Hi Guys,

Anybody experienced a dull knocking from the from suspension at low speed on knobbly surfaces. I can detect some slight play in the front suspension when wiggling the road wheel both vertically and horizontally when jacked up and with the ride height simulated as normal (jack under bottom suspension link).

I do npt believe it is play in the wheel bearing although the vehicle is now at 100k miles.

Unfortunately I can't detect which joint is the culprit. The S suspension is designed with multiple rose joints in the lower suspension links.

Does anybody know from experience which one is the likely culprit please and whether joints are seviceable independently or if it is necessary to buy cokmplete links with bushes and joints.

Thnx in advance.

Stuart

 

I guarantee it's your control arm bushings. Not a major saftey issue but a real annoyance. Usually is one goes, the other side will go soon too so you're better off replacing them both at the same time. A $500-600 job overall unless you have a good mechanic friend.

 

I agree with banker, a second thought is ball joints. My 87 300E was at three different MB stealerships and it took an independent shop to discover that a bad ball joint was causintg the front wheels to slightly kick right from time to time.

 

year and modle please? if 2000 or newer yes it could be lower ball joints thrust arms bushings or it could be lower control arm bushings they. inspect the bushings its very easy to see if there torn of a boot is cracking

 

Hi,
Apologies for not mentioning w220 / 2000 onwards.
In the USA you refer to bushings? Are these the rubber isolation bushes?
Despite a very close inspection there is no external sign of any wear / damage / misplacement (not centralised) or lack of isolation (snubbing) gap.
The play that exists is only very slight and unfortunately I can't enough force and feel where the play is coming from.
I'm pretty sure that it will be one of the three lower ball joints (per side) since the knock is so "soft" from inside the car. It occurs more frequently when the wheel is lightly loaded (dropping into a pothole etc = rebound)?
but it could be the outer steering rack bearing / bush.
Got a pic as to which joint is most likely?
Thanks