W204 intermittent clunk/click noise when stopping

cheapshots

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Hi all,

I've searched the forum but couldn't quite find a similar enough post.

W204 C250 CGI, 2012 35k mileage - sometimes when the car comes to a stop a click/clunk noise can be heard which sounds like it's coming from the front drivers side wheel arch section.

I could be wrong but it feels like the noise is more frequent when stopping on uneven surfaces or incline/decline or even after heavy usage of in-town driving.

I will take it to my local garage to jack it up the ramp to check brake discs etc but wondered if anybody else has had a similar problem?

Thanks.
 
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B king

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check the rear seats incase anyone has jupped in and is fastening their seatbelt ......



(sorry)............
 

ZZZZ

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All I can think of, is a broken off tip of a spring, and/or dislodged shim (if there's one that is), but it's way too early for a low mileage 2012 car to have that kind of problem.
 
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I took the car out today, at first it was fine however as I did more stop/start driving, the same noise was heard (not every time though).

It seems to happen only when I stop completely i.e not when I’m slowing down.

I’m hoping to take it to my local garage Thursday to see if they can find anything and will let you know
 
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My local garage jacked the car up and checked all the usual suspects (brake, tie rods, wishbone, suspension, bearings etc) and all was fine.

I guess I'll just have to live with it :'(
 
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Thanks Dreamer, I'll try to check this myself today
 

John Laidlaw

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Worth checking the arch area too- seems all the mechanical components have been checked, but it could be simply a piece of loose bodywork?
 

AMGeed

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I have exactly the same cluncking noise when I come to stop in my E55. Usually noticable at very low speed in traffic coming to a halt.
It has been diagnosed as play in the upper ball joint and is approx £100 for part and labour.

I'd get your mechanic to double check the upper and lower ball joints for wear.
 
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Thanks to all :)
 
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A month later and still no diagnosis :eek:

Took the car to the garage again, they checked the upper/lower ball joint - all seemed fine. Typically every time I visit the garage, the car behaves itself.

I've noticed the noise is more frequent more when stopping on an incline. It's still intermittent and only really happens after heavy-ish in-town usage. It seems to be more frequent now that the weather is so warm.

The the best way I can describe the noise is this: imagine a thick metal string attached between the brake pedal and somewhere on the front drivers side wheel, now as you come to a stop, this string is plucked (a bit like a guitar string), only it doesn't make a noise as a guitar would, its more a 'I'm about to snap' noise, and you can almost 'feel' the snap noise via your foot when the brake pedal is depressed.

Do you good folk have any idea at all? It's bugging me that I can't get to the bottom of this. I was even tempted to visit a Mercedes garage but then my wife encouraged me to see sense and put the credit card away.
 

John Laidlaw

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Hope this doesn’t sound too daft, but have you checked the pedal itself?
 
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Not daft at all! I have checked the pedal and nothing really feels loose....
 
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