Suspension Jolting through Steering Wheel

[rogerh113]

I have just started to get a very occasional jolt (feels like metal on metal) through the steering wheel.  This happens only rarely, and when one wheel hits a very rough spot and the car is not going straight.  I have replaced the steering shock, as it was old anyways, and that did not resolve the problem.  I am wondering if it is likely to be the small rubber bushings on the upper/lower front inner suspension??  I would like to address this before it gets worse.....  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Regards -- Roger

[George Davis]

Roger,

the rubber bits you see in the in front suspension joints are dust/dirt seals, not bushings.  The joints themselves are metal to metal.

Other possibilities for the jolt you feel are worn ball joints in the steering linkage, steering box needing adjustment, and several other possibilities.

A good way to check is to put the front wheels on good, safe ramps so that they are loaded as normal, and to then have a patient helper turn the steering wheel back and forth while you observe and feel the movement at every joint from below.  With a bit of luck you will see or feel where the play is.  Be careful feeling things while your helper turns the wheel to avoid hurting your hands.

Good luck!

George Davis
'69 280 SL Euro manual

[mdsalemi]

I have felt jolts like this several times.  Each time a different problem.

1)  Idler arm contacting body--shimmed engine mount by Dr. Benz cured that.

2)  Loose, though not obvious, clamp bolts on sway bar--tighten.

3)  Bottom of window lifting mechanism hitting bottom of door--cushion bottom of door.

On these older cars nothing is as it seems and the obvious isn't often the problem.  Some of these issues took a long time to solve and I would cringe when I saw rough pavement coming my way.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[rogerh113]

Thanks very much for the suggestions on how to troubleshoot.  Sounds like I have quite a few things to check....

Best regards -- Roger

[norton]

Roger You may want to check out the sub frame bushings and king pins, Do a search on this site, there is a ton of info on what to look for.

Mike Halleck
Chesterfield Mi
71 280SL
68 250SL (parts car)
94 E320 Coupe

[Abbas]

Roger,
 When was the last time you greased the front axel nipples. I had a similar problem but once I started to use my car more often in the winter (here in Dubai we hibernate cars in the summer) and also greased those front joins every 6 months the knuckle sound disappeared.

Abbas

280SL W113 1969 Ivory
E280 W124 1995 Silver

[Vince Canepa]

Nobody has mentioned the steering shock.  If it is shot you will get steering kickback in the steering wheel.

Vince Canepa
1967 250SL
113.043-10-001543
568H Signal Red
116 Caviar MB-Tex

[rwmastel]

quote:Originally posted by Vince Canepa

Nobody has mentioned the steering shock.  If it is shot you will get steering kickback in the steering wheel.

Vince,
Check Roger's original post, "I have replaced the steering shock..."

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[rogerh113]

Well, took the torque wrench to the clamp bolts on the sway bar - not even close to spec.....  No jolting on initial test drive, so hopefully this was the issue.  Well worth the 2 minutes to check yours the next time you are doing work on the car.  Guess they may just get loose over time.

Thanks again for the suggestions - would have never guessed this one!!

Regards -- Roger