zoli
Member
Hi guys,
I'd like to contribute a little bit to the community knowledge by sharing my experiences with "strange" knocking noises coming from the front suspension.
As the weather was not very nice to us this year and it rained a lot around these parts the roads are full of pot holes and generally I think our roads in Serbia aren't up to any standard (in most places at least). Don't take it offensively, there are smooth and good roads in the country...surely somewhere...
To get back to the topic I had a similar issue like the lot of you of hearing a distinctive knocking noise coming from the front of the car when I went over pot holes and generally not even roads. The sound was more or less there when the car rolled from side to side on bad tarmac. On a smooth pavement there were no apparent sounds and the car drove smoothly at least to what I could feel and tell and I drive it a lot mostly on highways and the rest in town.
The first check up point was to visit the car optics shop to check the wheel alignment at the time when I changed the tires from winter to summer ones two months ago.
They noted that the front track control arm joint at the right side was pretty much shot (worn out) and the left side was on it's way and this could be one of the reasons. Given I like to treat the car as any member of the family (in a good way ) I took it to my "trusted" mechanic to have it checked up. It was obvious, the wheel alignment guys did not lie the control arm or wishbone was worn (note: i changed them a little bit over a year ago). No way back, have to do the job, I need the car and I like to play it safe after all we are driving the beast a lot. Changed the parts, both front control arms just to play it safe, no point in coming back cause of the left one in 6 months again I thought and I also thought this was it. Sadly, when the mechanic took it for a test spin he went immediately out to town and on the highway where there is no knocking sound heard from the front suspension.
No prob, took it back for wheel alignment, they did the job, I stood there all the while they were working on it. All is in the green and the steering wheel and other various angles have been aligned according to specifications.
I took the car for a descent 2000 km's for a business trip around these parts, and I noticed the shaking rattling-knocking sound wasn't gone. For that matter it only got worse, producing it more often.
I took it to the shop again, a little bit pissed that the rattling-knocking noise is still there and more apparent then before.
I stood beside the car during the "check up" and on the left side there was a little bit worn anti roll bar. NO worries, cheap fix maybe 10 quids and a bit extra for the mech. But then I took it for a test drive and the knocking-rattling sound was still there to my ever growing amazement, you can guess I was a little bit.
Back to the lift, mount the car and do a complaint that the sound is still there and I can clearly hear the rattling-knocking sound.
Finally, the fix comes up (at least hopefully)
The rattling-knocking noise when going over bumps and uneven road is caused by worn anti roll bar bushes. Damn, finally something a light at the end of the tunnel. I told my mechanic friend to check and double check and he tells me that they missed it so far because 1. they did not drive it on uneven roads 2. according to them it's a fairly sound piece of rubber and mounting which rarely brakes .... yea, I add to it when you drive the car only on a highway ...
Anyway, new parts ordered. Should be in by next Monday. It all is not a too expensive fix bout should make a difference.
So to sum it up, the rattling-knocking noise, at least in my case, was caused by badly worn anti roll bar bushes. All else should be fine.
Should be... Murphy is never asleep
Cheers mates, going to update the thread when the piece arrives and it's put in. Hope that clears any knocking sound.
I'd like to contribute a little bit to the community knowledge by sharing my experiences with "strange" knocking noises coming from the front suspension.
As the weather was not very nice to us this year and it rained a lot around these parts the roads are full of pot holes and generally I think our roads in Serbia aren't up to any standard (in most places at least). Don't take it offensively, there are smooth and good roads in the country...surely somewhere...
To get back to the topic I had a similar issue like the lot of you of hearing a distinctive knocking noise coming from the front of the car when I went over pot holes and generally not even roads. The sound was more or less there when the car rolled from side to side on bad tarmac. On a smooth pavement there were no apparent sounds and the car drove smoothly at least to what I could feel and tell and I drive it a lot mostly on highways and the rest in town.
The first check up point was to visit the car optics shop to check the wheel alignment at the time when I changed the tires from winter to summer ones two months ago.
They noted that the front track control arm joint at the right side was pretty much shot (worn out) and the left side was on it's way and this could be one of the reasons. Given I like to treat the car as any member of the family (in a good way ) I took it to my "trusted" mechanic to have it checked up. It was obvious, the wheel alignment guys did not lie the control arm or wishbone was worn (note: i changed them a little bit over a year ago). No way back, have to do the job, I need the car and I like to play it safe after all we are driving the beast a lot. Changed the parts, both front control arms just to play it safe, no point in coming back cause of the left one in 6 months again I thought and I also thought this was it. Sadly, when the mechanic took it for a test spin he went immediately out to town and on the highway where there is no knocking sound heard from the front suspension.
No prob, took it back for wheel alignment, they did the job, I stood there all the while they were working on it. All is in the green and the steering wheel and other various angles have been aligned according to specifications.
I took the car for a descent 2000 km's for a business trip around these parts, and I noticed the shaking rattling-knocking sound wasn't gone. For that matter it only got worse, producing it more often.
I took it to the shop again, a little bit pissed that the rattling-knocking noise is still there and more apparent then before.
I stood beside the car during the "check up" and on the left side there was a little bit worn anti roll bar. NO worries, cheap fix maybe 10 quids and a bit extra for the mech. But then I took it for a test drive and the knocking-rattling sound was still there to my ever growing amazement, you can guess I was a little bit.
Back to the lift, mount the car and do a complaint that the sound is still there and I can clearly hear the rattling-knocking sound.
Finally, the fix comes up (at least hopefully)
The rattling-knocking noise when going over bumps and uneven road is caused by worn anti roll bar bushes. Damn, finally something a light at the end of the tunnel. I told my mechanic friend to check and double check and he tells me that they missed it so far because 1. they did not drive it on uneven roads 2. according to them it's a fairly sound piece of rubber and mounting which rarely brakes .... yea, I add to it when you drive the car only on a highway ...
Anyway, new parts ordered. Should be in by next Monday. It all is not a too expensive fix bout should make a difference.
So to sum it up, the rattling-knocking noise, at least in my case, was caused by badly worn anti roll bar bushes. All else should be fine.
Should be... Murphy is never asleep
Cheers mates, going to update the thread when the piece arrives and it's put in. Hope that clears any knocking sound.
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