Suspension - Front End Knocking Noise On Bumps

Date: February 5, 2007
Order No.: P-B-32.25/46
Supersedes:
Group: 32

SUBJECT:
Model 230.471/472/474/475/476/477/479, Up to Series Production 10/06

Model Year 2003 - 2007

Knocking Noise from the Front Axle Area

If you receive customer reports in the above model vehicles of a knocking noise from the front axle area when steering or on road bumps after a prolonged driving time, replace the affected front strut with modified parts. Reference WIS document AR32.25-P-1017R. This condition is temperature dependent and occurs when the temperature inside the engine compartment is extremely high or at very high outside temperatures.

NOTE:
The noise is the result of excessive pretension within the ball joint of the suspension strut. The pretension in the ball joint further increases with higher temperatures. As a result, the breakaway torque of the ball joint can increase so much that a knocking noise may be produced when the ball joint moves.





Parts Information

NOTE:
The following allowable labor operations should be used when submitting a warranty claim for this repair

In Case of Warranty





Operation: Strut assembly - front left for Act. Body Control (ABC), replace (32-7561)
Strut assembly - front right for Act. Body Control (ABC), replace (32-7562)
Strut assembly - front both for Act. Body Control (ABC), replace (32-7563)