I don't know what may be causing this issue, but please let me know the how your ride quality improves with the replacement of your four shock absorbers. I have the same oily residue on the shocks.

-Z

 

It's either a dry tie rod end or ball joint.

 

ball joint. Mine is doing that right now.

 

Have you changed yours? What made you sure that it was the ball joint? Tie rod sounds likely too.

 

On mine i had a similar sound coming from the front right side and it was the shock absorver. It has a part at one end, that can deteriorate (from my language that part could be translated as silent block).
A couple of parts were changed to new ones on the right side (ball joint also) but the sound remained, till a car service found that the shock absorver was causing it.

 

Best way to tell is to jack up the car, remove the wheel and disconnect the tie rod from the spindle. Now move the spindle back and forth and listen for the noise or if it feels tight. If it is loose and quiet, then it is the tie rod end.A shock absorber does not turn with the wheel, so it cannot cause this noise.

 

To state the obvious. Have you done the typical front end overhaul with control arm bushings etc?

 

Haven't done anything with the front end.

I'll have to take it to a shop that has a lift to check it then...

This might be clue or not, but sometimes it doesn't make the sound at all when I bounce the front end. Sometimes it is very easy to make the noise, any movement such as opening door or getting out of car will cause the noise. Some days I can be sitting on the hood bouncing and it doesn't produce the sound.

 

It could also be a dry stabilizer bar bushing too, but there are a number of bushings that could create this sound.

Might be good to inspect all front end parts (front elevated off the ground) and see what's good / bad and make your plans for replacement.

I can attest to the benefit of replacing shocks, I did mine not so many miles ago and it made a huge improvement, especially the rears, which had never been replaced before. The improvement in the front was marginal since a PO had already replaced them once. The shocks I replaced on the front were MB and I elected to box them up and toss them in the attic just in case someone else needed them. My replacements were Bilsteins.

steve a

 

I can attest to the benefit of replacing shocks, I did mine not so many miles ago and it made a huge improvement, especially the rears, which had never been replaced before. The improvement in the front was marginal since a PO had already replaced them once. The shocks I replaced on the front were MB and I elected to box them up and toss them in the attic just in case someone else needed them. My replacements were Bilsteins.

steve a

Thank you for your input :thumbsup:

-Z

 

Mine has the same problem after I put on new front shocks. Replace the tie rod end, ball joint and stablelizer since I have not replace it for 15 yrs. Problem gone.