Balljoints going or its something else?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,753
Likes: 2
From: New York City
Yo Momma
Balljoints going or its something else?
I think its time for me to change some parts in my front suspension. I have a hard vibration and rough steering wheel when turning right on a freeway. It feels like the left (drivers side) tire does not grip the road. I have a strong feeling that its my left balljoint going bad... Does anybody have had this kind of problem before? I was thinking of changing out the bushings as well. I was looking for some oem bushings on ebay and found a good deal on front upper control arms with bushings. Is it ok to change out the control arms too? or the upper and lower control arms need to be changed together?
Thanks a lot in advance techs.
Thanks a lot in advance techs.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 29
From: Sydney, Australia
190D 2.5 (x2), 190E 2.6, W202 C240,W202 C43 (C55), W210 E55, W212 E250CDI
On your W209 there is a upper ball joint (almost never gives trouble) and 2 lower ball joints. The symptoms you describe sound a bit more like a broken engine mount than a suspension problem.
Check your engine mounts by loading the engine up in gear with the bonnet up while watching the engine cover to see if it lifts too much in both drive and reverse.
A visual inspection of the bushes and ball joints should be ok, the ball joints almost never get play, they get noisy though.
Check your engine mounts by loading the engine up in gear with the bonnet up while watching the engine cover to see if it lifts too much in both drive and reverse.
A visual inspection of the bushes and ball joints should be ok, the ball joints almost never get play, they get noisy though.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,753
Likes: 2
From: New York City
Yo Momma
I see... In the winter i did get noise coming from the front but i cant recall which side. It was a squeeky noise whenever i would move the steering to park the car. As it got warmer the noise went away. I will go ahead and inspect the engine. thanks a lot
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 584
Likes: 3
From: Northern NJ
E90 N54 & W251
I think its time for me to change some parts in my front suspension. I have a hard vibration and rough steering wheel when turning right on a freeway. It feels like the left (drivers side) tire does not grip the road. I have a strong feeling that its my left balljoint going bad... Does anybody have had this kind of problem before? I was thinking of changing out the bushings as well. I was looking for some oem bushings on ebay and found a good deal on front upper control arms with bushings. Is it ok to change out the control arms too? or the upper and lower control arms need to be changed together?
Thanks a lot in advance techs.
Thanks a lot in advance techs.
Check your tie rod ends for play. Get the front end off the ground, hold the front wheels at 9 and 3 o'clock positions and try to move it side-to-side. If there's play, then your tie rod end is bad on that side.
Also, try the 12 and 6 o'clock positions on the wheels. There should be no play there either.
Good luck
Last edited by ~CL500~; Apr 21, 2009 at 03:20 PM.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,753
Likes: 2
From: New York City
Yo Momma
damn i dont know what it is...
I noticed some more stuff today...my front wheel feels like its flat but its not flat, it feels like its about to come off... whenever i hit a bump the wheels do not stay straight they change position almost as i changed a lane.
I noticed some more stuff today...my front wheel feels like its flat but its not flat, it feels like its about to come off... whenever i hit a bump the wheels do not stay straight they change position almost as i changed a lane.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,753
Likes: 2
From: New York City
Yo Momma
Check your tie rod ends for play. Get the front end off the ground, hold the front wheels at 9 and 3 o'clock positions and try to move it side-to-side. If there's play, then your tie rod end is bad on that side.
Also, try the 12 and 6 o'clock positions on the wheels. There should be no play there either.
Good luck
Also, try the 12 and 6 o'clock positions on the wheels. There should be no play there either.
Good luck
Trending Topics
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 835
Likes: 2
From: Bay Area, CA
09' E320
Your tire, like a clock, is round.
Problem with pulling back and forth is determining where the movement comes from. Could be tie rod ends. Could be wheel bearing play. Could be a couple of other things.
Your tire balance is known good?
Problem with pulling back and forth is determining where the movement comes from. Could be tie rod ends. Could be wheel bearing play. Could be a couple of other things.
Your tire balance is known good?
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 584
Likes: 3
From: Northern NJ
E90 N54 & W251
See what TMAllison said.
You need to get the car on a lift or jack stands and thoroughly inspect your front end suspension. Start off by doing the simple "clock" tests I mentioned earlier and go from there. Remove the front wheels for a better view. If you're not suited for this, I suggest you visit a mechanic or the dealership. You shouldn't continue to drive normally without knowing EXACTLY what the problem is as it may be serious.
Last edited by ~CL500~; Apr 22, 2009 at 12:04 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 655
Likes: 1
I drive the racism out of BadDebt. ;)
I had a symtom of vibration through the steering wheel at high speed and it made bumping noises when i drove over a speed bump or driveway....it turned out to be a split driverside thrust arm bushing and a bad lower tierod....
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,136
Likes: 5
Corrolla
Andy
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 655
Likes: 1
I drive the racism out of BadDebt. ;)
also have a tech look at your knuckle (spindle) aswell... thats a good 475 bucks.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,136
Likes: 5
Corrolla
