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Technical Clunking from both front wheels

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Technical Clunking from both front wheels

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greypanda

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Hi guys. I am sure someone will know the answer to this :)

I have a 2016 Fiat 500 which has done 16k miles. Recently it has developed a clunking sound from both front wheels whenever I go over speed bumps or uneven road.

I took it to my local garage who fitted new top mounts to it (shocks are fine) but it hasn’t resolved the problem... it still clunks!

My first thought originally was the drop links (I had an 07 Panda before so know Fiats pretty well) and now I’m back to thinking that again. The garage I took it to advised me to take it to a Fiat garage to change the bump stops... anyone had them go before? I’m going to book it into a Fiat garage as hopefully they will be able to tell straightaway what it is.

16k miles is no distance really so just baffled I have suspension problems!

Anyone know what it could be?
 
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Your not going to a dealership are you!??? ££££££££ ?
I had a very similar issue after I changed my whole suspension myself (DOH) you live n learn lol
I had my front top mounts in the wrong way round!! But what I did learn on how to identify any issue is to jack up one wheel off and check for “play” by wiggling the hub it should point to where the issue is!
Surely your garage checked the bump stops when they changed the top mounts!?
 
greypanda said:
Hi guys. I am sure someone will know the answer to this :)

I have a 2016 Fiat 500 which has done 16k miles. Recently it has developed a clunking sound from both front wheels whenever I go over speed bumps or uneven road.

I took it to my local garage who fitted new top mounts to it (shocks are fine) but it hasn’t resolved the problem... it still clunks!

My first thought originally was the drop links (I had an 07 Panda before so know Fiats pretty well) and now I’m back to thinking that again. The garage I took it to advised me to take it to a Fiat garage to change the bump stops... anyone had them go before? I’m going to book it into a Fiat garage as hopefully they will be able to tell straightaway what it is.

16k miles is no distance really so just baffled I have suspension problems!

Anyone know what it could be?
Click to expand...

I also have this kind of issue but it seems to me (the clunking) is from the front passenger side. As well as this though the whole front suspension seems to 'creak' when going over speed humps, it sounds as if the suspension is dry? F500 TA 2014 on 35000 miles (but its creaked and clunked for ages).
Did i read somewhere that they may have come from the factory ungreased and the moving surfaces can be dry as a bone?
 
For generalised creaking one thing worth doing is spraying silicone lubricant (sometimes described as plastic and rubber lubricant) into the gap around the top mounts from the engine bay. Ideally do it once jacked up and once on the ground.

I've never been ***absolutely*** clear whether the bump stop and bellows assembly is meant to be attached into the top of the strut unit or allowed to sit on top of the damper body and "float". But when they float the hard top part can rattle around in the top cup, and wedging them up there (with the help of some electrical tape wrapped round to increase their width if they are loose) seems to work well in my experience. Someone will now tell me that is a bodge.....

Nick
 
In an attempt to fix the clunking i replaced the passenger side drop-link (anti-roll bar to damper link). Made absolutely no difference whatsoever. Nothing wrong with original part either.

Baffled.
 
d4zzl3r said:
In an attempt to fix the clunking i replaced the passenger side drop-link (anti-roll bar to damper link). Made absolutely no difference whatsoever. Nothing wrong with original part either.

Baffled.
Click to expand...

Because they are BOTH connected to..and linked by.. the antiroll bar its not uncommon to get noise from BOTH wheels hitting imperfections

Find somewhere with a minor dropkerb

And when there is no traffic around

Go on and off it at 45 degrees

So the wheels drop off at different points

You will soon know which wheel makes the louder noise


This is how I diagnosed mine.. after weeks of aiming at drains.. speedhumps and potholes I was none the wiser :eek:

But the 45' test did it (y)

Garage swapped it for £20..having tested it on the ramp to confirm my suspicions :)
 
Checked today and both droplinks are solid (new one on passenger side even the original is fine). I have found a creaking wishbone rubber on passenger side. I'll try the 45 curb test to see if i can pin point which side but i think it is passenger (had a new wishbone 2 MOTs back). Are the damper topmounts a bearing?
 
d4zzl3r said:
In an attempt to fix the clunking i replaced the passenger side drop-link (anti-roll bar to damper link). Made absolutely no difference whatsoever. Nothing wrong with original part either.

Baffled.
Click to expand...

Same here - my car is still clunking!

Garage changed the rear shocks (slight play in NSR), front drop links and top mounts now... made no difference.

Driving me mad!

Anyone know what else it could be? Wheel bearings? Suspension bushes?
 
greypanda said:
Same here - my car is still clunking!

Garage changed the rear shocks (slight play in NSR), front drop links and top mounts now... made no difference.

Driving me mad!

Anyone know what else it could be? Wheel bearings? Suspension bushes?
Click to expand...

Have you tried the 45degree kerb?

Are the wishbone rubbers sound..

Mine collapsed over time :eek:
 
varesecrazy said:
Have you tried the 45degree kerb?

Are the wishbone rubbers sound..

Mine collapsed over time :eek:
Click to expand...

Wishbone rubbers are a big shout... seeing as it’s not the drop links, shocks or top mounts then you could be onto something there! Haha more money argh!

Car is going back to the independent Fiat guy in 3 weeks and I will ask him to check them (but surely he knows!!)

Will try the kerb test thanks for the reminder.
 
greypanda said:
Wishbone rubbers are a big shout... seeing as it’s not the drop links, shocks or top mounts then you could be onto something there! Haha more money argh!



Car is going back to the independent Fiat guy in 3 weeks and I will ask him to check them (but surely he knows!!)



Will try the kerb test thanks for the reminder.
Click to expand...



Drop links cost less than £20 a pair and take 10 minutes a side to change.
 
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