Mercedes-Benz W204 front-end clunking and rattling
Mercedes-Benz W204: what causes front-end clunking or rattling?
The cause varies from car to car. Common ones are control arm bushings, a loose anti-roll bar link nut, the strut top mount rubber or bearing and the driveshaft joint. The cause is located one part at a time. There can also be a stone in the spring. If the noise remains, have a workshop check the front driveshaft and the suspension.
Mercedes-Benz W204: the clunk is heard over bumps, what should I check on the control arms and shock absorbers?
Check the control arm bushings: a loose bushing or one leaking gel clunks even if there is no play in the ball joints. The front control arm cannot be replaced with just a ball joint, because the joint is pressed in, so the whole arm is replaced. Worn shock absorbers and top mount bearings can also clunk.
Mercedes-Benz W204: the front end clunks when accelerating in a turn, what is wrong?
A clunk heard when accelerating in a turn often points to wear in the outer driveshaft joint. A fault in the inner joint shows up while driving as vibration and the nose bouncing. The joints can be checked by driving in circles in a parking lot forwards and backwards. Have a workshop check the joints and the repair.