15 replies to this topic

[tavx220]

Good Afternoon All

I'm experiencing a knocking noise, I believe from the front nearside wheel/suspension and I wonder if anyone could help me with some suggestions of what it may be.

These are the details (I promise I've scoured all 27 pages of search results I came across for 'Knocking' and have conducted a number of other searches for 'Suspension', 'Wheels', 'Steering' etc)

In an attempt to rule out as much as possible, I’ve already:

-Replaced rear toe link inner ball joint (just in case my ears were playing tricks and because it had all the right symptoms)
-Engine Mounts done 6 months ago
-Removed seats and everything under them
-Checked wheel bolts
-Removed tyre weld can, checked headlights, fog lights, undertray, bonnet release and rubber bushes (bonnet)

I've Tried:

-Bouncing the corner of the car and cannot replicate the noise
-Checking drop links, track rods and wishbones when fitting the rear toe link and all seem to be ok
-Steering is tight with no play at all

The rattle/clonk is very inconsistent, sometimes sounding over bumps but other times not. It can appear in a straight line at low speed but in particular on left turn when the wheel is not loaded.

I took a passenger out last night to listen and the noise was far less present, I believe this to be due to the additional weight on that side of the car.

It gets worse over the course of a longer journey and has become worse over a period of time to the point where I will now not drive it until I can identify and fix the problem.

I've had the car just over a year (03 N/A) and am well aware of all the other rattles/knocks/bangs/clonks but I know what they are and I'm happy to share the cabin with them. This one is not normal and I may have to admit myself to a Mental Institution if I can't find it.


Experiences/suggestions welcomed

[timmyp]

I had a similar thing and it was the track-rod ends on the front NS wheel. Get someone to hold the steering wheel and grab each wheel a wiggle (technical term). If it's the track-rod ends you'll be able to see it moving. New ones from Elise parts aren't a lot of money. DON'T get them from Vauxhall because they'll try and rip you off at least twice as much. EDIT because I just noticed your post says you've already checked the track-rod ends...sorry. But still, that's what it was on mine so maybe worth another look?

Edited by timmyp, 12 March 2009 - 03:55 PM.

[Anarchy]

Check out my vid:


Dont discount the steering rack just because theres no play left/right. The bush bore could be worn.

[tavx220]

Thanks for you responses guys I think that whilst I'm in there trying to establish what the problem is I may as well do the Track rod ends anyway at that price. Unfortunately that Vid sounds just like my knock/clonk/rattle - really useful none the less. Thanks Anarchy! If it is the rack, I know I can go direct to Titan for a new one but whats the view on re-con & where could I get one?

[techieboy]

Titan can refurb your existing rack as good as new IF you have one of their original racks fitted and not the later ones made in India that aren't refurb'able

[bAAx]

i had a knocking sound much like yours that drove me similarly insane.. car is at the lotus stealers at the mo getting it fixed.. (i hope so at least, this car has me throwing fits with new noises about every two weeks, and ive had it for four years) -> this noise is most likely play in the fixtures near the wheels of front anti roll bar.. good luck

[tavx220]

Thanks Baax Mine is also in being looked at today and if I've understood correctly this is also what they've suggested and rectified - I showed them Anarchy's vid and he can't replicate that (shame a quick rack would have been nice). I'm picking it up shortly so will report back. I really hope it's fixed. Failing this I'll be forced to do a 'Techie' and conduct a complete suspension refresh!!

[Yellow_or_black?]

Funnily enough Mark, I dug out this thread earlier to ask if you had sorted the problem out. Hope it has been once you get the car back later

[techieboy]

Failing this I'll be forced to do a 'Techie' and conduct a complete suspension refresh!!

No, no, whatever else you do, don't start with that.

