Technical Front Suspension Noise

[9066df]

I have a motorhome based on the X250 3 litre Ducato. Just before Christmas I had the front coil springs changed for the VB comfort ones.

We are now down in Spain but there is a clunking noise coming from the left front suspension which seems to have gotten worse. I have removed the glove box & can see the top of the suspension strut inside the cab, if somebody (in this case a friendly German guy) pulls on the top of the wheel I can feel the top of the strut moving in the housing. This is quite a bit a movement & doesn't feel normal to me. I have tried to look for a picture showing what the top of the strut assembly is like, I would have thought there was some bearing or location for the strut. I am waiting for the people who did the work to call me daughter was going to contact them for me.
Don't want to visit a garage yet until I know what is likely to be the problem, is is something broken or did the garage not fit a bush at the top???

Appreciate any advice, not sure when I will be able to get internet again so apologies if I don't respond to answers quickly.

Found a Fiat Camper assist garage not too far away, we are in Cartagena at the moment.

Ed

 

[rayc]

Any help?

https://www.fiatforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=130933&stc=1&d=1392634361

 

[moodrater]

The strut mount is a complete unit you can't have the bushing seperate. The top of the strut is held in a rubber block as you turn the wheel the bottom of the strut moves through an arc and so the top has to follow. The later model mount uses an alloy top mount with a steel plate crimped into it to retain the bushing, I have had the plate pop out in that case theat side of the vanwill have dropped.

 

[9066df]

Thanks for the pic, can't see still how the top is. I would have thought it went through some sort of bush but pic no clear when I zoom. Parked on an aire in Cartagena, not particulary nice but ok till I get sorted. Managed to get free internet so I can have a good look through the web.

 

[9066df]

Was replying to Rayc, photo makes a bit more sense. If it's mountedin rubber then there would be some sideways movement but this seems excessive & makes a clunkng noise. Waiting for garage who replaced the springs to call me so I can find out what they did. I would have expected them to replace the rubber mounting plate or at least inspected it.


When I had somebody pull the top of the tyre out from the van I could see the strut moving at the top when I looked up under the van & could also hear the clunk as it seemed to hit something. Can the rubber have failed, if like you showed it is enclosed I don't see where it can go?

Seem the comment about van dropping, I just measured to the wheel arch & side with problem is about 3/4" to 1" higher.

 

[pushrod]

Put a new strut on my 2000 2.8 recently, and it needed to be bolted well down. Had to hold the spindle with an open-end spanner (10mm?) while I bolted down the top nylock-type nut. On mine there is a small, flat bearing between the upper spring plate and the top mount - to allow the lower part to swivel when turning. Suggest you get someone to turn the steering lock to lock while you check that the whole spring assembly swivels smoothly. If it does, it may be that the unit is just not tightened down enough.

 

[pushrod]

Just had another thought: The top mounting shouldn't feel loose on the rubber if the locating pins are correctly in place and the 3 bolts have been tightened properly.

 

[adlarplant]

its not unknown to crack out the top of the strut tower ive done both sides in my van and ive hard of another recently in a motorhome here in australia i made up plates that sit on top of the rubber to help spread the weight more evenly around the mounts cheers Adam

 

[9066df]

Sorry for not replying sooner, back home in the UK now. I managed to get the problem sorted out, found a garage run by an English guy about 30kms north of Cartagena. It looks like the nut was coming off the top of the shock, here are a couple of pics.


We were lucky the nut had no threads showing above it so it was a matter of time before it came off completely. It got in this state after less than 1200 miles after having the springs replaced. The place that did the original work tried to say any problems were due to components that were already worn!! Why didn't they tell me that some parts might need to be replaced when they had it apart. I hae since sent them pictures & am waiting for their reply. Considering getting some professional technical advice but not sure who would be best to use a Fiat garage or do I contact the AA or RAC??