Hi guys, 

 

Hope you can help. I've been chasing down a knocking noise for what feels like and eternity now and have still have no luck in finding it. 

 

It mostly happens when pulling away from standstill/low speed and it feels like something moves. It also makes a knocking noise when going over small potholes and bumpy roads. 

 

It started with the front suspension top mounts as one of them had collapsed on the right side, which the prompted me to change the lower control arms with new bushes. I also changed the drop links and ARB bushes and have just today replaced both tie rod ends as they were knackered and I could get a knocking noise out of them when moving them by hand. 

 

Alas, the noise is still there and I'm starting to pull my hair out over this. I'm loathed to take it to a garage and pay the obscene labour rates and inflated prices for parts. But in starting to think I have to. 

 

Any suggestions would be welcome. 

 

Thanks, Dan. 

Front lower radiator mounts that have failed can knock over bumps, easy way to check is to temp lodge a piece of foam between rad and crossmember to see if noise reduces or goes away. If it is them, I'm not sure they are still available anymore, so you may need to get creative.

 

Also double check your dog bone bushes are not seperated.

16 hours ago, kentphil1 said:

Also double check your dog bone bushes are not seperated.

It has been known for one of the bolts or both that hold one half of the d/bone assy to the subframe to part company, check for excessive rust in that area.

When you pull away the engine block tries to rotate and it taps the sub frame. The d/bone bush assy is just really a glorified anti-torsion bar.

As Kentphil1 says its worth checking all the bushes / fixings for excessive flexing.

Hey guys,

 

Thanks for your suggestions. I found the issue and it was the simplest thing which made me swear at myself for getting this wrong.

 

The bolts that secure the drop links the to ARB and strut were the wrong torque setting, I had set it to 30 Nm where it should have been 90 Nm. It was fine initially when replacing the drop links but the uneven roads made the noise worse over time I guess and loosened the bolt.

 

Anyway, tightened to 90 Nm and it makes no noise now. I guess it was moving around quite a bit but when the car was on the ground, I couldn't see/feel it.

 

Glad it's sorted now though.

 

Now to replace a leaky valve cover gasket! It's never ending!