S-Class (W220) 1999-2006: S 320 CDI, S 320, S430, S 500, S 600

Changed air suspension, HELP!!

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Old May 7, 2009 | 05:42 AM
  #1  
gamaraia's Avatar
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From: AGG town, Texas
S430
Unhappy Changed air suspension, HELP!!

Hello all,

i have been all over the forum looking for answer, but with no luck! I have recently bought a 2000 s430 with 77K on it...I took it few days back to the shop and changed both driver and passenger air suspension (shocks) ..yeaap i paid a good $2600 on both!! oufffff
I took my car out of the shop yesterday and drove fine!!! but today when i got in the car, drove around a little both front and back shocks are making some loud squeaking noise!! it sounds like a very very old and rusty car driving down the street!!

oh before i took it to the shop, the back never made that noise!! the mechanic changed the brakes sensors on all sides...



Help

it is really annoying!!!
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Old May 7, 2009 | 09:07 AM
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vmystikilv's Avatar
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I've been squeaking since I bought the car. Both Airmatic fronts have been replaced and there are a few people on here that posted they have the same annoying sounds. If there is a fix (that doesnt require buying more airmatics struts) I'd be happy to hear it. Even with that I was at the dealer 2 days ago and they said everything including the air suspension was fine.
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Old May 7, 2009 | 12:48 PM
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2000 Mercedes Benz S500 Designo
Lower ball joints have been known to cause the REALLY ANNOYING squeak. The boots on them tear and they sit down in a crevice which allows moisture buildup... a few years later you get this nice squeaking sound. About $500 at an indy or $120 in parts
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Old May 7, 2009 | 07:14 PM
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2000 S430, 1999 E 320, 2 K5 blazers,
Yep sounds like the ball joints, mine sounded like a squeaking bed when i would go over the smallest bump. I replaced the ball joints and now it is nice and quiet. I too orginally thought it was the struts, but found out it was the joints.

dont remember the cost but 500 sounds about right
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Old May 7, 2009 | 07:27 PM
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ball joints almost 100%
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Old May 8, 2009 | 03:04 AM
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Garmar

Garmar,

spray some wd40 on the balljoints. Will keep the squeaks at bay for a few weeks or a few days depending.....until you decide about spending the money to replace.
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Old May 8, 2009 | 04:44 AM
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Ok, i called the mechanic and he was surprised that it started making noise right after the airmatic...
i am taking tomorrow to get it checked..

when i was parked in the garage this morning...i turned the steering wheel slowly to the left and seems like the right side (by the tire) is making another squeaking noise...

im gona try to WD 40 on it...but im a newbe, and not sure where to spray the WD 40 :"> ..


vmystikilv..i'll let you know if there is any once i talk to the mechanic tomorrow..

aaah i dont wana pay another $500 ...

he just replaced the passagner window motor..windshield whipers...oil..shocks..and it all came to total $3100


your input if very much appreciated ^_^
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Old May 8, 2009 | 12:16 PM
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Originally Posted by ajkennedy
Garmar,

spray some wd40 on the balljoints. Will keep the squeaks at bay for a few weeks or a few days depending.....until you decide about spending the money to replace.


Does this seriously work?? I know its a temp fix....anyone with pics exactly where to spray?
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Old May 8, 2009 | 01:00 PM
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just a thought: Did the workshop put the car down before they have tightened the suspension screws ?

Cheers, Frank
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Old May 8, 2009 | 03:13 PM
  #10  
E43 S's Avatar
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From: Brooklyn NY
'00 S-500, E-430S, '88 Mustang
Originally Posted by gamaraia
Ok, i called the mechanic and he was surprised that it started making noise right after the airmatic...
i am taking tomorrow to get it checked..

when i was parked in the garage this morning...i turned the steering wheel slowly to the left and seems like the right side (by the tire) is making another squeaking noise...

im gona try to WD 40 on it...but im a newbe, and not sure where to spray the WD 40 :"> ..


vmystikilv..i'll let you know if there is any once i talk to the mechanic tomorrow..

aaah i dont wana pay another $500 ...

he just replaced the passagner window motor..windshield whipers...oil..shocks..and it all came to total $3100


your input if very much appreciated ^_^
Just had that problem on my 2000 S 500, turned out it was the drivers control arm, 145$ part, 50$ labor.....like a dream now.
I did use the WD40 as well as grese in there ...it helped of about 6 weeks then the sound came back.
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Old May 11, 2009 | 02:00 AM
  #11  
gamaraia's Avatar
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From: AGG town, Texas
S430
Ok, so i took it to the shop...
the guy said there is nothing wrong with it!! hmmmm but the squeaky noise was still there..
i went to auto zone...got me WD 40 ... at night i sprayed both lower ball joints...and left it for about 24 hrs...i drove it this morning and it was smoooothhhh and NICEEE!!



Frank: no it wasnt lowered down before tightening the screws..does that make a difference?


Thanks everyone for the kind help!

i am so lookin fwd to having new rims on it...but gotta wait few months to save up..
any recommendations?
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Old May 11, 2009 | 03:30 AM
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Control arms with bushing should be tighten with the weight of the car on it. This way the bushing will not be permanetly twisted when the car is riding on it natural height.
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Old May 11, 2009 | 08:46 AM
  #13  
ajkennedy's Avatar
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From: San Jose, California USA
S500 Silver, Range Rover HSE Black
WD40

Gamar,

The WD-40 fix only last a few weeks like someone else said. Unless you want to be constantly doing that, you should just figure a replacement of lower balljoints at some point.

Also, if you add your location to your profile, it would help in responses. We seem to have people on here from all parts of the globe.

Thanks.
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