Technical Knocking from Rear

[Vic20]

For a while now I've had a strange intermittant knocking noise from the rear of the car. It only occured when going over bumps and was similar in nature to a worn anti roll bar drop links as it only seemed to make a noise when the rear bounced up.

Took a look under the car to find that the left rear suspension bump stop is rattling around inside the spring! ..see first pic, the second pic is the right side as it should be.

Any idea how this should be fixed to the upper spring mounting? (the pink bit) and how I can reattach it.

Looks like a classic example of Fiat build quality to me!

 

[Maybemaybenot]

Pretty sure that's snapped, should be one piece that is a push fit 'into' the chassis. Not bad to replace.

 

[Vic20]

Thanks, delved a bit further and there should be a spigot on it that pushes into the mounting hole, this has clearly broken off.

A couple of new ones now on order from Shop4Parts, under £8 each . Will report back on fitting ease.

Anyone know if this is an MOT fail?

 

[perelaar]

In Belgium, this is indeed a MOT fail. I wouldn't risk it, for 8£

 

[Vic20]

Fitting was fairly straghtforward. I didn't even remove the wheels!

Jacked up the rear of the car and supported it on axle stands. Released the shock absorber top mountings to allow the torsion arm to drop sufficient to allow the springs to be slipped out.

New bump stops: I greased the spigot and it pressed into the hole easily. Reassembly is the reverse of the above, gently lowering each side so that the shock top mount aligns with the hole before inserting the mounting bolt.

I did notice that on the side with the bump stop missing, the Shock absorber top bush has taken a hammering and is quite distorted as it's been doing the work of the bump stop, so I will replace both shocks most likely.

 

[Vic20]

On first drive, it was clear that the knocking hadn't gone away, it was not the loose bump stop rattling that was causing the noise.

New rear shocks had been ordered and on fitting it was apparent it was the nearside top shock bush that was the culprit, the metal bush is completely loose and movement within the bush is slack. See pic. The offside one wasn't much better to be honest.

It's clear to see the design of the replacement shock bush is different, being a lot stiffer in nature.

Our car has done 50k miles mostly on potholed country roads.

Hope this helps other folk with odd nioses from the rear!

**NOTE When removing rear shock lower mounting bolt. undo the splined nut (14mm I recall) not the hex, that is captive to the arm!:bang:

 

[Phils panda]

I changed mine last year..top bush loose and metal was rubbing..so i got a set off e bay £35.00 and 20 mins to fit.

 

[varesecrazy]

New rear shocks had been ordered and on fitting it was apparent it was the nearside top shock bush that was the culprit, the metal bush is completely loose and movement within the bush is slack. See pic. The offside one wasn't much better to be honest.

It's clear to see the design of the replacement shock bush is different, being a lot stiffer in nature.

Our car has done 50k miles mostly on potholed country roads.

50k isnt that much use..

Age related rubber rot maybe had a part in it too