front suspension clunk
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 254
Likes: 60
From: Houston, TX
Mercedes Benz 2007 GL450 , 2012 BMW 528i
I know that Arnott gives lifetime warranty to original purchaser. Does that cover the shock part of it too ?
The only way to confirm your problem now would be when that strut is out if vehicle. If it is bad, you would be able to press it suddenly from top rather than slow compression.
See if you can have Arnott send you a free replacement. Then you can confirm the diagnosis during the exchange process
.
The only way to confirm your problem now would be when that strut is out if vehicle. If it is bad, you would be able to press it suddenly from top rather than slow compression.
See if you can have Arnott send you a free replacement. Then you can confirm the diagnosis during the exchange process
.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 36
Likes: 2
GL450
I just got done replacing my left front airshock/strut assembly because I was having the same noise issue going over very small bumps. Frustrating part was that my noise started immediately after putting in a new airbag/strut assembly from Arnott, but it was defective. They send me a new one and this one did the job....no more noise what so ever! It just took me doing the same job twice 
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 409
Likes: 22
2008 GL320CDI (310k) & 2017 GLS450 (160k)
Success! I just wanted to thank you all for your input and assistance. The noise that it was making was identical to the one that failed swaybar links make. Now I'm just waiting for driver side strut to fail
Senior Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 437
Likes: 84
From: Espoo, Finland
2012 GL 350
Has anybody figured out what the source of the noise is within the struts that you're removing? Sorry, but the engineer in me is wondering if there is a fix aside from replacement.
I'm at 55k and have had no issues with the air suspension to date (touch wood...) but I have had this clunk since 47,900. The dealer claimed that they didn't hear it (apparently they do their diagnosis with the radio blasting) and thus skirted replacing it for me under warranty.
I'm at 55k and have had no issues with the air suspension to date (touch wood...) but I have had this clunk since 47,900. The dealer claimed that they didn't hear it (apparently they do their diagnosis with the radio blasting) and thus skirted replacing it for me under warranty.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,932
Likes: 291
From: Allentown, PA
'08 GL 320 CDI
Sak: I recently had an end link knocking sound, but absolutely could NOT replicate it while the truck was in the air, as you normally would. I took it into an Indy and they couldn't either. They checked other things out and couldn't find anything. But they were able to hear it when driving so they knew something was amiss. They threw a new end link on there (best/cheapest guess) and that solved it. Just offering that as some information for pondering. Thinking back, I wonder why I (or they) didn't just disconnect the end link and go for a drive to see if the sound went away?
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Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 251
Likes: 20
GL550
We are now at 110k/mi and have had to replace the front passenger-side assembly two more times. Once for a clunking noise, and yesterday because that side was sagging with cooler temperatures and/or sitting for a couple of days. So the rear and front driver's side have all been replaced ONCE. The front passenger side three times!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,268
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Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, TX
2010 GL450, 2013 E350
Same here. Initially the dealer service couldn't replicate, but I asked them to look more and they ended up replacing front struts and it went away. But it's never quite as 'clank-free' as I'd like it when going over small street bumps in low speed in the parking lot...
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 409
Likes: 22
2008 GL320CDI (310k) & 2017 GLS450 (160k)
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 12
Likes: 1
GL450
Curious if any of you experienced the sway bar actually polishing metal on the control arm. And mine is on the driver side. Just like you guys, had a clunk that sounded like stabilizer bar links gone bad. Got it in the air and found the bar had actually shifted over to the pax side about an inch. Replaced the links with oem, repositioned bar and tightened clamps. Still getting the annoying freaking clunk. After reading all of this, wondering about the air bag, but did not notice any of you mention the stabilizer bar actually hitting the control arm enough to polish a spot on it. Since I just did this work today, I think I am going to paint the bare metal spot on the control
arm and then drive for a week or two and inspect.
arm and then drive for a week or two and inspect.
Last edited by v8_ranch; Sep 2, 2021 at 01:56 PM.
