Technical Front end rumble / clunking??

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Technical Front end rumble / clunking??

Joined
Oct 4, 2007
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596
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Location
Great Cheverell
From the front left corner, but only when not on the accelerator. Thought I might have a puncture (same sort of sound and can get quite loud) or something in the tyre, but no. Which glance underneath shows nothing obviously wrong, but more likely to be the drivetrain?

Any ideas on a wet Sunday? Oh, and it's a 100HP
 
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Not brakes (which I thought it was), as it happens when I don't touch them. It only happens when I ease off the throttle. Did think bearing, but surprised it doesn't happen under power - although have no experience of a dodgy bearing. Also happened very suddenly.. but also not long after a Goodwood track day...

If it was a dry summer's evening I'd be under the car! Local garage will have to get involved...

Only the second time in 4 years and 75k miles that the Panda has caused problems, so not hugely depressed.
 
Sounds like a bearing, you tend to hear them more when your off throttle as the engine noise hides it, try going around long left and right hand corners if it goes in one of the corners you know it's the oppersite bearing (so turning left and the rumble goes it's not the right side bearings!!)
 
That would be a left side wheel bearing then sir, use to go on the Lancia all the time some I became a expert and picking up the noise! :D
Put a passenger in your car in the front and then the back and get them to hear where the noise is louder front or back as you go round a corner!
 
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Definitely the front.. when it stops raining I'll get out there and give it a wobble. TBH the front left has had quite a hard time over the last 4 years, so not unepected...

Thanks for all the tips.. much appreciated.
 
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Get yourself a pry bar or even a small crow bar and with the wheels removed just put the bar in between all the various joints and try and wiggle them, there should be no more than a tiny amount of vertical movement, balljoints are also usually pretty cheap and easy to fix although some do come as part of the entire wishbone...not sure about the panda but to be honest if there is movement when you try and move the wheel its also worth checking all the other suspension components.
 
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There are lots of bits that can cause noise down there.

Most common is the anti roll bar drop links, these are 12" dogbone looking things connected to the anti roll bar ends and the struts (just under the springs)
They can clunk and rattle very loudly over rough roads or turning up or down an incline, just as one wheel rises before the other.
Quite often it's felt under your feet as the ARB runs under there and connects both sides together.

Jacking up and "testing" them by pulling them about is useless, as the weight of the wheels pulls them tight, they need testing with the cars weight on the wheels.
Same goes for bushes as well, these need inspecting/prying to see if the move excessively.

The ARB D bushes that hold the bar to the subframe/chassis can wear a little as well, this usually results in a muted, fast rattle, not that common on these as some other models.

Ball joints and suspension bushes can knock, rough roads again or sometimes on and off power, as the wishbone/ball joint slaps back and forth.
The Panda's wishone bushes aren't the best in the world and have been known to split, particularly vertical bush to the rear of the front wishbones.
(the bolt run vertical for the rear one and horizontal for the one at the front of the wishbone)

Drive shafts can click on full lock, that's the outer CV joint showing wear.
The inner shafts joints can "slap" when worn, noticed when powering on/off the throttle. The (worn) tripod bearings move in the (worn) case and "clunk". They can also cause a bit of vibration as speed.

A wheel bearing will cause play if worn, often felt by rocking the wheels side to side, up and down.
But so can a few other items.
To rule "in" a wheel bearing as a problem, the play at the wheel will disappear once the foot brake is applied as this locks it up to the inner hub.
If this doesn't stop it, it's more likely a track rod end or inner steering tie rod that's causing it, felt by holding these joints and rocking the wheel again.
 
ok I need to bring this post back - because I have a front end problem which doesn't seem to quite fit the explanations.

When I'm at parking speed only I get a very odd noise from the front end. It only happens when I'm on full left lock.
It sounds like a rubbing creaking sound - not a click click.

Any ideas?
 
ok I need to bring this post back - because I have a front end problem which doesn't seem to quite fit the explanations.

When I'm at parking speed only I get a very odd noise from the front end. It only happens when I'm on full left lock.
It sounds like a rubbing creaking sound - not a click click.

Any ideas?

wheel hidding the arches?
 
wheel hidding the arches?



No, to close this one out, it was my fault. When I changed to STR-T's last year, I made some adjustable drop links. I thought car is lower now (ebash springs) make the drop links shorter...... Wrong, very wrong, I'm a plonker! Keep them the same length as stock. I say this because the shock mounting position is the same as stock, you loose the height from the spring! If you make them shorter, the top of the anti roll bar rubs on the drive shaft on the passenger side on almost full lock. But the right hand side, and left, rub as you drive along!
With them back to almost full length 310mm (320mm stock) there are no sounds at all from the front end. I spin the wheels a lot less now too. I am a very silly boy, but nothing broke and I found out the hard way.
 
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