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Squeaking from front suspension when turning?

Tiny
BHAMDOC1973
  • MEMBER
  • 2009 MERCEDES BENZ GL550
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 184,000 MILES
Since it has gotten cold and with age and miles some of the bushings are making noise and I am trying to find out which. I sprayed the upper control arms bushings but that was not it. If you drive forward and hit the brakes you hear it the most, but there is no clunking that indicates a worn our lower control arm bushing. Suspension is tight. Also does it while I am turning. Noise is similar to creaking on wooden floor.
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Friday, January 5th, 2024 AT 8:25 AM

13 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,256 POSTS
Hi,

Based on your description, my first suspect would be the stabilizer bar bushings or the stabilizer links.

If you look below, I attached an exploded view of the front suspension. I highlighted the parts I'm referring to. Check these and let me know what you find,

Take care,

Joe

See pic below.
Image (Click to make bigger)
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Friday, January 5th, 2024 AT 11:37 PM
Tiny
BHAMDOC1973
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Sounds good i'll check and report back, thanks.
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Saturday, January 6th, 2024 AT 6:08 AM
Tiny
BHAMDOC1973
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  • 1,291 POSTS
I confirmed it's just front right but still cant tell. Driving on road and freeway you won't hear a thing only on speed bumps. Could the air strut be the cause?
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Sunday, January 21st, 2024 AT 10:10 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi,

A faulty air shock can cause it, but in most cases, when they fail, you can see a height difference.

Were you able to check the things I mentioned above?

Let me know.

Joe
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Monday, January 22nd, 2024 AT 12:05 AM
Tiny
BHAMDOC1973
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Yes, everything else is tight. Moved wheel around in all directions, sprayed all bushings with lithium grease. I replaced air shocks on Benz before so you I know they fail usually and sink. The only thing is this right one does one hess while still leveled. It does it after instarting the car and get it warmed few minutes. Just does hesss I guess adjusting but only from that one. Does it few times a day. No sinking. No lights on dash.
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Monday, January 22nd, 2024 AT 4:14 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi,

Anything is possible as far as the shock, but it sounds like it's properly working. Do you only hear the hiss from that one wheel?

Joe
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Monday, January 22nd, 2024 AT 8:15 PM
Tiny
BHAMDOC1973
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  • 1,291 POSTS
Yes, only from that side. But it does not drop or go up and no lights, maybe adjusting.
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Tuesday, January 23rd, 2024 AT 4:04 AM
Tiny
BHAMDOC1973
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  • 1,291 POSTS
Sounds to the sound of 18 wheelers when they do the breaking procedure, just one loud pshhh and that's it. I will take a video. The problem is once I start taking things apart it may be difficult to pinpoint where. I know suspension issues are hard to diagnose unless it's an obvious break in a bushing or a very loose component. I'll jack it up then lower the front right on a jack stand to create a load.
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Tuesday, January 23rd, 2024 AT 5:16 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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I'll watch for the video. In the interim, you may want to take some soapy water and spray it around the area where you hear the noise. If there is a leak, it should foam up for you.

Let me know.

Joe
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Tuesday, January 23rd, 2024 AT 7:32 PM
Tiny
BHAMDOC1973
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This is just weird. Temperature went from 0 to 64 in less than a week and just rain. So, I went to move the car around and the noise was gone. It must have been the temperature effect on suspension bushings.
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Friday, January 26th, 2024 AT 12:41 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi,

It sounds like you live near me. LOL The weather is the same here. Also, you are exactly right. When it gets cold, that is when you will hear a dry bushing the most. I have an Audi that does the same thing, and it drives me crazy. I just never have the time to identify which bushing and to fix it. My first suspect is either a sway bar bushing or even a ball joint.

If possible, spray the sway bar bushings really well with a lubricant to see if that keeps it from coming back for a while.

Let me know.

Joe
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Friday, January 26th, 2024 AT 7:26 PM
Tiny
BHAMDOC1973
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I sprayed everything before and sprayed again once I jacked it up. But nothing went away. Maybe it needed this soaking and it set first plus the weather change. Ya I have an Audi same way, asked son to move it he said you know there is a noise, I am like what noise, it was dry bushings that also isn't there anymore.
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Saturday, January 27th, 2024 AT 4:55 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi,

You may want to consider removing the bushings for the stabilizer bar and inspecting them. They aren't expensive.

As far as the Audi, when it is right, it is one of the nicest cars I've ever driven. When something fails, I lose more hair and at this rate, there isn't a lot left. LOL Anything that fails mechanically is crazy. When I check the manuals, it always seems like step one is, "remove engine."

Let me know what I can do to help.

Take care,

Joe
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Saturday, January 27th, 2024 AT 7:09 PM

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