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Technical What the hell is that knocking?????

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Technical What the hell is that knocking?????

bullybite

bullybite

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Joined
Sep 23, 2010
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Hi everyone, I have recently purchased a Panda auto selecta 1108 1994, in loveley condition. There seems to be just one main issue with it. When driving there is a knocking noise iwhich appears to be coming from the front drivers side. The noise does speed up and slow down with the pace of the car. When turning left it fades out a little, when turning right it becomes louder. I took it to a garage, he seems to think it may be the drive shaft, but his suppliers can not get them. I have rang around places to find one, (they are few and far between!) I spoke to a drive shaft specialist, who told me that if the noise is still there when free wheeling in neutral, it shouldn't be the drive shaft. The noise is still there when free wheeling. I am no mechanic, but I jacked up the car to have a look. All wheels seem solid with no obvious play or movement. So am now stuck! My fear is that it is the gearbox, if so am I worth scrapping the car?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
I doubt it is the gearbox mount as that is on the passenger side, plus you would only get a clunk when you take up drive not all the time whilst moving.

I also wouldn't rule out the driveshafts, even when in neutral the driveshafts and diff will still be turning so they could still be the problem.
 
Thanks aca, LoL, I have had a infestation of Brava gremlins before, sounds like a similar creature. Thats very helpful I will get underneath this weekend to have a look at that. and thanks Panda 1408, if it is the driveshaft, then I know that I can get this one reconditioned. (I think:yum:)
 
I had a quick look under my panda on sunday, (got a bit wet(n)) I think the gearbox mounts are ok, they are a bit dry looking but not perished away, will look at replacing them in the near future though. I have noticed another factor about the "knocking noise" when excelerating up a hill, it fades out a little, sometimes completley. does this still sound like a driveshaft problem?:confused:
 
bullybite said:
I had a quick look under my panda on sunday, (got a bit wet(n)) I think the gearbox mounts are ok, they are a bit dry looking but not perished away, will look at replacing them in the near future though. I have noticed another factor about the "knocking noise" when excelerating up a hill, it fades out a little, sometimes completley. does this still sound like a driveshaft problem?:confused:
Click to expand...

I still think its a gear mount indication, gear mount could look OK visually, but rubber still can be damaged, softened, loose or something else....
In my case knocking sound have been very loud during fast accelerating or during prompt unload in 3rd gear. Louder downhill than uphill drive......One of method to check gear mount is to open the bonnet and parked under handbrake in neutral - start the engine and give him a prompt load and prompt unload- and engine should not jump too much. If engine jump under load-unload, rubber mounts are softened too much (even knock sound could be evident- due to unusual -large engine movement under load - unload in neutral). In normal situation under quick load engine will move a little bit, but not jump as a wild horse. Situation is much worse during drive because transmition could move whole engine and gearbox forvard-reverse, and up-down depending of speed, load, brakes......etc.....all mounts (two on top of engine and one gear mount (third engine mount) could make engine movement unusualy chaotic and loud knocking sound become evedent....
Another method to check gear mount is to stop the engine and leave the Panda parked in 3rd gear without electric contact and without handbrake (on some flat terrain). Than try to push it in direction of movement and vice versa and look if engine movement is too large or even knock sound (ask somebody to help in observation) is present. If engine jumps too much (and knock sound is here) its a gear mount rubber......
 
The Panda engine/gearbox mounts are quite wobbly, even from new. Jack it up, take the wheels off and look inside for any dints and fresh metal that indicate where parts collide. It could even be something daft and immediately obvious like a plastic inner wing come lose.

Off the top of my head, either your suspension strut is lose (check the top 3 bolts with a 10mm and 13mm socket), or your engine and gearbox mounts are wobbly and causing something to hit.

The noise appears to be something to do with loading and unloading the front of the car so think suspension and weight moving front to back.

Where are you in the UK? I'll help a Panda out, as long as it's not 600 miles away lol
 
Last edited:
we have had a similar problem. we had a knocking noise from the front (Not engine) and it got worse when going faster.

