2013 GLK Rear Rattle/Knock? Shock Replaced?
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 3
Likes: 2
GLK350
Replacing both shocks worked for me. Annoying rattle gone.
1 hour to remove interior trim
1 hour each side to remove wheel well cover, replace shock and reinstall cover
30 minutes to reinstall interior trim
Giving the Unity shocks a try. Hopefully their lower price doesn’t translate to low quality.
1 hour to remove interior trim
1 hour each side to remove wheel well cover, replace shock and reinstall cover
30 minutes to reinstall interior trim
Giving the Unity shocks a try. Hopefully their lower price doesn’t translate to low quality.
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
GLK350
Shock Mount
I recently bought a GLK 350 that had the same issue. what i have found was the shock absorber was pushing up through the mount. There is a little clip at the base of the shock threads that acts as a stopper to prevent the shaft from going through the hole in the mount. The top nut sandwiches the mount between the nut and that retaining clip. The clip is just a little bit oversize from the hole to stop it. Hitting a decent pot hole causes that clip to push through the hole on the mount and make that hole bigger now allowing that clip to move back and forth through the hole. Now when you drive the car the shock free floats through the mount and slightest bump you hear a knock as the top of the shock is actually striking the wheel well.I figured this out one day after I hit a substantial pot Hole and the shock absorber actual punched a hole through the wheel well and could be seen from the inside when you open the tailgate. To fix it i had to buy a new mount ($21 autozone) and I replaced the small clip with a fender washer. Problem solved.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 445
Likes: 8
From: Tucson AZ
2010 Mercedes GLK 350, 2001 BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster, 1997 Cherokee XJ
@geopa3 that is interesting & the resulting damage is daunting to say the least. The rattle that I & others have experienced was minor, triggered by small bumps & not a large hole in the road. Before replacement I did remove one shock absorber & found nothing wrong. Is it possible that the shock absorbers on yours have been replaced with an aftermarket part & not quite the same as OEM? I recall from time gone when shock absorbers often had a single bayonet mount with two rubber bushings & two washers which were mounted on each side of the inner fender well & those can do what you describe.
https://mbparts.mbusa.com/v-2013-mer...and-components Looking at this link, I do not quite understand what happened. Two bolts to secure the top of the shock absorber to the body. If the piece where the two studs are mounted is made of rubber & has deteriorated, that almost makes sense. How many miles on the GLK?
https://mbparts.mbusa.com/v-2013-mer...and-components Looking at this link, I do not quite understand what happened. Two bolts to secure the top of the shock absorber to the body. If the piece where the two studs are mounted is made of rubber & has deteriorated, that almost makes sense. How many miles on the GLK?
