Hi,

I'm getting a knocking noise from the front of the car when I turn either way, or go over bumpy roads. I've had the front bushes changed and the wishbone checked and all seems fine, my mate who's a mechanic had a quick look but said all looks good. I haven't had time to give it to him to get it up on the ramps so was wondering, any ideas please...

It's a 2003 vrs.

Cheers people.

Front spring possibly...? Or arb. Drop links.

Almost def front arb bushings. Get an R32 FARB and Neuspeed 28 mm RARB then that's clonking noise gone and handling sorted !

And as you are in Kent give me a shout if you wish to have a run in mine before you decide cheers.

First of all, cheers for the information.

I'm sure I had the front ARB bushes replaced but I'll have to check and confirm that. I hope it is something as simple as that.

And secondly, cheers for the offer of going out in yours, I'm happy that if there on your car though and you're recommending them, they must be good and doing the trick.

Thanks a lot people

The bar can corrode under the bushes as well so even if the bushes were replaced in the past the bar might have deteriorated since then.

It was only a few months ago that it was done due to a knocking and grinding/creaking noise. I was told that the bushes had leaked and dried out so I'm sure they were replaced then, now the creaking noise has stayed away but the knocking is back AND DRIVING ME MAD!!!!!!! 8-(

Have a look at the ARB droplinks too. The balljoints on the ends wear out and can cause a knocking noise that drives you nuts.

Thanks for all the replies, really appreciate it. Just need to sort it now

Thanks for all the replies, really appreciate it. Just need to sort it now

Any luck with sorting the knocking out? I have a knocking from the front end seems to be worst going slow over small bumps! no problem on motorway (I do 200miles a day to and from work)I don't notice it until I'm tootling around town. My local mechanic has had her on the ramps and said everything feels solid so he would be guessing if he started changing bushes etc.. it's driving me mad as it sounds so bad I thought a good mechanic would be like yeah its the ARB or (whatever)and I'd happily pay the money to get it sorted. One question I do have is should there be any gap between the rubber disc on the top mounts and the body (where the strut comes through the body under the bonnet)? Sorry for the poor terminology!

Edited 21 January, 201214 yr by Drut

Any luck with sorting the knocking out? I have a knocking from the front end seems to be worst going slow over small bumps! no problem on motorway (I do 200miles a day to and from work)I don't notice it until I'm tootling around town. My local mechanic has had her on the ramps and said everything feels solid so he would be guessing if he started changing bushes etc.. it's driving me mad as it sounds so bad I thought a good mechanic would be like yeah its the ARB or (whatever)and I'd happily pay the money to get it sorted. One question I do have is should there be any gap between the rubber disc and the body where the strut comes through the body (under the bonnet)sorry for the poor terminology!

Sounds like ARB bushes or drop links.

Yes, there should there be a gap between the spring cap and the turret. If one is sitting down on the turret, then you have a broken spring.

Thanks for the quick reply guess I'll have to bite the bullet and start replacing the common items in the hope it solves the problem as it's spoiling an otherwise awesome machine!

Thanks for the quick reply guess I'll have to bite the bullet and start replacing the common items in the hope it solves the problem as it's spoiling an otherwise awesome machine!

check for a loose brake caliper.you could have a loose or worn pad pin.

or worn threads on the caliper carrier.

both symptoms you guys are describing do appear to be pointing to the arb drop links that connect the arb to the suspension strut. When the ball joints on these links wear they can cause a crashing / knocking feel that can be transferred through the front and feel a lot worse. You will typically not hear or feel it on a smooth road or motorway. These are relatively cheap and very easy to replace.