Alabaster

Has anyone experienced hearing/feeling a noise from the front end when turning at slow speeds? The Dealer could hear and confirm the noise last week but not the culprit. They suspected a ball joint in the steering column and have ordered that part, but the sound seems to be triggered by a shifting of the weight, like when rolling over a gutter to get into a driveway amd not necessarily something in the steering column. They did mention there was a TSB on this. Any thoughts?

alewifebp

Yes, I did have that problem. At first, the dealer nor I could reproduce it easily. Later, a TSB was put out on the problem, and whatever they did, it has fixed it.

BruNo

is it some sort of a "tok tok, click click" sound???

i have that noise too when turning at low speeds during backing off or entering a driveway. dealer adjusted the steering coupling, it did minimize, but i guess mine needs replacement.

sydunipete

I have exactly the same problem. Three times now the dealer has replaced the steering coupling. Each time that fixes the problem for a few weeks / months then it comes back again.

My symptoms are the same as yours (ie the clunk seems to happen when the weight starts to shift going around a corner or round about). For me it's worse turning to the right. (My car is a right hand steering.)

I can also produce the noise / sensation when stationary by turning the steering wheel left and right a small amount.

Alabaster

I did a little more research and it looks as if T-B-46.10/32a is the TSB circulating on this issue. We all are describing the exact same problem. I too can duplicate it just by moving the steering wheel left or right at a stop.

I will post a reply after the service is performed. No news yet on when the part will get here.

Thanks everyone.

Alabaster

Well, I picked up the car today. Looks as if they performed a different TSB - 46.10/32B than my earlier post. This one was to replace the steering shaft spindle bearing at front bulkhead. The noise was gone (although I only drove it about 7 miles home) and the steering was noticeably more tight and I could not duplicate the noise just by moving the steering wheel left or right at a stop. So, hopefully that was the fix!

sydunipete

I hate to ruin your day, but they did the same to mine and the problem came back after a month or two. I don't believe it's the root cause of the problem.

Mines back with the dealer today (after demonstrating the noise to the mechanic last week - yet another trip to the dealer!). I'm suspecting more and more it might be related to suspension rather than steering.

Regardless, I wish you luck and I hope the fix works for your truck.

lkchris

Here's the fix, direct from Mercedes:
https://www.mbwholesaleparts.com/Sta...Dec07FSBST.pdf

sydunipete

Thanks. I'll give anything a try. The dealer had the car 3 days over the last 2 weeks (with nothing fixed) and it goes back again next week.

I'm sick of paying for an M series and driving an A series (loaner).

tbenz

the bulletin states to replace the bearing at the bulk head if that does`t fix it then replace the steering shaft and knuckle

Alabaster

Sure enough, noise came back. Little harder to duplicate now, but I do catch hearing it every once in a while, especially when backing out of a parking spot and turning the wheel most of the way. Let us know how your repair goes and what specifically they did. Thanks!

sydunipete

Alabaster, Sorry to hear it.

Mine's booked to go back in on Thursday (along with faulty front right parking sensors - continually going off and the automatic external mirror on the blind side is no longer lowering when in reverse, it's moving but not all the way.)

I'll take lkchris's attachment with me.

I'll let you know what happens.

sydunipete

They've kept the car overnight because they had to order an "Air suspension control unit". They are replacing that to fix the clunking and the steering grief.

I'll let you know how things go when I pick it up tomorrow.

jmd_2

Hi Sydunipete,
did it solved the issue?

sydunipete

It's different now, but there is still a knocking in the front end. It's definitely not as reproducable as it was before (which makes it incredibly frustrating). And the noise is different. I get the loose feeling in the steering when turning right much less frequently.

I've been waiting this last month for the problem to get worse so I can take it back to the dealer and demonstrate the issue with certainty that it will occur.

In summary, I think it helps. I wonder if doing that and replacing the steeing coupling at the same time might be the answer?

BruNo

i have the clicking sound when turning at low low speeds (backing off etc...) tech retightened the upper steering coupling, disappeared for a few days then went back again. i asked that it be replaced, tech explained that there is this "mb special grease" for the steering coupling which will eliminate the clicking sound...and that installing a new coupling with the wrong grease wont make a difference....

texasml

I had to have both the steering shaft and coupling replaced on mine when I had similar issues. I had a rattle when turning right over bumpy roads. Then two weeks later I started hearing a snapping noise when backing up and turning to the right. Took it back in and they replaced the steering knuckle. They also ended up replacing the driver's side strut and lower control arm in the process of trying to troubleshoot the issue.

sydunipete

Wow! This one is going way back into the archives. I've now gotten rid of my benz and replaced it with a Japanese car. I must say it is a different experience when you don't know every member of your dealer service team by name!

I ended up having two root causes of the problems described in this forum. One was a steering problem which took them several times to get right. Apparently they replaced something with the wrong part.

The other problem turned out to be a body work problem. In the front-end where some components are connected to the sub-frame (pardon me if the technical terms are not quite right) had to be corrected. This gave me the knocking noise when turning right. It took escalation from MB (Australia) to a recommended body repairer. After months of frustration the body repairer found it within hours. Turns out some worker in Alabama forgot to tighten some nuts.

When I sold my car both problems hadn't returned.

christopherw

It happens to me not only when I turn my steering wheel, but also when I brake on bumpy roads.

springdriver1

My ML is in the shop for front lower control arm TSB.

C-rod

was in all last week for this issue...they had to replace some bushings on the control arms, which were actually hitting the body, when turning, causing the noises.....Apparently, it is a new part.............All is fine now....All this, and l'm @ 7000 KM's ????!!

springdriver1

Man sound like an headache.

mschroder

I had the same experience ... clunk in front end .. under warranty replaced front shock absorbers ... not fixed ... back 4 times to dealer ... eventually replaced Steering ball joint about 6 months ago ... gradually noise has come back ... and now car out of warranty ... very frustrating

w164amgfix

after weeks of searching for the cracking noise that sometimes appears when shifting weight buy turn left to right and reversing of driveway and alike ive found the fix do not let dealers charge you money for knuckles drop links or roll bar bushes before completing this simple fix .remove front bumper and retighten all the bolts that hold the bumper reinforce to the car this will stop all the cracking sounds that the car produces when weight shifting try it its a genuine fix for the w164

goasfarasyoucan

Thank you for bringing it. Same exact here