Replaced all front bushings, still hear slight clicking noise going over speed bump.
04-16-2016, 12:37 PM
#52
I spent quite a bit of money at the dealer doing repairs in trying to find the cause to exactly the noise the original poster described (upper control arm ball joints, lower control arm ball joints, both lateral arms, etc.). Each sequential job required a $120 alignment each time, so didn't make me the least bit happy.
The Wurth HHS-2000 grease sprayed on the sway bar bushings helped quell the noise, but in the end, it needed a new sway bar (which has the integrated, non-replaceable sway bar bushings on them). As DVC mentioned (and also an indpendent mechanic suggest I do, as I stopped going to the dealer), have your mechanic disconnect the sway bar end links to the sway bar, so it takes pressure of the sway bar bushings. Test drive it around over a rough patch of road or over expansion joints to try and replicate the noise, and if the noise disappears, you know it's the worn sway bar bushings. You'll then need to get that sway bar replaced with a new one so you have fresh bushings on there. Good luck.
The Wurth HHS-2000 grease sprayed on the sway bar bushings helped quell the noise, but in the end, it needed a new sway bar (which has the integrated, non-replaceable sway bar bushings on them). As DVC mentioned (and also an indpendent mechanic suggest I do, as I stopped going to the dealer), have your mechanic disconnect the sway bar end links to the sway bar, so it takes pressure of the sway bar bushings. Test drive it around over a rough patch of road or over expansion joints to try and replicate the noise, and if the noise disappears, you know it's the worn sway bar bushings. You'll then need to get that sway bar replaced with a new one so you have fresh bushings on there. Good luck.
04-16-2016, 11:27 PM
#53
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'05 E55, ‘00 ML55, ‘92 500E
I spent quite a bit of money at the dealer doing repairs in trying to find the cause to exactly the noise the original poster described (upper control arm ball joints, lower control arm ball joints, both lateral arms, etc.). Each sequential job required a $120 alignment each time, so didn't make me the least bit happy.
The Wurth HHS-2000 grease sprayed on the sway bar bushings helped quell the noise, but in the end, it needed a new sway bar (which has the integrated, non-replaceable sway bar bushings on them). As DVC mentioned (and also an indpendent mechanic suggest I do, as I stopped going to the dealer), have your mechanic disconnect the sway bar end links to the sway bar, so it takes pressure of the sway bar bushings. Test drive it around over a rough patch of road or over expansion joints to try and replicate the noise, and if the noise disappears, you know it's the worn sway bar bushings. You'll then need to get that sway bar replaced with a new one so you have fresh bushings on there. Good luck.
The Wurth HHS-2000 grease sprayed on the sway bar bushings helped quell the noise, but in the end, it needed a new sway bar (which has the integrated, non-replaceable sway bar bushings on them). As DVC mentioned (and also an indpendent mechanic suggest I do, as I stopped going to the dealer), have your mechanic disconnect the sway bar end links to the sway bar, so it takes pressure of the sway bar bushings. Test drive it around over a rough patch of road or over expansion joints to try and replicate the noise, and if the noise disappears, you know it's the worn sway bar bushings. You'll then need to get that sway bar replaced with a new one so you have fresh bushings on there. Good luck.
04-17-2016, 07:59 AM
#54
MBWorld Fanatic!
When I had my sub frame out for paint and maintenance I put a couple layers of bicycle inner tube under the sway bar clamps as prevention to keep them tight. If the rubber is still stuck to the sway bar it might work as a temporary cure to tighten them up. The reason you can't use urethane bushings to cure this issue, is there is nothing to keep the sway bar centered side to side as the urethane wouldn't be vulcanized to the sway bar. Two titanium or aluminium shaft collars could solve that problem. One on each side to keep the sway bar in place.
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Max.H (04-17-2016)
04-17-2016, 09:32 AM
#55
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/181460891693?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true
It's for the HHS-Plus, which superseded the HHS-K, which superseded the HHS-2000.
Here's a few other resources:
Bavauto.com (where I originally got my HHS-K once upon a time)
Item: 893106
$24
http://www.bavauto.com/fland.asp?par...ba0aAvVn8P8HAQ
http://www.fswerks.com/products/8931...Q5IaArGP8P8HAQ
04-17-2016, 03:38 PM
#56
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
When I had my sub frame out for paint and maintenance I put a couple layers of bicycle inner tube under the sway bar clamps as prevention to keep them tight. If the rubber is still stuck to the sway bar it might work as a temporary cure to tighten them up. The reason you can't use urethane bushings to cure this issue, is there is nothing to keep the sway bar centered side to side as the urethane wouldn't be vulcanized to the sway bar. Two titanium or aluminium shaft collars could solve that problem. One on each side to keep the sway bar in place.
