their special friction washer as a good locking mechanism.
Now, the sound for mine is not from worn out ball joint of the link, but from loose-ness, so this is very metallic sound.
Ball joint threaded end "dancing" inside the provided bore at sway bar or front strut.






In most cases, noise from ball joint can come from parts below being worn out :
Simply if the ball is the piston, the housing for the ball is the liner. Ball hit liner and make noise.


Some ball joints have some sort of non metallic insert/liner.



This one explains well different design for different application
https://www.aa1car.com/library/ball_joints.htm


Happy noise hunting..............
Reply
Old Dec 5, 2022 | 03:02 AM
  #7  
S-Prihadi's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 6,600
Likes: 6,547
From: Jakarta-Indonesia
2014 - W212.065 - E400 ( M276.820, 3 liter Turbo) RWD not Hybrid
I will give another example possible noise maker : my lower L shaped ball joint which is not yet making noise but it will in say a few more thousand kilometers.
This early wearing out of the ball joint is from track use at 20 laps. P/N is A 212 330 01 35
https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_In...-330-01-35-MBZ




The same grief happened to my swaybar link, from that 20 laps track use and 23,500KM or normal use.
The left swaybar link top side one for the strut, its boot got torn. The track has 9 right hand corners and 2 left hand ones, so left side suspension got most of the abuse.






I do my preventive maintenance and inspection VERY OFTEN and I don't wait for noise to occur from wearing out components.


Your 74K, I do not know you speak of miles or KM ? I think you speak of miles or 118,000KM.
If in Jakarta road, my city, all the arms (2) of the front suspension and the swaybar link will be super noise maker by 118,000KM, almost I can guarantee it at 99%.
The CASTER arm works harder than CAMBER arm.

This is a C200 W204 at 71,000KM but car is 2010 model year, so 10 years old when I done the inspection for my good friend.
Torn bushing rubber at CASTER arm.

Above is C200 W204 of 2010.



It is easier to name CAMBER and CASTER arm to describe the 2 arms for front suspension, by their duty/task. Below is my E400.




CASTER ARM is item #200. CAMBER arm is item #300


Last edited by S-Prihadi; Dec 5, 2022 at 05:02 AM.
Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:39 PM.

story-0
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-1
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-4
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-6
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

Slideshow: From bulletproof sedans to surprisingly tough SUVs, these Mercedes models proved that the three-pointed star can go the distance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-08 09:55:49


VIEW MORE