190E W201 strange screaching sound when turning wheel?

[christiankay]

I searched for a similar problem on the 190E threads but to no avail. My 190E 1.8 Auto has this morning developed an alarming rubbery screaching grinding noise when I turn left or right either stationary or at speed? The noise is so loud it can be heard by pedestrians. At first I thought something was fouling the wheels like the bodywork or something stuck under the car but nothing appears amiss. The steering is unaffected and I'm not getting any resistance from the wheel but the noise is frightening the life out of me? I checked my power steering fluid but level is normal (although looks murky), I checked my tyres and bodywork. The brakes all work fine without noise as my previous experience of grinding and screeching was my brakes when I braked. My rear discs and pads disintergrated while visiting Chesterfield last summer and cost me a small fortune to repair. This noise is only when steering. Any advice or suggestions would be helpful so I sound knowledgable when I get enough money and courage to take it to my local garage. Thank you.

 

[Mercedes 190E]

I would suggest knackered power steering belt, or possibly a problem with the pulley bearing in the pump. Any competent garage should be able to confirm.

 

[television]

As John above,,if the belt is glazed it will squeak, there is a huge load when you have just started up,the alternator is going flat out, and the power steering components are oll cold

Do adjust it,if badly glazed, change it

 

[brianbrian]

Check to see if poly-v-belt is running true on the self adjuster roller, if not could be the bearing in the self adjuster bracket. small job part about £30.00

 

[Cosworth]

Can also be Ball joint worn out on the wishbone.

 

[christiankay]

Can also be Ball joint worn out on the wishbone.

Thank you - this answer was correct. Mercedes Specialist Bridgend mechanics heard me pull up outside their garage and diagnosed my problem before I got out. The off-side front wishbone and ball joint need replacing. Incidentally the nearside wishbone and ball joint failed my last MOT in Nov 08 and were replaced so I guess the off-side's due.

They want £140 for 3-hours labour to fit the wishbone and ball joint and £120 for the parts. German & Swedish do the parts for £90 and I'm tempted to change the wishbone and ball joint myself using my Haynes manual. Gotta try and save money during this credit crunch. Thanks again Cosworth.

Christian

 

[type49]

If you change the whole arm yourself, be aware the two main bolts holding it to the subframe will adjust your camber & caster. Each bolt has eccentric washers behind them, so mark their postion before starting to undo them. Also make sure you have a safe way of compressing the spring, the "normal type" spring compressors that fit on the outside of the spring are a pig to work with on this suspension design. Apart from that, pretty straight forward.

 

[Cosworth]

you can buy the ball joint for 8 pound alone. Take the wishbone out yourself and get someone like grays exhaust to press fit the ball joint in. cheap and cheerfull

 

[Baldrick123]

I had exactly this problem when I had my 190E, it was the nearside ball joint. Took me ages to find it. Interestingly this was the only fault my 190 had in ten years and 100,000 and it was 6 years old when I got it!

 

[xxclaretheonexx]

My front wheels have fallen off 5 times on two Mercedes cars

I have had two Mercedes, one being 190 Auto , at different times each front wheel fell off , it was the joint you have been discussing , then another Mercedes 190E Auto three times this has happened with the front wheels, I called Mercedes they dont wish to know , clearly though this is a fault , Im an extremly lucky to be alive, I have had Mercedes cars for 20 years , though after my last experience with my wheel falling off Im getting rid of my car once its been fixed, for a different make. I feel I have been so lucky each time, I was not travelling at speed.

 

[Number_Cruncher]

>>clearly though this is a fault

Yes, this fault should be picked up and dealt with in your servicing and maintenance regime. That, repeatedly, this hasn't happens to you suggests that the fault lies with your care and maintenance of the car rather than the car's design.

Whoever is checking these ball joints, and whoever is MOTing your car has routinely been missing the fault as it develops, and whoever has been driving has been remiss not to notice the steering roughness, and the noise the joints make as they fail.

 

[alanbp]

Are you sure its no a squeak coming from the steering rack links - I had the same problem with my 1.8 190 in December last year and thought it was the Ball Joints but it turned out to be coming from the links to the streeting rack. I sprayed them with my homemade mix of diesel/parafin/engine oil and bingo - it disapeared and has never returned. I jacked the whole front end up and turned the stearing using the wheels while peering underneath - gradually oiled and greased my way around until I eliminated the culprit!! Its done 121k miles on a K plate