Maybe its the power steering bushings also who knows. We'll see.
04-17-2016, 03:41 PM
#57
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
That noise is almost certainly the sway bar bushings Max.
It seems unlikely at first because it's definitely more of a "click " sound than you'd expect from a bad bushing ,but give this a try first. Get a can of synthetic lubricant (I used royal purple) that has a little red tube you can stick in the cap for small areas. Jack up the front of the car and turn the wheel all the way to one side, and you'll see the sway bar bushings where they mount to the frame. There's a tiny opening in the side of the bushing where you can fit that little red tube into. Soak it until it runs out the other side, then spray the sway bar end links also while you're there. You may have to drive it around the block and repeat, depending how dried out it is.
I drive my E daily, and have had to lube those bushings twice in the past 14 months, but it definitely works at least for a while. Replacing the sway bar is on my "to do" list, but since there's a 5 minute/$5 fix, that job isn't even on the top 30 for now
It seems unlikely at first because it's definitely more of a "click " sound than you'd expect from a bad bushing ,but give this a try first. Get a can of synthetic lubricant (I used royal purple) that has a little red tube you can stick in the cap for small areas. Jack up the front of the car and turn the wheel all the way to one side, and you'll see the sway bar bushings where they mount to the frame. There's a tiny opening in the side of the bushing where you can fit that little red tube into. Soak it until it runs out the other side, then spray the sway bar end links also while you're there. You may have to drive it around the block and repeat, depending how dried out it is.
I drive my E daily, and have had to lube those bushings twice in the past 14 months, but it definitely works at least for a while. Replacing the sway bar is on my "to do" list, but since there's a 5 minute/$5 fix, that job isn't even on the top 30 for now
Will lithium greese spray work? it seems very sticky and has high pressure with the red straw.
04-17-2016, 07:52 PM
#58
MBWorld Fanatic!
04-18-2016, 09:35 AM
#59
Senior Member
No more rattle
... now I have ABS/ESP/Active Lights Unavailable up on the dash.
Hopefully I can just 'resync' everything and it's an easy fix...
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Max.H (04-19-2016)
04-18-2016, 03:11 PM
#61
Senior Member
If i were to do them over again... 40 generous minutes.
1. Jack up Car
2. Remove Underpanels
3. Remove 4 - 20mm (I think that's what they were) bolts that protect the steering rack AND mount the rack to the body of the car.
4. Lower rack about and remove old bushings. I found it easier to pry the lower ones out, and then use a screwdriver or something to push the top ones out.
5. Install new bushings. Take care to note orientation. You'll see what I mean.
6. Lift rack back up into position.
7. Align protective plate, and put the 4 bolts back in.
8. Put panels back. Lower car.
Figures 8-10 in here. Nothing else needs to be disconnected. There's just enough room to drop it about an inch to squeeze the top bushing in.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...eplacement.htm
1. Jack up Car
2. Remove Underpanels
3. Remove 4 - 20mm (I think that's what they were) bolts that protect the steering rack AND mount the rack to the body of the car.
4. Lower rack about and remove old bushings. I found it easier to pry the lower ones out, and then use a screwdriver or something to push the top ones out.
5. Install new bushings. Take care to note orientation. You'll see what I mean.
6. Lift rack back up into position.
7. Align protective plate, and put the 4 bolts back in.
8. Put panels back. Lower car.
Figures 8-10 in here. Nothing else needs to be disconnected. There's just enough room to drop it about an inch to squeeze the top bushing in.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...eplacement.htm
Last edited by mkiv_tdi; 04-18-2016 at 03:14 PM.
04-18-2016, 03:22 PM
#63
Senior Member
This was inspired by the C-Class guys. I figured ours couldn't be much different.
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...move-rack.html
04-19-2016, 12:12 AM
#65
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
Max, I R&R'd my front end today. Control arms (both of them), endlinks, bushings, steering rack bushings, upper/lower ball joints.
No more rattle
... now I have ABS/ESP/Active Lights Unavailable up on the dash.
Hopefully I can just 'resync' everything and it's an easy fix...
No more rattle
... now I have ABS/ESP/Active Lights Unavailable up on the dash.
Hopefully I can just 'resync' everything and it's an easy fix...
I'm going to swap out my steering rack bushings and take a look at my sway bar while we're in there. Got the lube ready for sway bar too.
OK so wait, you did control arms or thrust arms?? Control arms hold the air springs up. Thrust arms go front to back and are aluminum.
End links to steering rack? Just end links or did you replace the middle shafts too with the new boot etc?
Last edited by Max.H; 04-19-2016 at 12:19 AM.
