Complaint There may be creaking noises when steering while stationary or driving slowly

Bulletin number

LI32.25-P-070053

Component

Suspension

Summary

Complaint There may be creaking noises when steering while stationary or driving slowly. See Example Noise attachment Cause The vehicle level of the front axle may be too low. The noises when steering can be caused by continuous contact of the end stop buffer with the damper tube. Remedy IMPORTANT: Do not apply document to vehicles outside of the listed validity range. The vehicle level must first be measured using the romess inclinometer (follow WIS instructions!) and the measured values should be compared with the target values in the Wheel Alignment online tool. If the vehicle level is out of tolerance, then the springs on the front axle must be replaced in order to correct the level. The currently installed springs can be pulled up in the XENTRY Parts Information tool through the corresponding selection. How to identify currently installed springs: • Check for colored dots on the front springs. • If no dots or color markings, please check if there is a parts label that is affixed to the spring. If the MB part number is listed, continue with process listed in the paragraph below. • If the part label does not contain an MB part number, is missing or illegible, please check for a barcode label with a 3 digit number. See "Spring Barcode" picture for example. Open a TIPS case with this number and list that it is from the barcode attached to the currently installed spring. • If none of the above references can be found, open a TIPS case. How to identify next spring in line with color dots: • Navigate to the parts catalog and enter the vehicle VIN/FIN. • Navigate to group 32 sub-group 054 (front spring strut) and find the spring. The spring listed in the parts catalog will have a "color marking" indicator. If the dots on the spring and the color listed in the parts catalog is the same then you have the part number of the currently installed spring. If it does not, then you need to clear the vehicle specific filter by using the funnel icon on the right side column of the page and clicking "no filter" at the top and then "apply filter" (see "Clear Vehicle EPC Filter" for how-to pictures). Proceed to finding the spring that matches the color dots on the vehicles currently installed spring. • In order to find the correct or next highest spring, the spring filter must be removed in the XENTRY Parts Information tool. • The spring item numbers are normally listed in sequence (observe and verify valid SA code for vehicle). The next strongest spring is selected by the ascending, next highest item number (Example: If the currently installed spring ends in "13 00" then then next spring in line is "14 00".) How to identify next spring in line with part number tag: • Navigate to the parts catalog and enter the vehicle VIN/FIN and the part number found from the spring. • In order to find the correct or next highest spring, the spring filter must be removed in the XENTRY Parts Information tool. To do this, you need to clear the filters by using the funnel icon on the right side column of the page and clicking "no filter" at the top and then "apply filter" (see "Clear Vehicle EPC Filter" for how-to pictures). • The spring item numbers are normally listed in sequence (observe and verify valid SA code for vehicle). The next strongest spring is selected by the ascending, next highest item number (Example: If the currently installed spring ends in "13 00" then then next spring in line is "14 00".)

Owners of these vehicles have filed 22 complaints in the suspension category.