Turned out the wheel was not done up properly. the wheel was loose but all the bolts were tight. we had to take them all off and do them up in opposites. Try this becuase it's a quick job and may solve your problem if you havent already solved it (y)

Hope this helps.
 
My money is on the (outer) CV joint on driver's side. You can get them from eBay if not from someone on here. Makes sense with all you have said as symptoms. That or a loose brake caliper.
 
alexbpl said:
The Panda engine/gearbox mounts are quite wobbly, even from new. Jack it up, take the wheels off and look inside for any dints and fresh metal that indicate where parts collide. It could even be something daft and immediately obvious like a plastic inner wing come lose.

Off the top of my head, either your suspension strut is lose (check the top 3 bolts with a 10mm and 13mm socket), or your engine and gearbox mounts are wobbly and causing something to hit.

The noise appears to be something to do with loading and unloading the front of the car so think suspension and weight moving front to back.

Where are you in the UK? I'll help a Panda out, as long as it's not 600 miles away lol
Click to expand...

I live on the outskirts of Stoke on Trent, Thank you for the info, I will look at suspension struts, because I have noticed, that there was an MOT Advisory on them. I am somewhat Mechanically lacking, (but willing to have a go LoL:yum:) I presume these are mounted both at top and bottom?
 
lewey said:
My money is on the (outer) CV joint on driver's side. You can get them from eBay if not from someone on here. Makes sense with all you have said as symptoms. That or a loose brake caliper.
Click to expand...

This was my first thought aswel, as it happened to me on my previous car, but studying it, the noise is behaving in different manners and there does not seem to be any play in the wheel, when jacked up. (as I cannot state enough, I know very little about cars.) If my memeory serves me correct, when I jacked up my previous car, there was movement on the wheel. But having said all of that, I was not aware of an outer CV joint, as opposed to an inner one, I always just assumed there was one per wheel:p. Brake calliper, that is another one that I have not checked, will give it a look.
 
bullybite said:
This was my first thought aswel, as it happened to me on my previous car, but studying it, the noise is behaving in different manners and there does not seem to be any play in the wheel, when jacked up. (as I cannot state enough, I know very little about cars.) If my memeory serves me correct, when I jacked up my previous car, there was movement on the wheel. But having said all of that, I was not aware of an outer CV joint, as opposed to an inner one, I always just assumed there was one per wheel:p. Brake calliper, that is another one that I have not checked, will give it a look.
Click to expand...
The test you describe would not tell you whether the CV joint was problematic, but might tell you your wheel bearing was worn. If the CV is quite bad, you might be able to feel it by gripping the shaft out of the gearbox and giving it a "shake". If it moves excessively (not just along one plane) the CV could be bad.

Anyway, you have enough things to try now, I don't think anyone can help any further until you have found some actual mechanical evidence.
 
Hi all, I took my little Panda to the garage on tuesday, for them to have a quick drive around in it. The chap also thinks its a drive shaft or a diff problem. He is going to have it in on Monday to have a proper look underneath.

Yes Panda 1408 It was the one on Ebay, purchased from sandbach. Just hope it wasn't an expensive mistake. Be a real shame to have to get rid:cry:.
 
Hi all, I took my little Panda to the garage on Monday for someone to have a look underneath, here is the verdict:

Needs new offside wheel bearing £170 plus V.A.T:hm: (I have seen these on ebay for about £30 plus postage), possible driveshaft damage, they don't know untill they get the hub off, If it is damaged then they can sort this out at the same time for an additional £120 plus V.A.T.

The driveshaft, I think is possibly about right, but the wheel bearing seems ludicrous. any how I have spoken to a friend who used to race side cars, he thinks the bearings tey used on his sidecar were panda ones, so he is going to try and sort it for me, says he may be able to get the drive shaft reconditioned if needs be. just need to be without my Panda for a few days:cry:. Lets hope that is the end of that. (y)
 
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