Hi All - Suspension Rattle Question

[Kiwi222]

Hi all, well this is my first post. Unfortunately it has to do with a really annoying technical problem I’m experiencing. I have a 1999 A160, which I’ve now owned for 14 months. The car when I got it needed some mechanical work, one day at work I got a little bored as one does and started looking at performance options to add a little fun to the car. One of the things I did was install a set of aftermarket springs, which have lowered the car 30mm. These were stock replacement items designed as a direct replacement item for the standard springs. Now as at the time I hadn’t really driven the car I am not sure where else to look to solve the current problem.

Really since first driving the car it has had an obvious rattle in the front of the car. It sounds like it’s coming from the struts. It generally occurs on the outside wheel when it is under corner loads (ie left corner, front right hand wheel). It occurs on both sides depending on which corner you are taking. So what I have done so far. I have replaced - shocks, struts, sway bar links, top front suspension bushes, sway bar rubbers, bump stops. It’s spent more time at the dealers then at my place (well not quite but feels that way). The dealership is at a loss; they don’t reckon it’s dangerous at all, but just really obvious and annoying. In fact after one visit the car started rattling just in a straight line. This we managed to solve by cleaning out the top of the strut housing of stones and dirt etc, and refitting them. Yet a similar, if not the same noise is still existing when cornering under load (as described above).

I have spoken to the spring manufacture, and they have assured me that as far as they are concerned the springs should not be the cause of the rattle, and in fact have had no other complaints in regards to this (I tend to agree with them). One thing I have noticed is that there is no rubber pad or similar sitting between the top of the spring and strut housing, should there be something?

Any thoughts would be appreciated. And in case your wondering, yes it’s cost a bit so far… but I kind of have a soft spot for the little car so am happy to perceiver…

[rooyenl]

Hi - I bought my wife a 2001 A160 with similar problems. Took it to the Mercedes Benz Lifestyle centre in Century City (Cape Town, South Africa). It has been there 4 times for the same problem. They first said the rear shocks had to be replaced, then when I said the noise was coming from the front, that they had tightened something and that there was nothing wrong (also not with the rear shocks), then when I still complained about the noise, said the tortion bar end connectors had to be replaced as well as the front shock mountings, then for some reason the front shocks could not fit and they had to replace that as well, and when the problem was still there, I suggested that the mechanic actually drives with me so that I could point out the exact noise to him. That worked - they determined that the track rods (stearing end rods) and the rear engine mounts had to be replaced. ANd now the problem is resplved. It appears therefore that I spent a hell of a lot of money unnecessarily. And after all that and a major service, I saw that the rear shocks had been leaking fluid for some time and were obviously shot (as they found in the first place). I have had a previous experience like this - they are not very good at fault-finding. They can replace stuff when you rub it under their noses, but to find problems by themselves - hahahaha! The speedo over-reeds by about 10% - ask them if they cannot calibrate it - no, they don't calibrate it in South Africa. What a joke. And I am buying a new C-Class???

[pigtail]

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