2015 Mercedes-Benz C350 vehicles may exhibit a throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outer end). The noise is heard once when changing direction of travel.
If the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the outboard collar nut by 1 turn, the complaint may be due to a cracking of the microweld between the wheel bearing inner race and the joint housing of the side shaft.
Note that the collar nut must always be replaced after being loosened.
Mercedes-Benz offers the following remedy:
1. Remove the side shafts.
2. Clean the contact surface of the outer joint housing, removing any grease or dust.
3. Coat the contact surface with Molykote and allow todry for one hour. Before using low friction Molykote paint, stir or shake thoroughly.
4. Reinstall the side shafts.
Molykote paint is available as P/N A 000 989 01 52.
