Hi
When the car is has just moved off in 1st - and maybe doing approx 5mph, changing into 2nd gear and then letting the clutch up fairly sharply, but not to hard, produces a loud clunk from the front nearside of the car and can be felt through the clutch pedal as well as the rest of the car really.

Other symptons of the same type of clunk, knocking and rumbling can be made when putting the front nearside wheel of a lot of rough road at slow speed and a the same rumbling can be heard. The same isn't heard when putting the front offside wheel over the same bit of rough road.

We have been under it a lot, changed a split rear engine mount underneath but this made no difference. ARB bushes seem fine, CV rubber seems fine. The clunk isn't made when bouncing the suspension anywhere. Tyre wear is fine. All other engine mounts appear fine and engine can't really be rocked. Springs look fine and shockers appear to be fine (after bouncing not clunk is made)

The noise isn't made when bring the clutch up slower and really smoothly, but something is happening when the car is just rolling from first gear (5mph) then selecting 2nd and when the clutch is brought up, a loud bang/clunk/knock is heard.

We jacked up the wheel and rocked it and their seemed a bit of play in it. We've ordered a new wheel bearing (£20 motor factors) and by hitting the top of the tyre inwards with a fist when jacked up the same clunk could be heard.

Would the driveshafts or wheel bearing cause this clunk by doing this and is there anything else we can do to resolve it.

Any advice from the experts is really appreciated. Thanks.

Hi mate,

Sounds like it could be you wheel bearing. There shouldn't be any play in it like that.
Its also worth checking the lower suspension arm bushes (esp the one at the rear) as they also can produce a similar noise when worn.

Good luck and keep us updated,
Alan

Thanks for the suggestion i will check it while we're looking at the bearing and report back. Not be until after this Saturday.


Could a drive shaft make the same sort of knock/clunk?

Hello,

Yes its possible if the CV joint has worn, then it can also clonk. Also worn splines on the drive shaft itself can have a similar effect, but is much rarer.

Alan

Hi,

Was just searching forum as I have recently got a 1.7 96 TDSX back on the road and have exactly the problem you describe.

I replaced the rear under gearbox mount as I believed this to be the cause of my engine wobbling woes! However, the clunking and rocking motion are still there although possibly a little less.

I'm well confused as the car went through its MOT yesterday so it cannot be anything obvious suspension wise. I am considering replacing the two front mounts also.

It would be much appreciated if you would keep this updated.

Cheers
Ritchie.

Hi
I found the problem on the car last Saturday.

It was a worn track rod end. Replaced the part (£9.50) and the clunk went away! A part I wouldn't have expected to cause a clunk as loud as that.

Also replacing the offside rear trailing arm as that has worn. (already done the nearside before) £30 in vat if I return my old arm to them.

NPA motor factors in sunderland