04-19-2016, 08:48 AM
#66
Senior Member
You're the man! Congrats. Ahh you did the steering rack bushings! Cool I just ordered mine and said WTH. It's 10 years old might as well change it, they cant be in that good a shape.
I'm going to swap out my steering rack bushings and take a look at my sway bar while we're in there. Got the lube ready for sway bar too.
OK so wait, you did control arms or thrust arms?? Control arms hold the air springs up. Thrust arms go front to back and are aluminum.
End links to steering rack? Just end links or did you replace the middle shafts too with the new boot etc?
I'm going to swap out my steering rack bushings and take a look at my sway bar while we're in there. Got the lube ready for sway bar too.
OK so wait, you did control arms or thrust arms?? Control arms hold the air springs up. Thrust arms go front to back and are aluminum.
End links to steering rack? Just end links or did you replace the middle shafts too with the new boot etc?
And upper/lower ball joints. And sway bar endlinks.
And a few weeks ago I did Inner AND Outer tie rod ends because my boot had torn and allowed debris to wear out my pass side inner tie rod. So, again, if I'm in there, might as well do everything and be good to go for a while
Let me know if you have any questions. On a DIY scale of 1-10, it's probably a 6 if you're working by yourself, only because some of these things can be heavy when you're on your back.
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Max.H (04-20-2016)
04-19-2016, 01:40 PM
#68
Super Member
im in the same boat as you guys, ordered the bushings, wurth, as i have that annoying knock when i yank the wheel and the steering wheel seems to float left to right when i hit uneven pavement. already did inner/outer tie rods, control and thrust arms, all lower/ upper ball joints, bushings, bla bla bla bla,and a alignment ... which looks like i will need to get another after the bushings.... also might replace the power steering fluid. just want the thing to drive the way it should after all this work lol.
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Max.H (04-20-2016)
04-20-2016, 08:54 PM
#70
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
im in the same boat as you guys, ordered the bushings, wurth, as i have that annoying knock when i yank the wheel and the steering wheel seems to float left to right when i hit uneven pavement. already did inner/outer tie rods, control and thrust arms, all lower/ upper ball joints, bushings, bla bla bla bla,and a alignment ... which looks like i will need to get another after the bushings.... also might replace the power steering fluid. just want the thing to drive the way it should after all this work lol.
04-20-2016, 08:55 PM
#71
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
04-21-2016, 08:20 AM
#72
Senior Member
Thanks!! I plan on putting a second lift in as well I have the jack accessory that slides front to back on the inner rails. I can use it to lift the front or rear of the car with ease. Almost like having a hybrid 2/4 post.
I am curious if the wandering you guys report is unrelated to this issue. I have always had tramlining in every single car I own with staggered wheels. And given our cars are more performance oriented, the slightly more aggressive alignment could certainly contribute that. My car had excessive tramlining when I first got it but an alignment really helped to minimize the effect.
I have the jack accessory that slides front to back on the inner rails. I can use it to lift the front or rear of the car with ease. Almost like having a hybrid 2/4 post. I am curious if the wandering you guys report is unrelated to this issue. I have always had tramlining in every single car I own with staggered wheels. And given our cars are more performance oriented, the slightly more aggressive alignment could certainly contribute that. My car had excessive tramlining when I first got it but an alignment really helped to minimize the effect.
04-21-2016, 10:32 AM
#73
Super Member
just waiting on the 4 bushings now, tracking says tomorrow. I do have a small clunk when i turn the wheel as far as it goes and then give it a quick jerk back and fourth but my problem isnt really the noise. after replacing ALLL the front end wear items i still have a shimmy at highway speeds. if i hit uneven pavement with one tire the steering wheel slowly seems to shimmy left to right. kind of like each wheel doing its one thing? idk , i feel like ive been spending most of my time working on the car doing maintenance trying to get it to be perfect again vs actually driving it . lol wosrt part is i only have 66k on it. to top it off i am pretty sure i have a leaking rear shock or failing bushing in my right rear as well. never ending with this car.
04-21-2016, 02:29 PM
#75
Check your rear lower ball joints, and also the bushings/bolts that attach your rear subframe to the unibody.
just waiting on the 4 bushings now, tracking says tomorrow. I do have a small clunk when i turn the wheel as far as it goes and then give it a quick jerk back and fourth but my problem isnt really the noise. after replacing ALLL the front end wear items i still have a shimmy at highway speeds. if i hit uneven pavement with one tire the steering wheel slowly seems to shimmy left to right. kind of like each wheel doing its one thing? idk , i feel like ive been spending most of my time working on the car doing maintenance trying to get it to be perfect again vs actually driving it . lol wosrt part is i only have 66k on it. to top it off i am pretty sure i have a leaking rear shock or failing bushing in my right rear as well. never ending with this car.
