Car makes 'groaning' noise when steered to right.

[p902]

I have a yr. 2000 C180 auto. Just noticed this morning it makes a low level groaning noise when I steer to the right. It's not very loud and I had to turn off the radio to hear it properly. The noise seems to come from the front, but I also hear it now when I am moving in 'drive' with my foot off the accelerator -but that comes from underneath and behind.

I don't know if this is related, but I park on a slight downward slope and when I engage the handbrake I hear a similar shorter 'groan' but I put that down to the fact that it was on a slope.

Anybody with any ideas as to what might be the matter?

 

[steved]

Just a guess- Drive Axle. Check your Boot.

If it is torn-
that is most likely your problem.

 

[flagstaff]

... if what's 'torn'?

on right lock, be aware of worn/damaged suspension components on the left (NS) side: in this case i would suggest checking play or/and wear in the lower wishbone balljoint - a 190 favourite - the wheelbearing, or the inner/outer trackrod balljoint.

let us know how you go on ...

 

[p902]

Thanks for your input guys,

I parked the car that morning 'cos I did not feel comfortable driving it with the noise. Went to test it in the evening -noises had stopped!

I took it out again the next morning -no noise but after driving about 20-25 miles around town noise started again. The one coming from the back(underneath) was most marked when going over speed humps.

Called George Fraser and booked it in to have it looked over on Friday morning.
On the way to George's -no noise. I gave him a brief rundown of what had been happening and he said he'd give it a test drive.

Went to pick it up in the evening, he said he could not hear anything and that he'd checked the shocks,wheel bearings -nothing. In his words "as much as I would like to take your money, I could not find anything wrong with your car, only a few bolts loose near the engine mounting." Thus reassured, I take the car home. Go out on Saturday morning and guess what -after driving around town again for about 45 minutes noise starts again.

Parked it again and took it out on Sunday drove about 10 -20 miles up motorway and around town -no noise. None this morning either, after driving for an hour.
I KNOW there is something not right, but maybe I am not describing the noise well enough and it seems to happen anytime the car has been driven around for a while. Perplexing.......

 

[oldgit]

I have an 02 220cdi c class with the same groaning problem
My local dealer has identified it as faulty anti-roll bar bushes...apparently common on this car.
Mine does exactly likes your....comes on after about 20 miles.
Getting mine fixed under warranty
HTH

 

[p902]

Thanks oldgit (that sounds so rude!!)

My car is about 3.5 yrs old now. I know mercedes give a 3 year warranty, so not sure if I am covered. Not sure what this entails -is it major work?

 

[noeldavis]

groaning

I had a similar problem with a 1989 300 ce. No one could find any play in the suspension, so I let it groan on for a couple of years. Then one MOT, the car was jacked up and the bottom ball joint "snapped like a carrot".
It seems that it was seized all that time and I was liucky it broke in the garage. The mechanics all seem to look for loosenes and assume if its tight it must be ok.
Hope this helps

Noel