Suspension squeak

[markjf]

Hi,

My 190e has developed a squeak from the O/S/F suspension. I think it may either be the bottom arm bushes or the anti roll bar bushes - has anyone ever heard of this please?

It makes the noise when you push the car down when stationary and when you wiggle the steering wheel which seems to make the car lower and rise a little.

I'd really like to fix it this weekend but obviously don't want to be replacing things that don't need to be!

Thanks in advance,

Mark

 

[tom7035]

Squirt some brake fluid on the bottom arm bushes and see if it disappears. If not, I'd suspect the balljoints. Don't think it's the ARB bushes though they are cheap and easy to replace.

 

[carabind]

If you can can crawl under and get a mate/wife to push the car down ( without crushing your head in the process - be careful!!), you should be able to get a better idea where the noise is coming from

 

[IAN MAC]

Got to agree, sounds like a ball joint to me..

 

[markjf]

Ah haa

Found the culprit and yes, it was the ball joint. I cut the rubber and squirted some motorbike chain lube in there and it stopped the squeak!

Just need to find some time to remove the arm to replace the ball joint now.

Thanks again for your help.

Mark

 

[Ian B Walker]

Please make sure that you use the correct spring compressor to secure the spring while you remove the lower wishbone. Another tip, the two bolts that hold the wishbone to the chassis have large washers on them (they are for camber alignment) centerpunch both the chassis and washer so that when you refit they will be in the same place and hopefully saving you lots of money for a Camber Check and alignment.

 

[markjf]

Thanks for the advise Ian - noted.

Mark

 

[clk55berks]

Ball Joint

I have the same problem with a squeek which i cured by injecting spray grease into the lower ball joint boot. But I was told that you need a 3 ton press and possibly an oxy-gas torch to remove and replace the joint from the radius arm - would I be advised to get the dealer to do this - or can it be done at home?

(by the way, can I get away with leaving the joint and just injecting more grease from time to time. It strikes me that unless the joint is worn and knocking, that it may survive a while longer?)

thanks

Steve Paterson

 

[farmerbloke]

I have a squeak when from NSF when I drive over speed bumps. When is rains I never hear it. Is it just a squeaky rubber bush, or something more serious?

 

[Bolide]

by the way, can I get away with leaving the joint and just injecting more grease from time to time. It strikes me that unless the joint is worn and knocking, that it may survive a while longer?

Course you can - the balljoints last right up to the point the wheel shoots upwards into the wheelarch & stops rotating, you lose all steering control, the lower wishbone twangs downwards and digs into the ground and the front end of the car drops onto the road

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Parrot of Doom]

I've seen the end results of that, the guy's wheelarch had about twice the amount of flaring that it should have had

 

[eric242340]

Please make sure that you use the correct spring compressor to secure the spring while you remove the lower wishbone. Another tip, the two bolts that hold the wishbone to the chassis have large washers on them (they are for camber alignment) centerpunch both the chassis and washer so that when you refit they will be in the same place and hopefully saving you lots of money for a Camber Check and alignment.

After fitting a new unit, even if you mark the camber/caster setting, it still needs wheel alignment. Dont try to cheapskate on this one. Look at the price of new tyres if it goes wrong. The old unit is defective and the new unit is not, therefore the alignment will change. So you must accept this and re-align the caster and camber.

 

[alindsay81]

Would this also apply to the rear of the car... ? (i have squeaking at the rear over 'non perfect road' and bumps)