Creaky Spring Noise From Front Left Suspension Area
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 21
Likes: 2
2001 ML320, 2010 S550, 2012 E350, 2015 C300 (All 4Matic vehicles)
Creaky Spring Noise From Front Left Suspension Area
I have a 2010 S550 4Matic with 33,000 miles, it has been garage kept and seldom driven. As weather is getting colder now, I started to notice the creaky spring compressing sound (tick, tick, tick) a few days ago. It appears to come from the front left suspension area.
I can generate the noise by pressing the car up and down from the top fender area, or when the car is lowered upon engine shut-off. I can also hear it when going over a bump or a dip, and occasionally by turning left or right which could also generate a very slight rubbing sound.
Star Diagnostic didn't find any Airmatic compressor/valve/leak issues but when I tested the front left valve, I could hear the same sound coming from suspension area in shorter burst.
Assuming the sound comes from the strut, I can't imagine having to replace the Airmatic strut at 33K miles. Is there a way to lubricate it to quiet it down?
The rubbing sound worries me a little. I replaced all 4 stocked 18"x8.5" wheels this past summer with Vossen 20"x9.5" maintaining the same aspect ratio and keeping has the same 255mm width but offset is now 32mm offset instead the factory 43mm. Rear wheels are 20x11x285. I hope the new wheel is not the cause.
I wonder if it's just weather dependent issue as the car has not been driven for a while. Or, is there something serious? Appreciate your help to pin point the problem.
John
I can generate the noise by pressing the car up and down from the top fender area, or when the car is lowered upon engine shut-off. I can also hear it when going over a bump or a dip, and occasionally by turning left or right which could also generate a very slight rubbing sound.
Star Diagnostic didn't find any Airmatic compressor/valve/leak issues but when I tested the front left valve, I could hear the same sound coming from suspension area in shorter burst.
Assuming the sound comes from the strut, I can't imagine having to replace the Airmatic strut at 33K miles. Is there a way to lubricate it to quiet it down?
The rubbing sound worries me a little. I replaced all 4 stocked 18"x8.5" wheels this past summer with Vossen 20"x9.5" maintaining the same aspect ratio and keeping has the same 255mm width but offset is now 32mm offset instead the factory 43mm. Rear wheels are 20x11x285. I hope the new wheel is not the cause.
I wonder if it's just weather dependent issue as the car has not been driven for a while. Or, is there something serious? Appreciate your help to pin point the problem.
John
Last edited by jt-hifi; Nov 18, 2016 at 01:09 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,900
Likes: 210
From: Sacramento , CA
2010 e550 p2
Check if all of the bolts are tight there (had similar issue , turned out my right arm wasnt tight enough and was making noise)
I doubt strut would make that tick tick tick kind of sound...
but id start with inspecting suspension components whether they tight enough and also see in what condition are the bushings etc down there.
I doubt strut would make that tick tick tick kind of sound...
but id start with inspecting suspension components whether they tight enough and also see in what condition are the bushings etc down there.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 21
Likes: 2
2001 ML320, 2010 S550, 2012 E350, 2015 C300 (All 4Matic vehicles)
Thanks for your reply.
It was the lower ball joint of the spring control arm. As there is no tear in the boot at all, I had to cut the straw that came with WD40 in wedge shape, pierced the boot and sprayed a good amount into it. And, the noise is gone!
I hope this water-resistant WD 40 silicone will last for a while. I'm going to patch the tiny puncture with some glue. Will see how long it lasts before I decide to replace the ball joint.
It was the lower ball joint of the spring control arm. As there is no tear in the boot at all, I had to cut the straw that came with WD40 in wedge shape, pierced the boot and sprayed a good amount into it. And, the noise is gone!
I hope this water-resistant WD 40 silicone will last for a while. I'm going to patch the tiny puncture with some glue. Will see how long it lasts before I decide to replace the ball joint.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 21
Likes: 2
2001 ML320, 2010 S550, 2012 E350, 2015 C300 (All 4Matic vehicles)
I'd like to replace just the ball joint instead of the whole spring control arm. Do you guys know off hand the part number for the ball joint itself for 2010 W221 4Matic? Any brand recommendation - Lemforder, TSW, etc?
