Need Help With Suspension Issues, Knocking And Bumping

[leightonwoody]

3 months ago i bought a 2.3 mk2 2000 galaxy and since i bought it its been clonking over the slightest bump in the road which i immediatly assumed to be the top strut mounts.

also ther was a slight bump feeling from the front passenger side wheel so had a new tyre put on but didnt fix it, its a rythmical type bump as if i was drivng over raised painted lines in the road if you get my meaning, the drop links seem to be solid with no movement.

i took the car to a garage to have the top strut mounts changed but they couldnt get the top bolt undone and apparently they tried everything saying they could only do it if i replaced the whole strut n both sides, so i took the car back home. but he also told me that the wishbone on the passenger side was knackered,,,,, could this be the cause of 1 or both of my problems since the knocking noise seems to come from under the car as opposed to behind the dash where the mounts are

 

hope you can understand what im on about any help would be appreciated

 

im going to have to try and change the wishbone so any help or advise would also help, as i dont have a balljoint splitter and ive never done this type of job before

[seatkid]

its been clonking over the slightest bump in the road

 

the drop links seem to be solid with no movement.

 

90% chance it is one or both droplinks - they dont need much wear at all to sound like the suspension is falling to bits and in a lot of cases, especially with the vehicle on the ground you wont be able to physically check the ball joints for wear (unless you possess body builder biceps and a fine engineers eye)

 

Replacement drop links only cost between £10-£25 each and only take about 10-20 minutes a side as a DIY job.

 

Droplinks are the most common wear out item on the front suspension and I would do these first before you dive in and do anything else.

 

The ARB bushes are also prone to wear and give rise to banging over any bump.

 

Note: the top strut mounts are meant to float by design - many have been changed for no reason whatsoever except ignorance. The top mounts are checked with wheels on the ground and full vehicle weight applied, when the vehicle is lifted, they will appear to drop, that is normal.

Edited March 27, 2012 by seatkid

[mikej]

Definately sounds like the drop links. Most on here have changed many, personally i would replace with the ford items, i think about Edited March 27, 2012 by mikej

[leightonwoody]

drop links ordered

any ideas about the rythmical bumping from the front tyre more noticable going round corners

[seatkid]

drop links ordered

any ideas about the rythmical bumping from the front tyre more noticable going round corners

Could be a CV joint (probably outer if its louder when turning), or a wheel bearing. You said you changed a tyre, but it may be one of the other tyres, its notoriously difficult to locate the corner these noises come from. I suggest you swap each of the other tyres in turn for the spare to eliminate them before proceding further. Your dodgy droplinks may also be amplifying the noise.

[jamesvh]

i may be thick but how easy are they to change????

had a look around but carnt see a step by step guide i can just about work out which end of a screwdriver to use.

[seatkid]

you didnt look very far then.

Try looking at tech faq no.2

[SolarB]

personally i would replace with the ford items, i think about �27 each as apposed to �13 each due to replaceing several sets of cheaper ones myself

My pair from ebay lasted nearly a full year. :)

[marinabrid]

yours lasted nearly a year ! mine done 10 months and are worn again and i only do 1000 miles a year, the last pair were supposed to be the best lockheed branded lasted no longer than the previous chinese pair.

The town i live is full of humps and potholes so i can only put it down to this.

[leightonwoody]

just following up on this

i replaced both droplinks with cheapy ones off ebay and 2 months after putting them on 1 snapped as i was slowly reversing down a small curb from my drive couldnt believe it bought proper one from motor factor 15 quid for 2 and no problems since

as for the knocking i found out that it was the anti roll bar bushes so replaced them and no more knocking but thanks for all your replies