Merc 190 creaking quandary

[theorganist]

Hello All,

 

I'm currently in Brixham on holiday and will be travelling back tomorrow.

 

The car has since yesterday started a creaking sound from the front offside. It happens over niggling bumps at low speed and when you push down on the front. It doesn't happen when you turn the wheel lock to lock and I haven't noticed any noises at speed.

 

I am concerned it could be the ball joint as I know they can be common on these. I am in two minds as to ring the AA tomorrow and see if they can look at it.

 

I did purchase two ball joints but my mechanic said they were fine and didn't need doing, this was the end of last year. It has just passed it's mot.

 

I am hoping it may be a bush. I will try and locate the source of the sound later by getting a friend to push down on the front.

 

Can anyone offer advice please?

 

Thanks

[Stanky]

Suspension top mount? The Saab does similar when its cold, it has passed at least 2 MOTs like this, general consensus is that the rubber mount is a bit past its best but not dangerous.

 

Also, its nice to see you back on the forum

[mercrocker]

190E balljoints are known for it - they corrode inside and start to creak.  The unit is under enough pressure when fitted to the car not to display any play in an MOT situation.   They CAN pop out but mine started doing it on a similarly far-flung holiday up on the Norfolk Broads.   It was fine all the time we were there and drove home OK.   I booked it in with my local Merc specialist and they couldn't do it for a couple of weeks so I carried on using it.   You may be very unlucky but odds on if it has only just started to creak you have loads of time. 

[sierraman]

WHS it sounds like ball joints to me.

[theorganist]

Thanks for the advice and the welcome back. I haven't been away just lurking lately.

 

I may just take it home slowly tomorrow. I had two go on my Rover 800 both making low speed turns, I read somewhere that is when they are more likely to go.

[Guest]

Jack the car up on the wishbone, then get a lever under the tyre and check for lift in the balljoints- even MOT testers can pass a knackered joint through not testing them properly. Mine were creaking when I got my 190D, and was shocked how bad they were when checking them properly.

[BorniteIdentity]

You sound like a proper owner, asking at the first sign of drama - so fair play.

 

They're not the sort of thing to fuck about with and ignore; from memory there's something about the suspension design that can quite easily put you in a hedge when they fail.

 

Good luck with it. Smashing cars.

[theorganist]

Yes it is a lovely car to drive.

 

Unfortunately I emptied the boot to put luggage in so I don't have a Jack.

 

The creaking is very quiet, you can't hear it with the window closed only with it open when you press on the front. It isn't noticeable at higher speeds. When my Rover did it it was very audible.

 

I will probably take it very slowly tomorrow and avoid the motorway. If it gets louder I will call the AA.

 

Thanks for all your advice.

[Pat Earrings]

I have been fortunate enough to own a 190E in the past, and I had the exact same symptoms, and was indeed the ball joint. Common as muck problem and not very much money to replace. I drove on mine for 6 months before replacing them, purely because I am lazy. You should be fine to drive back.