knocking from front

[rd123]

My fabia is knocking quite badly from the front. I have changed the wishbones and all bushes to do with it, replaced droplinks and put on new track rod ends and it is still knocking. Just needing some help with what it could possibly be. I think it might be front suspension, i have done the bounce test and it seems to be coming to a rest when it should but does seem a bit spongy. Any help would be great thanks.

[Chris Coates]

knocking when turning, over bumps, or....?

[nathan willard]

i had the same thing changed all the same, ended up being the arb bushes, have you changed them????

[rd123]

When i go over bumps sorry i should of said. It also makes a noise when i take off from lights etc when the car rises up when i accelarate. Thats what makes me think it might be suspension.

[rd123]

no not changed them but when i was doing droplinks etc they looked ok but might be worth doing for all they cost.

[Janno1]

hi ive just picked up a fab and its the same but mainly when turning. everythings been changed and i can't find whats up. gonna spin spring see if its not sitting properly. like a ticking wen i turn right and a little left. also the 400 mile drive back kept tugging to left occasionally. sorry to bust ya thread dude but ive checked everything too and thinkin this could be last thing but i bet youve set yours right?

[rd123]

knocking when turning is usualy cv joint and pulling to the left might just be tracking

[Chris Coates]

Knocking when accel/decel could be engine mounts, or suspension mount/bearings. If you're replaced everything else, it's all I can think of.

Could also potentially be gearbox mount I guess.

Edited 13 September, 2011 by Chris Coates

[stevobeavo]

Top mount bearing too.

Get a mate to turn the wheel a bit either side and check if you can see any movement in them.

[Sy.]

It will be your gearbox mount

[nathan willard]

i bet its the arb bushes m8, it can only be one of the following- consol bushes (front wishbone bushes) or rear dogbone mount.

drop links.

arb bushes.

shock top mount bearing (unlikely).

Trust me m8 my arb bushes looked fine (no play), but i changed them and knocking went !!

do the bushes i bet its them buddy.

Edited 14 September, 2011 by nathan willard

[Alan B]

Sounds very like what my car is doing I replaced all the bushings on the front arms with powerflex ones and it still makes a knocking noise on bumps. So I just ordered the arb ones I will let you know if this works once they arrive

[scooter1556]

I managed to break a front suspension spring near the top mount going round a corner which resulted in a knocking noise when turning. Wasn't obvious what had happened until the car was jacked up and the spring was stretched.

[grr666]

The pulling to the left is a Mark 1 Fabia trait.

More or less all of them do it to some extent.

Can apparently be corrected with shims.

[Beancounter1980]

My money is on CV Joint. We had exactly the same problem

[rd123]

how hard are the arb bushes to fit

[nathan willard]

just get your local garage 2 do them, parts cost about a tenner and mine charged me £25 to fit !! not worth messing about doing it yourself m8.

[Alan B]

I just fitted the arb bushes and there is no more harsh knock but I now have what sounds like a rattle coming from the front of the car. Fitting the arb bushes isn't to hard so would definitely try doing it my self if I was you.

[rd123]

I have managed to find out what some of the nocking might be caused by. The bracket that takes the bolt from the front of the wish bone has the threads stripped. So I am going to use a helicoil and see if that helps. I would of just got a new bracket but the other bolts that hold it in place are stuck solid so will be quicker just using a helicoil.

[Chris Coates]

I just fitted the arb bushes and there is no more harsh knock but I now have what sounds like a rattle coming from the front of the car. Fitting the arb bushes isn't to hard so would definitely try doing it my self if I was you.

Rattling will probably be the drop links.

[rd123]

problem solved!!! it was due to me being a bit thick and not jacking up the suspension arm to line up the bolt holes in the drop links. So they were not properly in.