Technical Odd knocking nice front left

[Velocemitch]

Our 2014 Panda has a very annoying rattle from the front left side. I'm pretty sure its suspension, but getting desperate now!

We had it in yesterday to replace the left strut top mount as the garage was sure that was where the noise was coming from, but unfortunately after changing that its still there. I can't really fault the guy, he spent hours on the front suspension trying to find something, but couldn't. Apart from the top mount the only other part showing wear was the rear bush on the bottom arm, which looked like it had perished a bit, but he couldn't justify changing it as it didn't seem like it could be the cause.

The noise does appear to be linked to suspension movement, but maybe that's coincidental.

Has anyone had anything similar?

 

[koalar]

Noise from the front suspension is common with lots of different causes

With the information we have, you will just get a list, on my car it was a worn knuckle, on my car it was a lower arm, on my car it was the tie rods and so on

We need to narrow it down

A rattle of light bumps for example is not the same as a knock over heavy bumps, we have knocking in the title and rattle in the description

Does it happen often or rarely

If you bounce that corner can you replicate the noise


A good first step would be to a large screwdriver under here and try and push it up then the same put down from the top and see if it's delaminated and hitting the subframe, I would be surprised if a garage misdiagnosis this

Unfortunately nobody can say change this and it will fix the problem with any certainty, they may guess right, may be not, getting it wrong is annoying


If you turn the steering full lock you should be able to get a photo, so we can see what the mechanic is talking about

 

[Velocemitch]

Its a fairly heavy knock, always happens now on rough roads and over speed bumps, it doesn't on smooth roads or on cornering (smooth roads). You can't replicate it stationary.
I did the exercise with the bush on the lower arm myself a while back. I don't think it has delaminated and I don't think the noise is coming from that as it doesn't seem as if the metal can contact metal, but one side does seem slightly different to the other.
Its been in twice for this, the first time I said I could see slightly more movement with a pribar on the left than the right side, so at that point I did suspect the bottom arm bush. The guy in the garage wasn't convinced, he thought it couldn't really be the problem. Second time it went in, he found the top mount was worn and so was pretty sure it was that.
When that fix was done yesterday the noise is still there, it may have reduced, I think it has, my wife doesn't, so its perceptive. Its possible we had two issues, the top mount and another. First is sorted second not.

 

[irc]

As above, many possible causes, usually boils down to top mounts (various sounds), dead dampers (knocks or rattles), drop links (tinkling rattle) or rear bush (solid knock).
Sometimes overlooked are the anti-roll bar bushes (also solid knock), not particularly common on Pandas but I have seen a couple pass MOTs with the bushes shot. I spotted them because of the rust dust at the ends of both bushes so looked more closely. Movement was present but didn't look too bad, but changing them definitely fixed the clang over speedbumps.

 

[koalar]

My best guess and it is a guess are the drop links incorrectly torqued up, free to check ,

Usually one thump on bigger bumps like speed humps

Both rear bushes should feel the same one should not feel loose than the other, video or photo would help

 

[Yolanda]

Could it be the internals of the suspension leg itself?

 

[irc]

Could it be the internals of the suspension leg itself?

Definitely. Been seeing a few of these recently. Not sure if its worse roads, lower quality parts or just coincidence.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Check carefully the air con condenser and radiator are fixed. I had a broken mounting bracket on the a/c rad which allowed it to move and knock on a rough surface. I found it aftermonths of aggro by biffing the bumper which replicated the row standing still. It sounded like a whole loose front suspension. Terrible, hard heavy knock. Temporary fix was pipe lagging shoved in between the loose bits. The car needed several jobs so I decided to px it.

Moral of the story. Buy GENUINE spares. This part was a cheap job nd not as well made.