2009 GL550 Popping noise when reversing and turning
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2010 S550; 2009 GL550
2009 GL550 Popping noise when reversing and turning
Hi all, noticed a popping noise when reversing from grarage and turning wheels to the right while reversing. It has started doing it more often. Nothing to the right. I also noticed today (my wife drives it 99% of the time) that sometimes going over a speed bump in a parking lot that there is sometimes a pop also. Any ideas out there? We have replaced front right and left Airmatic struts.
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From: Miami, FL
2003 CL 600
When the boots fail and they dry out, the motion of metal on metal and taking up the slack in the joint causes a pronounced 'pop' when turning/shifting weight, as OP describes, like backing out and turning. A repeated, cyclic ticking would be an axle, but one sharp pop or irregular pops, or when going straight or turning when stationary, usually a suspension ball joint failure.
Impossible to make that call over the internet. Any suspension fault has the potential to be very serious, if the joint fails completely the wheel may collapse into the wheel well and cause an accident and severe damage. That being said, there are other noise sources like bushings that can be largely ignored forever as long as you don't care about the way the car drives or sounds. You need to confirm the source of the noise and then make that decision.
Impossible to make that call over the internet. Any suspension fault has the potential to be very serious, if the joint fails completely the wheel may collapse into the wheel well and cause an accident and severe damage. That being said, there are other noise sources like bushings that can be largely ignored forever as long as you don't care about the way the car drives or sounds. You need to confirm the source of the noise and then make that decision.
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2010 S550; 2009 GL550
Thanks all. I just recently made a connection on something. The front wheels are always susceptible to brake dust, but more recently there has been a heavy accumulation of something more than brake dust, so can I assume that the boots have failed and this is grease being thrown out? At least it is still happening.
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From: Emmett, ID, USA
2007 GL450
Thanks all. I just recently made a connection on something. The front wheels are always susceptible to brake dust, but more recently there has been a heavy accumulation of something more than brake dust, so can I assume that the boots have failed and this is grease being thrown out? At least it is still happening.
If you aren't up for jacking it up and poking around, I'd get it over to a shop and put on a pair of Depends when you get home and wait for the phone call.
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2010 S550; 2009 GL550
So I didn't take the wheels off, but I turned them sharply and looked behind the wheel. I could not see any of the rubber boots cracked anywhere nor could i discern any loose bolts or nuts. All looked the same on both sides. I want to rephrase, your honor, my statement about the dust on the wheel. I t is a heavy dark dust but is not grease. I can easily wipe it off with my finger or a towel, but it is more dense than the normal brake dust that i see on the back wheels. As an FYI, we did have the front airmatic system replaced in the past six months if that helps with any assessment. It is scheduled for the shop first thing in the morning. I wll post outcome as well.
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the suspension needs to be unloaded and checked with prybars.
Last edited by alx; Mar 3, 2017 at 12:05 PM.