[tavx220]

I'll have to write this quickly as my carers want to sedate me and return me to my padded cell - it's nice here. I sometimes talk to the other 'special people' and have found a friend in a woman who thinks she's a duck!! The doctors say that if I keep taking my pills I'll stop repeating 'must find the knocking..... 'must find the knocking' and rocking violently. I could even be out of here in the next 6 months!! Thankyou all for your help and messages of support during this difficult time .....I think the fact that I've just written that means I really am slowly going crazy - alas upon the return of my vehicle, the noise is still there So last night I set about the car with sockets and spanners to check everything myself... AGAIN As I undid the nut on the track rod end, at the steering arm, the bolt to which the nut is attached started spinning so I had to cut it off - I was going to replace it anyway in order to to rule it out fully as the issue. Is it best to replace these in pairs? Failing that some have suggested the shock itself - would there be any signs to look for? (doesn't make a noise when I bounce the car). Can't be much else to check can there?

[L-PLATE]

I had knocking from front of my n.a. so replaced the anti roll bar D-bushes and drop links which helped alot. But...I still have a knocking sound more audible when goin over bumps a low speed - or pulling away / decelerating in traffic. for mine I suspect it is the bush on the steering rack that people talk about - even tho no play in steering - still s a possible candidate. very annoying sound and spoils my journeys. ps some other people mention the front brakes/calipers rattling on that side.

[Yellow_or_black?]

I'll have to write this quickly as my carers want to sedate me and return me to my padded cell - it's nice here. I sometimes talk to the other 'special people' and have found a friend in a woman who thinks she's a duck!!

[tavx220]

Ok so I've now changed both Track rod ends and am about to embark on another suggested issue - anti roll bar bushes. Problem - how do I approach this (I have searched but bo luck). Is it a clam off job? just front undertray or can it be done from the wheel arch? if someone could point me in the direction of a guide that'd be great as I'm really starting to loosemy patience!!! With the car of course - not you super helpful people

[VIX]

Personally no idea but does this help?:

http://wiki.seloc.org/a/Change_the_ARB



PS I also have the occasional "bag of spanners" noise from the front near-side. It always stops when I brake so I've always assumed it's rattling aftermarket pads which are slightly smaller than OEM. I presume you've discounted pads?

Edited by VIX, 21 March 2009 - 03:51 PM.

[tavx220]

Personally no idea but does this help?:

http://wiki.seloc.org/a/Change_the_ARB



PS I also have the occasional "bag of spanners" noise from the front near-side. It always stops when I brake so I've always assumed it's rattling aftermarket pads which are slightly smaller than OEM. I presume you've discounted pads?

Thanks Vix

Yes ruled out the pads but this is very helpful - probably confirms that it's a little beyond my technical ability but helpful none the less. However..... I'm starting to think that this may not be the issue - just been out to remind myself why it is I've spent 4 weeks trying to identify this problem and really warmed everything up.

On my return I've just bounced the corner of the car then gone and bounced the other 3 - the result is that the front near side seems a lot softer and with the same pressure applied to the other 3 corners I get a lot more travel. There is now also finally a knocking when I do this - Does this point towards it being the shock?

[Tail-end Charlie]

Wow, you're a brave man going into something like this, I feel your pain. Did you get a result on this? I have something similar, it is not so much a knocking but more of a dull squeaking in my case (like the noise you'd imagine you'd get if you were to stuff Jordan and Jodie Marsh into a lift together). Similar characteristics though, N/S wheel, not always there, only a bump or jolt seems to set it going and then it will keep going until some random period of time later when it will be fine again. It's definately related to up/down motion of the front nearside wheel, it only squeaks when the wheel is perturbed in this direction. You have to resist the temptation to smash that wheel over everthing you can find in the journey though as it does no good, it goes by itself or not at all. The other sure fire way to make it shut up is to have a passenger and then it goes completely, although by this time it is too late as you poll up to your passengers house dragging a picket fence where you've given into the temptation of smashing the wheel until it shuts up!! I reckon it is the sound of muffled metal on metal under high pressure, probably some form of ball joint deteriorating. I was thinking about investigating it, but after reading this my personal feeling is to leave it until something bad happens It passed an MOT last month (although I'm not sure what you can read into that with the MOT being associated with a dealer). The steering is fine, I will try the wobbly wheel test but I can't see it being that. It could be absolutely anything so I can't really see the point in investigating further. In my experience once people go into these things they end up changing everything!!