Lower control arms sounding like spring mattress ?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 14
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2007 S 550
Lower control arms sounding like spring mattress ?
Hello,
My front left side is starting to make the sound of an old spring mattress. I have a 2007 s550. Took it to my local indie shop and they say I need new lower control arms. They quoted me 5 hours for labor and using the brand Meyle control arms.Has anyone used any other parts besides Mercedes and had good quality ? I got estimates from 2 other shops and they both said 3 hours tops.
Anyone have experience on this please ?
Thanks
My front left side is starting to make the sound of an old spring mattress. I have a 2007 s550. Took it to my local indie shop and they say I need new lower control arms. They quoted me 5 hours for labor and using the brand Meyle control arms.Has anyone used any other parts besides Mercedes and had good quality ? I got estimates from 2 other shops and they both said 3 hours tops.
Anyone have experience on this please ?
Thanks
Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 169
Likes: 7
From: Monroe, NY 10950
2007 S550 4Matic 2009 ML350 4Matic
Mine is doing the same thing. It comes and goes depending on the temperature outside I think. Sometimes it's quiet and then other times it's noisy for a week. Last time I took it to the mechanics it was dead quiet and made a liar out of me, they couldnt figure out where the noise was coming form. I think they quoted me 3.5 hrs and it was something like $1200, for the lower control arm (L). I didn't do it because it wasn't making the noise at the time. They thought it was the stabilizer bushing and replaced that, but its making the sound once again after disappearing for about 2.5 weeks.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
2007 S 550
Ok, mine squeaks just driving slow through a parking lot. The Mercedes indie shop said replace both front lower forward control arms. They quoted like 1150. Other shops said 3 hours total for both and quoted under 800. So maybe the other quotes weren't sure of which control arm ?
Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 220
Likes: 2
From: New England
2006 S430 4Matic
I had the same problem. It is the ball joints. I got a grease needle and injected grease into each ball joint including the ones connected to the struts in the control arm. After the grease had a chance to spread all noises went away. It's much cheaper than the alternative.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,560
Likes: 207
From: Maryland
Depends on the weather
I had the same problem. It is the ball joints. I got a grease needle and injected grease into each ball joint including the ones connected to the struts in the control arm. After the grease had a chance to spread all noises went away. It's much cheaper than the alternative.
Did the exact same thing on my range rover. Correct, it's the ball joints, not the control arms. You will also notice depending on the temp outside it will or won't make the squeaking sound.
I used a regular hypodermic needle, injected grease and boom, no more sound.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,560
Likes: 207
From: Maryland
Depends on the weather
It goes in the black plastic surrounding the ball joint. Just get a needle, put grease in it and inject it. Once you take the wheel off you will be able to see it.
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Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
2007 S 550
Is there a certain type of grease or silicon to use ?
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 390
Likes: 26
From: USA
Mercedes-Benz 2007 S550, 2012 S550 4-Matic, 2014 S550 (Traded), 2015 GL450
Hello,
My front left side is starting to make the sound of an old spring mattress. I have a 2007 s550. Took it to my local indie shop and they say I need new lower control arms. They quoted me 5 hours for labor and using the brand Meyle control arms.Has anyone used any other parts besides Mercedes and had good quality ? I got estimates from 2 other shops and they both said 3 hours tops.
Anyone have experience on this please ?
Thanks
My front left side is starting to make the sound of an old spring mattress. I have a 2007 s550. Took it to my local indie shop and they say I need new lower control arms. They quoted me 5 hours for labor and using the brand Meyle control arms.Has anyone used any other parts besides Mercedes and had good quality ? I got estimates from 2 other shops and they both said 3 hours tops.
Anyone have experience on this please ?
