300SDL W126 Front Suspension Noise when hitting sharp bumps.

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cdw904@gmail.com - 27 Nov 2006 15:53 GMT

Is anyone familiar with the front suspension on the W126 chassis
vehicles? I have an 86 300SDL with a VERY loud "clunk" that occurs
only when hitting a pothole or a joint in the concrete or pavement.
Only quick up and down movements of the front, driver's side wheel
causes the noise. The noise comes from the driver's side only.

I also feel a bad shimmy during light cornering to the right. No
problem when cornering left.

I have had the car on a lift and I have looked at every suspension
component on the car. I grabbed the front driver's side wheel and
yanked on it. Everything seems really tight. I even had my brother jump
up and down on the bumper. No noise... only "sharp" up and down
wheel movement causes the noise.

Has anyone else ever had this problem? I suspect it is a ball joint. I
just don't know which one typically goes bad...

It is a VERY annoying sound and it makes my Benz sound like it is built
Ford Taurus tough (No offense Ford owners).

Thanks,

Craig

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T.G. Lambach - 27 Nov 2006 20:56 GMT

Check the stabilizer bar - it crosses behind the motor and extends
forward toward the wheels. Rubber bushing(s) on fire wall could be bad
or could have a broken end.

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Richard Sexton - 29 Nov 2006 21:05 GMT

Track rod bearing. It's about $100 for the rebuild kit and enough mechanics
don't know they can be rebuilt and want to charge $750 for a new part that
it's silly.

CHange the track rod rubber mounts as long as you're in there, and you're probbaly
better off doing both sides at the same time.

Also called "brake strut bearing". It's a big V shaped aluminim casting
and a ball jointy kinda thing wears out. You replace that part in the
assembly only then stuff it back in with new rubber.

Took me years to isolate this pig.

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RobP - 27 Nov 2006 22:13 GMT

> Is anyone familiar with the front suspension on the W126 chassis
> vehicles? I have an 86 300SDL with a VERY loud "clunk" that occurs
> only when hitting a pothole or a joint in the concrete or pavement.
> Only quick up and down movements of the front, driver's side wheel
> causes the noise. The noise comes from the driver's side only.

It sounds like a bad brake support link. This is the bar that controls
the forward and rearward movement of the front wheel. The rubber
components (three big rubber bushings) deteriorate over time giving that
sound.

ROb

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