Technical Front Suspension Knock

[gsalini]

Yea thanks Craig. I mentioned this to my garage, but they immidietly dismissed it because apparently the grease would begin to dissolve the rubber after a while!? And yes, I do think it's bull****. I'll have to give it ago. Again, thanks Craig.

 

[ascott92]

I had a knocking noise coming from the nearside arch, which I thought to be suspension trouble, turned out the transmission cable holder had softened and perished. Posting this here in case anyone has a similar noise, and it is covered under 3rd-year warranty, too.

 

[r16pab]

Your right craig20102010

I said this on 28-11-2009

Try this. Jack up one side, Look at top of shocker, pull down bump stop can be tight, grease the top of it and push back up to the top. Noise seems to have gone for me, have a go.

 

[The Professor]

Just to keep the pot boiling on this issue, when I worked for Mazda in Germany, we had issues with only 25 requests from dealers for a technical response and they became agenda items on the monthly quality review meetings. That's a miniscule percentage of the total number of a particular model. If Fiat are anywhere near as organised, they should have technical information available to dealers about this. Again from my experience, if the technical advice didn't work, the dealers were not slow in pointing it out...
My Bravo had the drop links replaced under warranty about a year ago and it didn't cure the knock. In my case it's predominantly from the offside, happens mostly on bump with a degree of left lock - swinging off the road and left onto the drive is a good example. The nearside will occasionally knock very heavily, again on bump, with or without lock and both sides will knock together on the up ramp of a steep humpback bridge or similar.
In my view this supports the assertion that the bump stops are more the culprit than the drop links but I really don't know if I can be bothered to do anything about it beyond mentioning it at the next service.

 

[GraemeB]

Ok - Bravo currently with dealer, who after "not" hearing the rattle and a gentle prod in the direction, came back and said it's the strut top mountings that are the culprits, and also, it's a common issue with Bravo's that Fiat know all about.

Just waiting to have the replacements put on - so will update once I get it back.

 

[GraemeB]

Argh.

Just got it back - complete with new strut top mountings fitted, and guess what, the rattle is STILL there !

Need to drive it tomorrow - but it looks like it'll be back in again soon.

 

[Tad-bravo]

live with it, knowing that's only a noise and that nothing's gonna fall off.

It actually got better by itself on my car, I don't hear it anymore.

 

[GraemeB]

live with it, knowing that's only a noise and that nothing's gonna fall off.

It actually got better by itself on my car, I don't hear it anymore.

Nope - it's getting worse, so I called them back and it's going in for a thorough investigation to get to the bottom of the noise.

I'm thinking a complete strip out of the suspension is going to be required...I would live with the noise, but I'm anal when it comes to rattles from engine bays....

:devil:

 

[lyubohar]

GraemeB actually opened another topic here with the outcome of his issue: https://www.fiatforum.com/bravo/269005-out-damn-rattle.html?p=2754328

You would be surprised what turned out to be the reason in his case I am going to try that today (it's a rainy day) and report...

 

[knellerhall]

OK I know this is an old thread but after weeks of no knocking it came back today, and why? - because it's raining! As many other posters have commented it only does it when it's wet.
So I'm thinking the water lubricates something causing movement which then knocks. Anything rubber mounted seems a good bet I reckon. Finding it though, now that's another matter.
Unfortunately I'm one of those who can't ignore it, so once the knock has gone again I'll get the hose pipe out and wet each rubber thing one at a time till I find it - I may be a while!!!!!
PS mine is just a 1.4 Dynamic so it's not limited to 'sportier' ones.

 

[lyubohar]

Did you try with the solution just above your post? I have released the rubber pads a bit and so far the knocking seems gone on my car, although there wasn't any hard rain around here recently...But there is a very good chance that it was indeed something as simple as that.

 

[knellerhall]

I have looked at the post you mention but I doubt that being the cause in my case, the knock is just too solid, but I am going to give a try anyway. Just waiting for rain now - lots forecast for tomorrow!
Will update.

 

[lyubohar]

Mine was also pretty loud, but haven't heard of it recently...It's worth giving a try

 

[lyubohar]

My knocking seems gone - tested again in moderate rain today. It seems it really was the rubber on which the bonnet is resting...

 

[GraemeB]

Since finding out what the cause of the rattle/knock and loosening the rubber bonnet stops - I've had not one rattle from the engine bay.

Something so small that caused me no end of annoyance and anger

 

[lyubohar]

True. I am still not 100% convinced that was it, but one or two rainy days from now and you may expect about 50 thanks from me - I'll make sure to press the Thank You button on each of your posts in the two related threads

 

[dickdick]

lyubohar
Was your ''noise'' following the move of the suspension ?
I mean, when you were driving over speed bumps and large pot holes, was the noise following the suspension's bounce?
e.g.
driving over speed bumps-noise-driving off speed bump-noise.

I can't describe it better.I hope you understand me.

 

[lyubohar]

Exactly. As if there was an empty bottle from a mineral water between the wheel and the wheel arc which was smashed on every bump.

 

[dickdick]

Exactly. As if there was an empty bottle from a mineral water between the wheel and the wheel arc which was smashed on every bump.

Thanks a lot mate!!

 

[Quiz]

I have a Knocking too, it started after a pot hole near side. I cannot find any thing loose. I have given the droplinks a good shake but cannot feel any movement.
The bonnet rubbers are not loose nor is the undershield engine cover.
The knocking happens pretty much all the time on slightly uneven, rippley surface country roads.
The only thing I can find 'out of the ordinary', is that the nearside front strut appears slightly softer than the offside and I may be tempted to put a new spring on it?
The noise is almost like a brake pad rattling, that will be my 1st job. changing the pads. They still have a lot of wear left but it seems the easiest job to tackle to try and cure this.
The car only had a 3 year warranty so I am 'on my own' with this one. Well not quite on my own because of this wonderfull forum