Knocking from LHS

Rebel · Post by **Rebel** » Mon Jun 25, 07 6:49 pm

My car has developed a knock from the front, only every now and then at the moment. It seems to happen when I drive over the brow of a hill, at the point when there would normally be some weight transfer (if I'm right, I drive over the brow of a hill and just as the front wheels get over the brow, theres a knocking from the left hand front end). I've checked that nothing is loose under the front and also that no nuts have fallen off. The only thing I can think of is the front shocks, would I be likely to get this kind of knocking from a worn shocker?

Is there anyway to tell apart from the normal bounce test / removing the shock?

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Mon Jun 25, 07 7:42 pm

The LCA pivot bushing isn't worn is it?

It would probably have failed the MOT if it were but check that anyway.

Rebel · Post by **Rebel** » Mon Jun 25, 07 7:52 pm

I'm sure that the LCA bush was replaced when I had all the rest done in November, I'll check it properly when the weather sorts itself out a bit though, thanx

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Mon Jun 25, 07 10:03 pm

Lower shock mounting bolt.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sun Jul 01, 07 10:54 pm

Dave999 · Post by **Dave999** » Mon Jul 02, 07 11:20 am

On mine the upper shock mount goes through a section of a strenghtening tower that runs up the underside of inner guard and bolts through the top of the engine bay side. The upper control arm mounts are welded onto it as well.

The bolts are press fit into strengthening plates that are welded on to the top of the inner wings in the engine bay.

The bolt was snapped off on my passenger side so when i went round corners everything flexed and clonked.

I just drilled through and stuck a bloody big bolt in with toothy washers and nylock nuts.

clonk gone

I'm guessing this is a common feature.

i'm guessing if yours are equivelent to mine that the M8 ish bolt isn't man enough to do the job. they are very easy to snap off.

they are not easy to replace hence my successful bodge.

other than that

do your clipers have an anti chatter shim behind the brake pad and the tension clips to stop them jigging about.

if not as the disk flexes after breaking it knocks the pads and piston back a bit and the pad can ride up and down a bit making a clonk randomly.

Stick a bit of copper slip on the back of the pads and they should shut up.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Mon Jul 02, 07 1:09 pm

Hmmm, mine has that clonk on the right hand side. Always thought it was the damper but could never work out where it was coming from, I'll check that.

Rebel · Post by **Rebel** » Tue Jul 03, 07 12:19 am

Interesting possibility that it might be caused within the upper shock mounting area and certainly one to check. It won't be the calipers though, as I have drums all round.

managed to spend some time on it tonight, it's definately not a worn shock absorber, the clonk sounds like something thats very heavy is trying to knock its way through the floor just about where the heel of your right foot rests when driving. Time to check every nut and bolt is tight next and see what I can find. Bloody strange though, especially as it doesn't happen all the time and theres no real pattern to it either, drove it over some bumpy roads tonight and it only did it a couple of times, not both going round corners and not both while breaking, I'll report what I find though...............

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Tue Jul 03, 07 1:21 am

That sounds a bit sinister.....I hope its not

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Tue Jul 03, 07 1:55 am

I'm sure you'll find it when you get under there.

Could be a number of things , maybe something was left loose when the front end was rebuilt.

Sway bar bushing.

UCA adj bolts

Shocks

Strut rod bushings

Steering box

Ave a good nose around.

Rebel · Post by **Rebel** » Wed Jul 04, 07 7:44 pm

Oh, I'll find it

the only thing holding me up is the wonderful weather, I currently have thunder and lightning as well as the rain that I'm kinda getting used to now, I'm starting to form gills, it's rained that bloody long

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Wed Jul 04, 07 7:45 pm

What you on about? Been a lovely hot day here with sunshine all day! Just one ownpour and that only lasted 10 mins.

Rebel · Post by **Rebel** » Wed Jul 04, 07 7:50 pm

we had rain on and off all day at work, and for the last 20 minutes here at home it's been like a scene from a hammer horror movie weather wise, all dark and sinister, it's passed now but the road's all flooded outside the house

Rebel · Post by **Rebel** » Sun Jul 08, 07 7:21 pm

Spent the morning under the car today (summer seems to have arrived in Bedlington

)

The things I found loose were the Splash shield thingy, in front of the front wheel. There was a screw missing allowing it to flap back and forth with a similar sound to that described earlier. As well as all the bolts that hold the steering column plate to the bulkhead and the two bolts that hold the actual steering column in place in the same area being a little loose (just a little loose though, I couldn't move them with my fingers). So after tightening them all and replacing the slpash shield screw, I went for a drive, and, it's still the same

This time though, when it happened, I felt it through the steering wheel as well as hearing it. Is there anything on the steering column it self that can wear out?
The car certainly drives ok and feels as though everything is as it should be and there's no nuts or bolts missing or loose anymore. I've checked them all, each and every one of them, the steering box is tightly bolted up and nothing is broken / cracked / snapped as far as I can see or feel. It has to be something stupid that I keep missing

latil · Post by **latil** » Sun Jul 08, 07 7:30 pm

Loose pitman arm or pitman balljoint worn. Idler bushes.Steering box coupling.