domenic

Hey, i have a 1995 S500. Lately i've heard a clunking noise comming from somewhere on the back suspension-sounds like the passenger side. What can this be? How easy or hard of a fix--, even when the back end is "manually" pushed down the noise can still be heard from inside, and outside.
All replys appreciated. Thanks in advance.

pbrennan10

I had a similiar problem except i couldn't tell exactly where the clunk was coming from, sometimes i thought it was back and sometimes front. Ended up being front swaybar links, i think these need replaced often in w140 and you should look into it.

unbugai

hey unfortunatly i have the same exact problem i got a clunk when driving and when you push it down yourself. i got a skawking noise. you cant hear a clunking when manuelly pushing the rear down...
also passenger side... and i took off the wheel looked around couldnt find ****...
everything looks good nothing has play....

the lower control arm outer bushing didnt look too good so i bought some bushings put em in...
NOTHING has changed same damn thing and im just completely lost....

i could always take it to the dealer but im not a big fan of them because they keep screwing me over and stuff and theres no other shop that speciallizes in that.... so basically i just gotta turn up the radio and deal with it...

also mine is mostly at slow speeds and not always over bumps you just hear this clunk.... very weird...

all my stab links are good... absolutely no play in any of them????? weird!!

you figure out yours yet?

syljua

Do the same by an assistant pushing the rear down, while you feeling
the suspension components for movement (with wheel on).

I bet that it is the lower mounting of the strut, which must be tighten over
the specified 100nm to not make clunk noise between bolt
and inner metal tube.

br,
syljua

Runninrebel211

We also have this in my parents 300SE. It clunks as well. From my buddy who owns a C43 AMG he says its coming from the drive shaft where it enters into the axle. There is a rubber sleeve inside the axle that needs replacing. The clunking is from the drive shaft spinning at different speeds and making contact.

Thats what he told me...we just live with ours. Its too much of a pain to take the drive shaft apart to fix a 10 part.

haggis

When Syjua refers to "the lower mounting of the strut" as the potential source of the "clunk" could anyone advise which component is referred to here.

I have 600SEL which has developed a clunk in the rear suspension similar to the one described in this thread and I cannot find the source.

It is more apparent at low speed but then road noise perhaps makes the sound less noticable at speed. I would welcome a bit more specific advice from anyone familiar with the component referred to.( I would hate to overtighten and strip the wrong bolt)

In the thread there are references to a "squawking noise". In my 600 this was caused by the lower bushes in the dampers having seized. I "un-seized" them by dismantling the the lower commection point and injected WD-40 behind the rubber seal while manipulating the joint with a steel rod passed through the bush centre. This flushed out loads of rust. I then injected grease and the whole thing was quiet once re-assembled.

Does anyone know if a replacement bush could be pressed into the base of the self-levelling damper strut? To replace this whole assembly for the price of a new bush or two seems criminal but MB say that is exactly what I should do

Peter Guenther

I had a clunk in the rear 92 500SEL, they went as far as putting someone in the trunk,they changed the strut (warranty) I have heard about bushing fixes. I would not spend the money for a hydraulic strut unless it really gets bad.

syljua

Well, you did want advice from other that myself, but
by you description, I'm talking about the same component
as you are... And since you made that "temporary" fix, the
first suspect is exactly that. Have you tried to be under
that car, feeling the components while an assistant
provokes a making of the sound?

br,
syljua

haggis

Hi syljua
Sadly it's not the lower bush of the damper(shock-absorber to some) and it's not reproducible while stationary. It seems to only occur when driving between 5 - 40 mph or so. It sounds like something loose in the trunk but I have removed every loose component that I can find, but to no avail.

Any suggestions welcomed. Anyone got a list of torque specs and a diagram of rear suspension?

assman300

ITS THE SHOCK ABSORBERS,,, NOT A BUSHING OR ANYTHING ELSE.. 1200 EACH HERE IN CANADA,, :

Xbenziv

No one who has tolerated the sweak and bump really wants to submit to it but , yeah you guessed it . Its the struts.My first quote for replacement of the 2 rear was around a thousand. Later I priced the the parts alone at a thousand.
Now I got a second estimate from another cool independent for parts at $275.00 each and labor. After Christmas I may go for it.

Runninrebel211

Im in the bay area and just had Bilsteins installed in the S class. Cost $45 dollars per shock tower. Shop around yourself for the shocks to see if you can get a better price. Bargain on the labor costs. If they do it right then you will not have squeaking or clicking or popping noises. If they dont they you will hear these problems right away.