Hi,

My 96 Bravo SX 1600 left front suspension makes a bad? knocking noise sometimes. Anyone any ideas? Is it a common problem and how easily might it be fixed? I'm not sure but it seems to be getting worse. The steering and braking seems fine. There's a bit of wheel judder at about 80 mph but I thought that might just mean the wheels need balancing.

Appreciate your help.

Thanks,
Mike

If the knocking occurs when you've got a fair bit of lock on the steering, suspect the c.v. joint.

If the knocking occurs on bad surfaces suspect a tired damper.

Other than that, can't help........

Can you get under and have a look? If it's one of the above then you should be able to clearly see a leak which should point you in the right direction.

Unless it the GOOD old track rod end or Wish bone. Both not too bad to fix. and not too much. it will more rattle when you hit speed bumps and pot holes. To Check you need a long ish bar and the wheel off. put the bar in a secure place to be able to wobbnle the metal bars comming from the wheel mounting areas. the anti roll bar goes back and attaches directly to the cars chassy. then goes to the other wheel.

Dampers or shocks as there knowen normally stop the wheel bouncing when your driving over pot holes. easy to check put all your wieght on the front left then relese. if it bounces up then settles its fine. if it bounces up and down and up again, basicly any more than up and setle its gone bad. normally theres a leak aswell.

If its the CV Normally you can feel a pulling when its bad. and its makes a Click Click on every 1/3 turn or half turn of the tyre. on a full lock.

Hope you can understand that. and hope it helps.

OH and if its your track rod and and the tyres out of balance balancing the wheel will make it go away for a while. but the extra wear on the tyre will make it appear just when you dont want it too.

BEFORE you start spending pennies this sounds really simple. I bet you a few hundred that its as simple as your wheel nuts. I reckon one or 2 may be pretty loose. Stick a wheel brace on them 1st to see how loose they are. Then jack the car up - remove the wheel - put the wheel back on and tighten.

Trust me I'm a doctor