General Anti roll bar bushes

[stuartinlancashire]

I’ve got a slight knocking/clunking noise on the drivers side when going over bumps/potholes. I’ve changed the drop links but the noise is still there. My next thought was the bushes, but can’t find any information or tutorials about changing them. Are they easy to do or is this one of those awkward jobs that requires the subframe to be dropped?

 

[Qube O]

Top Suspension Bearings ??

 

[stuartinlancashire]

Top Suspension Bearings ??

When the strut top bearing went on a Mini we had a few years ago we got a “twang” type sound from the spring, this sound is definitely a clunk and only really happens on potholes or speedbumps.

 

[Red Van Man]

Sounds like a broken spring. I had the clunks on roundabouts if the road surface was rough (and Sheffield was before re-surfacing and is now getting that way again a year later ) - the local indi found the spring had snapped like so many do and he changed the pair. It went back two weeks later to have the top bushes done and after that it was perfect.

Then the B&Me died...

R-V-M

When the strut top bearing went on a Mini we had a few years ago we got a “twang” type sound from the spring, this sound is definitely a clunk and only really happens on potholes or speedbumps.

 

[stuartinlancashire]

Sounds like a broken spring. I had the clunks on roundabouts if the road surface was rough (and Sheffield was before re-surfacing and is now getting that way again a year later ) - the local indi found the spring had snapped like so many do and he changed the pair. It went back two weeks later to have the top bushes done and after that it was perfect.

Then the B&Me died...

R-V-M

I had a good look at the springs when I did the drop links and they appear to be intact and the ends don’t appear to have broken. I also checked the ball joints and I couldn’t see any play in them. The noise occurs on speed humps and potholes, there’s no noise on rough surfaces, it just seems to happen on occasions when the suspension has to fully travel if that makes sense. I think I’ll be booking it into my local garage to see if they can suss it out.

 

[stuartinlancashire]

Top Suspension Bearings ??

When the strut top bearing went on a Mini we had a few years ago we got a “twang” type sound from the spring, this sound is definitely a clunk and only really happens on potholes or speedbumps.

I’ve had another look at my van today after doing an oil change. There is definitely an issue with the strut bearing on the drivers side, I held the spring whilst turning the wheel and I can feel the spring “twanging” as the wheel is turned. I’ve not had a chance to check the passenger side yet as I didn’t have anyone to turn the steering wheel for me.

 

[Qube O]

Have them both changed, no point doing one, sods law says the one left untouched will fail next week. Look on here for the little trick most of us do to protect these bearings.......Cheers Qube O.

 

[2668GRIFFIN]

Did not know there was a trick????
I bought febi Bilstein one for mine and still ok
They are completely encased in rubber
Luigi

 

[Qube O]

Did not know there was a trick????
I bought febi Bilstein one for mine and still ok
They are completely encased in rubber
Luigi

WOT ! haha, you must have read about those of us using 'downside up' sponge pudding tubs ??? My latest set of bearings were replaced about 3 years ago, and no probs........though not posh ones like yours, just as supplied from local factor. Cheers Qube O.

 

[2668GRIFFIN]

I still think its water being fired up from the wheel onto the bearing and hot from the top!
LUIGI

 

[Qube O]

Could be......but if you look the rain water from the top drips merrily on to the whole top bearing area, I can pop the bonnet the day after being out in the rain, and find a nice little pool of water sitting there, poor design by Fiat, hence they replaced a lot of these under warranty years ago, including mine........Cheers Qube O.

 

[stuartinlancashire]

Just had word from the garage and everyone is correct in saying it’s the strut top bearings. Garage have said what we all know that they are quite common on this vehicle and they say it’s not a safety issue (they are MOT testers) so could be left if I wanted tooas there’s every possibility the noise would be back in six months.

However I’ve opted to have new struts and bearings as the van has 122k miles on it so the struts are probably due for replacement anyway.