Pulling my hair out! Major clonking N/S front. Replaced a worn looking outer AR bar bush - not that! Rear engine mount centre bolt a little loose - tightened that, no difference. I've been under the car the whole day - pulling, pushing, bashing, levering..........:bang::bang::bang:. Suspension hanging / suspension supported - just can't find anything that feels loose.

The noise sounds really bad, and with the state of the roads being so rubbish it sounds like something serious is going to happen as it's getting worse.

Noise stops under hard acceleration, coasting is worse. When it's really bad it feels like a frequency thing - bang, bang, bang, bang - very quick. Feels like an 'up and down' problem, but cannot replicate the clonk while car is static and being furiously bounced!

I've wobbled the strut to see if there's any play in the top mount - nope. But I'm wondering if there is a fault inside the shock absorber.

I've checked so much that I'm beginning to wonder if the fault is to do with not enough scent in the air freshener!!!!!!!

HELP!

Just a guess -- ARB bashing exhaust?

Don't think so, but I'll double check tomorrow + replace shock absorber. Thanks.

Sounds really silly check your wheel nuts and hub nuts

Wheel nuts been on and off more times than I've had hot dinners today, and going back on @ 54 lb ft. But, hub nut might be worth a check - that shaft was off a year ago for a new inner boot, could have loosened a bit. Thanks.

I had exactly this kind of noise.

Went through much the same as you, changing ARB bushes, top mount bearing and much swearing and pulling apart/putting back together again.

It wasn't till I pulled the shock absorber out that I found that there was no oil in it at all and was well and truly buggered.

Still; replacing all 4 shock absorbers with new ones from Germany was pretty cheap, stopped the knocking and improved the handling no end.

cheers

eib

Thanks mate, I'm too beginning to think it must be the shock absorber, and a garage mechanic has mentioned that they can be a problem. So that will be my next move. 2 front units from Germany for £45 incl delivery!