Pfft. R129 pop noise on hard turns...

[Yorkabenz77]

Developed a pop noise in front right..possibly towards center, hard to tell. Isnt
frequent... initially felt when making a right turn onto a downward dip street from the right front. Initially suspected chassis brace bars needing retightened. That did not fix.
Inspected front end. Idler bushing had some decent up and down play. Replaced and torqued properly OEM.

Strut tower mounts show no cracking even when wheels clocked completely in either direction.

Struts are all new bilstien.

Jacked up control arm and pried at wheel. No play.
No tie rod play rocking in air.

Replaced sway bar end bushings OEM.

Bearing do need to be adjusted here shortly.

Car has 65k. Recently acquired.

Pop noise seems to shift...as in if I get it to pop turning hard right (above 15mph at a 90* turn) and then come to a light and make a left turn, it will pop in that location again. As if load is shifting something. Sound seems to be like chassis brace or a worn tie rod but makes zero noise in high speed 45* turns, slow 90* turns, or turning stationary...or over bumps.

Aside from this and needing motor mounts, car is rock solid

Any thoughts?

 

[gsxr]

Make sure LCA eccentric bolts are torqued to spec.

What year/model? If it has 300mm front brakes, have the ball joints been replaced yet?

 

[Yorkabenz77]

Make sure LCA eccentric bolts are torqued to spec.

What year/model? If it has 300mm front brakes, have the ball joints been replaced yet?

95. Yes, forgot to add I did torque them. Slightly loose but no difference. They are original. Whole lca.

 

[gsxr]

What engine? SL500?

 

[Yorkabenz77]

What engine? SL500?

Sorry, yes

 

[gsxr]

95 SL500 should have the early LCA's with replaceable balljoints. I'd consider replacing those next (OE/Genuine preferred).

 

[Lowman]

Developed a pop noise in front right..possibly towards center, hard to tell. Isnt
frequent... initially felt when making a right turn onto a downward dip street from the right front. Initially suspected chassis brace bars needing retightened. That did not fix.
Inspected front end. Idler bushing had some decent up and down play. Replaced and torqued properly OEM.

Strut tower mounts show no cracking even when wheels clocked completely in either direction.

Struts are all new bilstien.

Jacked up control arm and pried at wheel. No play.
No tie rod play rocking in air.

Replaced sway bar end bushings OEM.

Bearing do need to be adjusted here shortly.

Car has 65k. Recently acquired.

Pop noise seems to shift...as in if I get it to pop turning hard right (above 15mph at a 90* turn) and then come to a light and make a left turn, it will pop in that location again. As if load is shifting something. Sound seems to be like chassis brace or a worn tie rod but makes zero noise in high speed 45* turns, slow 90* turns, or turning stationary...or over bumps.

Aside from this and needing motor mounts, car is rock solid

Any thoughts?

Did the sound occur after you replaced the shocks?
Believe it or not, the center strutnut ,clamping down the bracket that sits on top of the strut mount, need to be tightened down with the correct torque. The top plate/rebound retaining plate, CAN make a cracking/creaking sounds if its not tightened properly.The tightening torque is 60nm, but i am sure i have seen a bulletin about this at some point, cause i was chasing front creaking / cracking sounds in my old w124 500e back some years ago,and this was one of the parts that could make this unwanted sound.The remedy for the "creaking sound" in this case with the topmount,was an uprated torque setting on that nut to 80nm, or/and something about the nut with the washer .But i cannot remember excactly,or find any specific info about it at this point. So in your case,im not saying it is this,,but it is worth checking it out at least. Same goes for ALL other bolts related to suspension components.
The Bilstein shocks CAN also be of variable quality these days, It is not uncommon to have knocking sounds from new Bilstein shocks.Ive seen to cases of this happening.

 

[TerryA]

@Yorkabenz77,
I concur w/Lowman on tightening up the cinch bolts on the lower shock mounts. I had a similar problem on my long gone 86 300E when I installed a new set of KONI Reds adjustable shocks. Even though I the torque wrench indicated I hit the proper torque it was not tight enough. After re-torquing the noise went away.

It’s worth a try.

 

[Lowman]

@Yorkabenz77,
I concur w/Lowman on tightening up the cinch bolts on the lower shock mounts. I had a similar problem on my long gone 86 300E when I installed a new set of KONI Reds adjustable shocks. Even though I the torque wrench indicated I hit the proper torque it was not tight enough. After re-torquing the noise went away.

It’s worth a try.

Mister,i dont know where the confusion is, but i was not talking about the lower clinch bolts,i was talking about the nut on the shockstrut ,holding it to the top mount, and retaining plate But apart from that, all bolts etc on the struts are pretty critical to get tightened to the correct torque