Thanks
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
2007 S 550
A few months ago, I had the driver side lower control arm replaced. They cannot just replace the balljoint as I was told by the dealer and independent shops that it comes as one with the control arm. I usually take my vehicle to a guy who is a former Mercedes Master Mechanic and he uses MB or OE parts on all repairs. However, for some reason this time I tried a euro repair shop near home and they said they were using OEM. I thought OK. So after they do the work I see a Meyle label on the control arm. Meyle is considered OEM, but I should have specified OE as in Original Equipment. As in Mercedes-Benz. Anyway, the Meyle is junk. It still sqeaks every now after less than a few hundred miles. I have to bring it in to the local shop that installed it and get it looked at. I showed it to the former MB Master Mechanic that I normally go to and he shook his head like what is that??? I asked him if he could replace it with an MB part because I am OCD and I am willing to pay for it, but he said just leave it in until it prematurely wears out. Lesson learned. Stick to MB parts. MB dealers will quote about $900-$1200 to do this but independent will be less depending on whether OEM or OE part is used.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
2007 S 550
A few months ago, I had the driver side lower control arm replaced. They cannot just replace the balljoint as I was told by the dealer and independent shops that it comes as one with the control arm. I usually take my vehicle to a guy who is a former Mercedes Master Mechanic and he uses MB or OE parts on all repairs. However, for some reason this time I tried a euro repair shop near home and they said they were using OEM. I thought OK. So after they do the work I see a Meyle label on the control arm. Meyle is considered OEM, but I should have specified OE as in Original Equipment. As in Mercedes-Benz. Anyway, the Meyle is junk. It still sqeaks every now after less than a few hundred miles. I have to bring it in to the local shop that installed it and get it looked at. I showed it to the former MB Master Mechanic that I normally go to and he shook his head like what is that??? I asked him if he could replace it with an MB part because I am OCD and I am willing to pay for it, but he said just leave it in until it prematurely wears out. Lesson learned. Stick to MB parts. MB dealers will quote about $900-$1200 to do this but independent will be less depending on whether OEM or OE part is used.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 390
Likes: 26
From: USA
Mercedes-Benz 2007 S550, 2012 S550 4-Matic, 2014 S550 (Traded), 2015 GL450
It was the driver side rearward lower control arm that was replaced. The one with the connection point to the airmatic strut in the middle if the arm. The shop diagnosed it by having the mechanic grab the control arm when it was on the hydraulic lift. He was trying to move it back and forth. The ball joint on the arm was making a noise plus the rubber jacket surrounding the balljoint had been compromised so filling it with grease wouldn't have made a difference. Hope that helps.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 806
Likes: 27
From: Rochester, NY
2009 S550 AMG sport pckg. 2014 Ford F-150 Lariat Supercrewcab
The balljoint in the w221's is built right into the control arm so you have to replace the entire control arm once the balljoint goes.
Last edited by Nickthegreek; Sep 9, 2015 at 12:02 AM.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 806
Likes: 27
From: Rochester, NY
2009 S550 AMG sport pckg. 2014 Ford F-150 Lariat Supercrewcab
Injecting grease through the dust boot will do you no good. You want it to penetrate up where the ball lies in the socket of the joint. The only way to do this would be to drill a small hole in the top without knicking the ball and installing a grease gun nipple. These joints are sealed and cannot be regreased
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 390
Likes: 26
From: USA
Mercedes-Benz 2007 S550, 2012 S550 4-Matic, 2014 S550 (Traded), 2015 GL450
It was the driver side rearward lower control arm that was replaced. The one with the connection point to the airmatic strut in the middle if the arm. The shop diagnosed it by having the mechanic grab the control arm when it was on the hydraulic lift. He was trying to move it back and forth. The ball joint on the arm was making a noise plus the rubber jacket surrounding the balljoint had been compromised so filling it with grease wouldn't have made a difference. Hope that helps.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
2007 S 550
Just an update on this post. So I finally brought the vehicle back to the shop that replaced the lower control arm a few months ago. Everything was tight when they checked the driver side linkages and even the non-OE control arm was tight. Then the mechanic looked at the sway bar and said, "Aha! That's the problem." They sprayed WD40 lubricant on the sway bar bushings on both sides. That seems to have solved the problem. Drove it around town today and no more sqeaking mattress coil sound! If it starts squeaking again because the lubricant's effectiveness wore off, I may just have the bushings replaced. They are pretty cheap anyway and it's fairly easy to do. Until then, I'm happy with the result.
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 12
Likes: 3
S550 4Matic
It's probably just a matter of time unfortunately. I did the epoxy treatment on the bushings in about an hour and a half last week. Fixed and loving it. Bought the 2 part from a local parts store. Permatex 5 min set up, 24 hr cure, one can of brake cleaner, and a couple sheets of 100 grit sandpaper. Takes just a few standard tools.
FYI, if removing your wheels is out of the question, don't attemp this. I can't see how you could disconnect both ends of the anti sway bar with the wheels still mounted up.
FYI, if removing your wheels is out of the question, don't attemp this. I can't see how you could disconnect both ends of the anti sway bar with the wheels still mounted up.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 390
Likes: 26
From: USA
Mercedes-Benz 2007 S550, 2012 S550 4-Matic, 2014 S550 (Traded), 2015 GL450
I'll let you know when or if the noise comes back.
