Creaking sound coming from driver's side front wheel

[philster]

I have a W202 (C180, 1994) and over the weekend a creaking, groaning sound started to come from the driver's side front wheel area. It started off quiet, but then grew in volume and intensity. Within about 10 mins it sounded very loud and quite worrying. However, there was no noticeable change in driving performance - the car pulled OK and no problems were experienced with braking.

I took it down to the local Kwik-Fit on Sunday and they removed the wheel, and noted that a small piece of spring in the brake mounting had got bent and was scraping against the wheel, They fixed this (free of charge - nice people) and sent me on my way. The noise appeared to stop initially, although I was a little sceptical that the problem had gone away as the noise the previous day was a loud creaking/groaning and surely couldn't have been caused by a tiny piece of metal scraping like that.

Anyway, a few miles later, the noise reappeared, albeit fairly quietly. My journey ended before I had a chance to see if it would get as loud and bad as it did on the Saturday.

I have a feeling it is something more fundamental, like a suspension or axle problem, or even the shocks. The car also appears to make the creaking sound when a person gets in/out of the car too.

It is definitely coming from the driver's side front wheel area.

Can anyone please give any guidance?

 

[teky]

worn bushing, idler arm/anti roll bar :idea:

 

[Barnie]

noise o\s front wheel

HI PHILSTER
YOUR PROBLEM INDICATES TO ME THAT YOU NEED EXPERT ADVICE FROM A COMPETANT GARAGE ( & IN MY OPINION "QUICK FIT".
DOES NOT FIT THAT BILL).
I STRONGLY ADVISE YOU TO TAKE YOUR CAR TO EITHER AN MB WORKSHOP OR A QUALITY CAR WORKSHOP EG( BMW ) & SEEK THEIR HELP, IT MAY NOT BE A FREEBE BUT IT SHOULD AT LEAST BE COMPETANT & MAY WELL SAVE AN ACCIDENT.
REGARDS
BARNIE

 

[Mr Fridge]

Stand by the front of the car and push the wing down to check the suspension spring travel, check both sides, also check rear.....is it creaking now ?

 

[philster]

Barnie - I only took it to Quik Fit as a convenient. local "first port of call" in case it was something simple to fix. I will locate a MB specialsit workshop and take it there.

Mr Fridge - the creaking noise does persist when bouncing the car, and also when getting in and out of the car.

 

[Barnie]

Hi Philster
Good new's on your descision, better safe than sorry ,eh?
Barnie

 

[SCEE]

Hi, had the problem with my w202 280 sprort. Guess what exactly the same symtoms as yours and the problem??? The ball joint. It wasnt torn but had dried up inside so to have a quick fix, I made a pin hole and squeerted some 3 in 1 oil and sealed it with silicone, the noise totally dissapeared and later on that week I changed it for a new MB part. Try it!