[gsj224]

I have been doing research for a new problem with the ML but now too many clicks and clangs and bangs and rumbles are out there that can all be the same problem I have all resulting in different problems.

My story goes......

We went for a sort of family day with 6 people including one child in tow and I heard a really loud rumbling noise from the front passenger side wheel, I thought I blew a tire because it was consistant and directly related to my speed. Fortunately but perplexingly enough I didnt blow a tire and all seemed fine so I presumed I hit a rock. Peeling off I was fine until I reached 25mph then there goes the noise again - braving it I continued to accelerate and the noise stopped. I finnaly made it home with one more occurance of he rumble and took off the tire for further inspection to my dismay the inter side of the tire was rubbed down to the thread WTF!!!!

I figure from reading its the tie rod BUT what part? I do not have jacks so it was simply a visual inspection but other than the shake test (which there is some play) is there another symptom I should look for?

Also on the table for repair or replacement after my search is/are:

--Brake Fluid Flush
--Oil Pan or Sealant replacement (there is a large amount of oil or dark liquid under the truck)
--Center Bearing Change (clicking at low speeds)
--CAT change (sputtering is more apparent with open windows, hopefully under service campaign/recall as my VIN is in line with the service)
--F/R Rotor and Pad Change (this is for the hell of it just got this done last summer but I have driven less than 5000K miles since)
--Pre-Cat O2 sensor replacement
--'02 Bumper, head-light, tail-light upgrade (been looking at a bumper in my basement since Jan '08 - im just lazy!)

Seems like this is a lot of work to keep the old girl on the road but if all of this fails, I will be parting her out from defective skyview roof to side panels and then go get a VESPA in Mint Green
--

 

[Solidjake]

Hmmm, maybe it has to be something in the axle or somewhere around there that is forcing the tire to the side and that causes the inner part to lost thread so fast. Idk, my opinio

 

[gsj224]

im scared to look at the ML for more than one hour now. It seems whenever I really drive somewhere something else breaks. I am hoping these issues put an end to most issues. The axle seems fine I can drive with no hands and it stays steady I know it has something to do with that tie rod mechanism. The issues I read on the site scream Tie rod but I want to make sure because this time I want to bring to the dealer so getting raped is not an option at 125/hr+

 

[43sqd]

Appears to be an alignment problem. The camber adjustment is off.

 

[gsj224]

but what about the wobbly wheel?

 

[Solidjake]

loose lug nuts?

 

[sosh]

Don't know about the tire rub thing but it certainly sounds like an ML with lots of defered or forgotten maint.

 

[ML Precision]

loose lug nuts?

Yea, thats a possibility. One time I was down the shore. When I was driving home, I could feel the wheel wobbling. I got out to see what happened and I was missing 2 lug nuts & one was loose. I know they are always tight, so my only guess was that someone needed some lug nuts for themselves.

If you had it serviced recently, it's possible they weren't torqued.

Check them and look at the tie rod to see if it got bent somehow to cause alignment to be off.

If you don't have jacks, I would take it somewhere soon to be checked.

Most places will inspect it for free, hoping to get it serviced.

 

[Solidjake]

and dont take it to mineakee. they are too expensive and will probably break something and get you to get that fixed

 

[pcy]

Wobbling - front wheels may be out of balance. Any tire place can balance the wheels for minimal charge.
--Center Bearing Change (clicking at low speeds)
Clicking sound doesn't mean the center bearing is gone; most likely, the clicking noise is coming from the transfer case. Just changing the transfer case fluid (Dexron III ATF fluid) may solve the issue.

 

[cmitch]

Wobbling - front wheels may be out of balance. Any tire place can balance the wheels for minimal charge.
--Center Bearing Change (clicking at low speeds)
Clicking sound doesn't mean the center bearing is gone; most likely, the clicking noise is coming from the transfer case. Just changing the transfer case fluid (Dexron III ATF fluid) may solve the issue.

Ditto. Clicking is definitely the transfer case. A couple of fluid changes about 3000 miles apart should fix it right up. That's not to say his center bearing isn't bad. It probably still is.

 

[mlfun]

Sounds like the traction control kicking in.

 

[drewbush]

The worn tire and wobbling from the right front wheel is probably due to the bolts loosening up that hold the upper control arm to the frame. The slots are eccentric, so you can adjust camber. I have seen it several times.

 

[gsj224]

PROBLEMS SOLVED

Great responses guys but very few of you were correct.

-Crunching noise - Center Bearing ($199 part, $126 labor)
-Clicking Noise - Torsion Bar ($95 part **, $75 labor)
-Odd wear on front tire - Tie Rod "outer but replaced entire Rod" ($125 part, $75 labor)
-Two front tires ($550 parts, $25 labor**)
-Alignment - ($99 service)
-Sputtering sound from exhaust - Cracked Cat (will bring to MERC for recall, pending appoinment)
-Four O2 sensors ($100 ea, will replace after cats are checked and repaired)

Total cost to get Shrek up and running again is ~$1760......which is not as bad as it looks. I will also do a Tranny and Diff (front and rear) flush myself ~$200.

 

[FAR888]

Thanks so much for posting the solution to your problem gsj224.

So many members do not, and those of us who use the search facility, end up reading about endless problems to find no solution.

I'm happy for you.

Hopefully you can now enjoy the truck again.

 

[gsj224]

Your right! I was tired of reading endless postings with a bunch of speculation. The forum has changed over the last year but we have gained some very good members.

Unfortunately, the ML is the Costco runner or the family bus but I am truly enjoying my 7-series now. I finally ran it to 150mph and it is SOOOOO SMOOTH at speed. The only issue is it is a scary braking system (sedan vs. SUV). Its been a few years since I drove a sedan so I am still getting used to it again.