Technical Clonky front suspension - GP 2008

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Technical Clonky front suspension - GP 2008

alfistiUK

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Hi,

My 2008 GP 1.4 dynamic 8v has very clonky suspension.

I've had the car from new, it's done about 18k, and driven with reasonable care over speed bumps etc.

It's always been a bit clonky but seems to be getting worse. The clonks are as if the balljoints are knackered, but a quick visual inspection with the front wheels off and the bj's looked ok as did the wishbone bushes (i think!)

Any ideas?

Is this common?
Cheers,

John
 
Hey, well i had a big issue with my suspension, but its been fixed now. After 9 trips to the garage! they found out my "clonk" (that was on the front driver side wheel) was a bad bump stop, which they then replaced, now theres no noise!
Hope this helps.
 
Hey, well i had a big issue with my suspension, but its been fixed now. After 9 trips to the garage! they found out my "clonk" (that was on the front driver side wheel) was a bad bump stop, which they then replaced, now theres no noise!
Hope this helps.


Thanks Gsalini.

Where abouts is the bump stop? Thinking about it the clonk on my car seems to be both sides but sounds like it is almost in the car- familiar to your problem?

John
 
Sounds VERY similar! Its almost like you cant pin point the noise? as if its coming from every where in the car? and do u get the noise over speed bumps and pot holes?
 
Possibly even suspension top mounts, these are very common!

EDIT: Infact with the noise of the bump over pot holes and speed bumps, im sure its the top mounts! Would put money on it. My rear passenger side has just started having the same symptoms
 
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Hi,

I think it could be top mounts, it definitely occurs on speed bumps.

What are my chances of getting this fixed under warranty? car is just over 2 years old, with FDSH. Will they just fob me off with 'wear and tear' or 'missuse'

Cheers,

John
 
Thanks Andy.

I'll see if the dealer will do anything about it, else I'll have a look at those droplinks- are they on the front? Can't remember seeing them, but they are new to me, used to just struts/ leading&trailing arms on me old Alfa!

John
 
Hi,

I think it could be top mounts, it definitely occurs on speed bumps.

What are my chances of getting this fixed under warranty? car is just over 2 years old, with FDSH. Will they just fob me off with 'wear and tear' or 'missuse'

Cheers,

John

I had my coil springs and top mounts replaced last week under third year warranty. No questions asked. I only had a snapped offside spring but they replaced both front springs (at my request) and replaced strut top mounts (at their discretion as mechanic thought they were on way out).
 
Dealer replaced both top mounts and bump stops under third year warranty. They had to get approval from Fiat apparantly.

Seems to be sorted- fingers crossed.

John
 
Yea they told me that fiat approval **** as well. Yea well i hope its been fixed for you mate!
 
Yea they told me that fiat approval **** as well.

would you do a job for nothing?

fiat do not own the garages they are franchised and as such before doing any work they have to get authorization from fiat. If fiat decided that the part is not covered by warranty the garage would loose out and not get paid for the work
 
I've got this, don't get it over pot holes, or speed bumps, just at very low speeds when turning over a rough surface, or going down a cobble road very slowly. Can't pinpoint it, thought it was passenger side front, then my side front, then the middle of the car.

Had it in the garage but they found nothing. Must be something innocuous otherwise they'd have spotted it.
 
Dealer replaced both top mounts and bump stops under third year warranty. They had to get approval from Fiat apparantly.

Seems to be sorted- fingers crossed.

John

Yea they told me that fiat approval **** as well. Yea well i hope its been fixed for you mate!

They have to get approval for all warranty claims, who do you think pays for them? lol
 
if it makes a kind of popping sound then its most definitely the bump stops there is a fiat service news out on it. i would get you the service news number but fiat is down at the min
 
Hi guys
I think I have the same problem but mine seem to be happening when turning the wheels on standstill and driving at slow speeds.
It sOunds like the coils are moving in their mount but checked them they are solid.
Any advice as to what it could be would be a help
I think it's the strut mount top bearings
 
Continuing on from this:

https://www.fiatforum.com/grande-punto/264414-help-please.html

which seems to be the same problem, I've now noticed stationary I get this noise as well. Yet the garage I had it in to said everything was fine. Obviously didn't check the Strut top bearings!

So that's a strange knocking, car pulling slightly to the left and another weird noise when turning the wheel stationary.

Gutted I don't have the tools to do this myself so looks like handing it back to the garage. ARGH.

EDIT: Booked in for tomorrow. Even if they can't diagnose this I'm still going to get them to change the top strut bearings on both sides.
 
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*Update:

Ordered from Uncle Arnold Parts for £17.50 each + VAT. Picking them up tonight and
getting both sides changed tomorrow at an independant, hopefully it makes a world of difference! :)
 
And a further update:

Got both sides changed today, garage took an hour on each side! Gits.

Still, WHAT an improvement! Feels like a different car! No 'broken bed spring' when turning the wheel, car handles a lot better and it feels more solid as well

Gutted I couldn't do it myself but don't have the tools. :(
 
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