Suspension Knock; W203

[ernieh]

Hi All,
I thought it was worthwhile sharing this with you......During the last 18 months or so, I have had a knock from the n/s front suspension of my car. The local dealership has checked it out something like 5 times and replaced the top strut mounting twice and the lower suspension arm once.

Last time it was in for service, they advised me to book it in again nearer the expiry of the Warranty (November) or if the problem got worse.

It was in again today as I thought the shock absorber had deteriorated a little, but could not be sure. They have just phoned to say that they are ordering a pair of front struts and making an adjustment to the front wheel bearings. This will be done on Friday, so I will let you know what the outcome is. In the meantime, I will keep my fingers crossed, but not hold my breath!

For info, the car has now done 40K miles and the problem was first investigated at around 15K miles.

Hope this info is useful to the 'problem solvers'!


Regards to all,


Ernie

 

[C240yaz]

I had a similar problem with my C240 from 46K miles onwards. Was in under warranty, several times. At first, they said they could find nothing wrong, a month later, they changed the N/S/F bottom ball joint. It was better for a while, then the knocking returned. Only when driving slowly, over man holes etc.

I just kept taking it back over and over again. 1 week before the warranty expired, I insisted that they get it fixed. This time workshop foreman said he found 2 problems. N/S/F strut replaced and the "gap" on both front strut top mounts and the rubber was adjusted. Warranty now expired (4 months) and so far so good. No knockin noises.

 

[ernieh]

Hi C240YAZ,
Thanks for the info. and glad you've got to the bottom of your knockin' noises.

Mine is greatly improved with the new struts, but the n/s is still not as quiet as the o/s but the handling is a lot tighter. So overall there is an improvement but still not perfect. Having fitted 2 top mounts/bearings in the past, I would have thought that they would have checked the clearances then - but there again, maybe not!

Noticed that you come from the West of Scotland....was it the dealership in Ayr that resolved your problem?

Regards,


Ernie

 

[C240yaz]

Hi, Not Ayr, Glasgow. and thats a long drive for me.

 

[Captain Flack]

I've had two knocking noises on my W203, both fixed cheaply.

Th first was a knocking when the car was in a straight line over bumpy roads which disappeared when the car was leaning into a corner. It was caused by a worn anti-roll bar link, which are easy to replace and cost about £15 each(I replaced both but you only need to change the faulty one). The link joins the anti roll bar to the strut and if you hold the link while someone gently rocks the car you will feel the link knocking. They take about ten minutes per side to replace.

The other knocking was under braking on bumpy surfaces and is down to worn track control arm bushes. Again fairly easy to replace if you have access to a press to press the new bush in/old bush out. They are a modified part and cost around £16 each. These take longer to replace at around forty minutes per side.

It may be something different, but I believe that these are fairly common parts to replace and are usually on the shelf at a dealership.

 

[C240yaz]

I've had two knocking noises on my W203, both fixed cheaply.

Th first was a knocking when the car was in a straight line over bumpy roads which disappeared when the car was leaning into a corner. It was caused by a worn anti-roll bar link, which are easy to replace and cost about £15 each(I replaced both but you only need to change the faulty one). The link joins the anti roll bar to the strut and if you hold the link while someone gently rocks the car you will feel the link knocking. They take about ten minutes per side to replace.

The other knocking was under braking on bumpy surfaces and is down to worn track control arm bushes. Again fairly easy to replace if you have access to a press to press the new bush in/old bush out. They are a modified part and cost around £16 each. These take longer to replace at around forty minutes per side.

It may be something different, but I believe that these are fairly common parts to replace and are usually on the shelf at a dealership.

Captain Flak, What was the milage when you had to replace,,,, and seems good prices for your replacement parts. Where did you buy them from ?

 

[mbz124]

Hi All,
I thought it was worthwhile sharing this with you......During the last 18 months or so, I have had a knock from the n/s front suspension of my car. The local dealership has checked it out something like 5 times and replaced the top strut mounting twice and the lower suspension arm once.

Last time it was in for service, they advised me to book it in again nearer the expiry of the Warranty (November) or if the problem got worse.

It was in again today as I thought the shock absorber had deteriorated a little, but could not be sure. They have just phoned to say that they are ordering a pair of front struts and making an adjustment to the front wheel bearings. This will be done on Friday, so I will let you know what the outcome is. In the meantime, I will keep my fingers crossed, but not hold my breath!

For info, the car has now done 40K miles and the problem was first investigated at around 15K miles.

Hope this info is useful to the 'problem solvers'!


Regards to all,


Ernie

hi ya - what was the mileage when your problem occured? as i have a w203 estate with 140k on the clock.

 

[television]

Most happen around 40k miles but not all.

Welcome to the forum

 

[whitenemesis]

Similar experinece, read here

 

[ernieh]

203 Front Suspension

hi ya - what was the mileage when your problem occured? as i have a w203 estate with 140k on the clock.

As TV suggests, my problems started around 35 - 40K, but overall, my front suspension is the quietest it has ever been since the front suspension arm bushes were replaced for the MOT in November. A side effect of changing these bushes and a track rod end on the near-side is that they seem to have sorted out the wearing of my n/s front tyre which tended to wear its outer edge.

Obviously I don't know whether you have had your car from new, but I would be surprised if, at 140k, something hasn't been done to your front suspension by this time!

Hope this is some help to you.


Ernie

 

[duncanh]

I've had mine from new, June 2002.

The only suspension problem has been one drop link worn at about 100K (I replaced both and the ARB bushes at the same time), the rest of the front suspension is original.

Mileage is now 169,900.

(Maybe I should get rid of it before everything wears out at the same time).

 

[mbz124]

Folks, The story so far is - 2 x strut bearings, 2 x new struts a week ago, both thrust arms were changed , n/s/f lower arm 20k ago. Both drop links are stiff with no play, 2 new anti roll bushes. And it still knocks over bumps :evil:


Now the power steering has gone rock hard, I am losing the will :sad:....... Any clues folks????

 

[BlackC55]

Shock absorbers?

Worn out anti roll bar?

 

[mbz124]

hi, the front shocks were changed a week ago with new anti roll bar bushes. are you talking about the bar itself?

 

[Fossil1]

The car is a 2005 180K C class saloon. My problem relates to a 'Bonking' noise from the back of the car which is just 4 years old and has covered 17,000 miles. I first of all thought it was was spare wheel or the floor cover but I have now eliminated these. I think it actually comes from the rear off side. It is only noticable when going over a sharp bump or manhole cover. Any ideas?