CL203 (2010) Suspension noise diagnosis advice please?

[Kingofthehill]

Morning all

I'm having trouble with some creaking from the front drivers side. Noticeable when turning the wheel when stationary or moving slowly (parking etc.)

I've read various related threads, it seems that this is pretty comon on the CL/W203. Someone even described their issues as a "Triggers broom suspension refurb" . This is pretty much what mine is turning into.

I had a front right rear control arm laying around because there was an advisory on the MOT for a worn bushing on this, soni bought one to do the job soon. The car started making the creaking noise recently so I thought "time to change that control arm, that'll be what that noise is".

Unfortunate, the noise is still there after fitting the control arm. I have had the car off the ground several times to try and identify where the noise is coming from. No amount of potching with moving parts or prying on ball joints reveals an obvious culprit. However, I noticed that the front control arm ball joint boot is split all the way around, leaving the joint exposed to the elements. It looks clean and shiny in there (not rusty and knackered) and the joint is tight (no play). I squeezed a bunch of lithium grease in there thinking that would sort it but nope, still creaking.

I am just about to order a front control arm and a set of sway bar links. Before I do this, your opinions please?

Tempted to do both control arms on the left hand side while I am at the sway bar link as well.

Cheers

 

[LostKiwi]

Creaks are often the lower balljoint on its way out. You can't feel any play as the full force of the spring is on the balljoint.

 

[Kingofthehill]

Creaks are often the lower balljoint on its way out. You can't feel any play as the full force of the spring is on the balljoint.

The lower balljoint being the one on the end of the rear/lower control arm, right?

Or the one on the end of the steering rod?