Clonking noise from front offside - W202

[Bwares]

My car has recently started making a funny clonking noise from the offside front wheel.

It is only noticeable when going slow (<30mph) and goes away when the brakes are applied.

Does anyone have any ideas before my wheel falls off?

Brian

 

[Eyeore]

could be several things, including a loose wheel have you checked anything so far?
lower ball joints are a common fault and quite easy to check/fix

 

[Bwares]

Thanks for the prompt reply, I did check the wheel was on securely but haven't checked into anything else yet.

 

[C180 Chris]

Not sure if the 202 uses drop links but my W140 does and they caused that.

 

[Bwares]

Hi Chris, thanks for the reply. I don't think my car has any anti roll bar drop links on the front, but not sure.

I do remember having a similar problem with a Peugeot 306 I used to have and that did turn out to be the drop links.

Brian

 

[C180 Chris]

Hi Brian,

I am not sure if it does, but i will keep an eye on the thread as i also have a C class (as my forum name suggests)

cheers,

Chris.

 

[mattkh]

Thanks for the prompt reply, I did check the wheel was on securely but haven't checked into anything else yet.

Hi
What is the frequency of the clonk at slow speeds ?

 

[star]

Try looking at the rear lower wishbone bush, it might have split or (just re read post) check brake pads to see if loose in carrier, (common with cheap pads)

 

[Bwares]

I took the car out last night for a short journey and noticed that the clonk noise seems to happen about once a wheel rotation and gets faster as the speed increases and seems to disappear above 30mph.

Also it disappears when you apply the brakes, which is leading me to believe it is a brake problem as Star suggested.

Shall go out and have a quick check of the brakes.

 

[Bwares]

Had the front wheel off my car today.
Noticed there was quite a bit of play in the wheel when rocking it.
Can't see anything wrong with the brakes though.

Could a wheel bearing be the culprit?

Thanks Brian

 

[Bwares]

Anyone got any ideas?

 

[anyweb]

depends on which way the play is, jack it up and if there is play when holding it at the top end and bottom end as you wiggle the wheel back and forth (push hard, pull hard) then it could be the bearings, ie: check vertical play, i think horizontal play is going to be balljoint or steering related...

i had a CLUNK coming from my front left wheel recently which only occurred when i started to drive off/reversed but i noticed the noise less and less as the wheel started to make unreal noise all the time on the way home one day, had to get the bearings replaced, solved that problem

i'm not a mechanic though so see what the experts say

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

sounds more like a wheel bearing. They are taper bearings and can be adjusted. May just need takng apart repacking with grease and rebuilding.

Steve

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

sounds more like a wheel bearing. They are taper bearings and can be adjusted. May just need takng apart repacking with grease and rebuilding.

Steve

 

[Bwares]

Thanks for the input guys. Wheel bearing failed shortly after posting this! Have now replaced both inner and outer bearings but still have a noise. After having had a look, it seems the brake heat shield has been rubbing on the hub. Perhaps this was the cause of the bearing failure, although not sure.
Am just off to collect a new brake heat shield to see if this cures the problem.