Loud "crack" Pull Out From Junction.

[chips]

Hi all


I was pulling out of junction onto a busy road, had to accelerate hard changed into second gear and heard a loud crack from the front, sounded like something had broke. So I pulled into a layby checked the brakes and the steering, it all felt ok. Decided I would drive her home. I couldn't feel anything wrong the rest of the drive home, only a couple of miles. The steering, brakes etc, felt as usual. I got to the side streets where I live and turning left another loud crack, and now rattling every time I go over speed bumps or uneven ground.
When I got home I had a look underneath to see if I could see anything hanging off. I noticed that the grease from the passenger side CV joint was all round the inside of my rim. I ordered a new CV joint and replaced it, but the old CV joint seems ok, but to be safe I replaced it anyway. While I had the car up on the axle stands I had a good look underneath to see if I could see what had broken, but I couldn't see anything, I pulled and banged and shook everything I could, but didn't see anything. I started the car and noticed the driverside drive shaft is vibrating quite badly. The car still drives as she did. The loud rattling, its almost a jingling, like loose brake pads but a lot louder, happens over speed bumps and uneven ground, and started after the "Crack". Are there any bolts that are prone to breaking or anything else for that matter. I havn't driven the car bar to the place to work at it, because the crack really sounded like something metal had snapped.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks


Chips

Edited June 10, 2013 by chips

[bigdave982]

Drop links ok?

[Bar41]

Check your roll restrictor bolt - it basically is the lower one of the engine/gearbox mounts and is common to shearing.  If you search the forum there is quite a bit of information about it.

[chips]

Thanks for the quick replies, I'll have a look and see.  I appreciate the help.

 

 

 

Chips

[gregers]

open bonnet with engine off,grab hold of engine if it rocks/moves easily then it could well be the restrictor.

BE VERY CAREFUL driving it if it is,as the whole engine moves and puts a lot of stress on certain parts/pipes etc.

[viperclive]

Sounds to me as though you have split the rear rubber mount in your wishbone, give it a good prise with a big shifter or put wheel brace on wheel, put lots of load on as though your tightening nuts while looking at rear of wishbone if it moved a lot you have knackered it by pulling away quick! I've upgraded mine they are solid rubber!

[chips]

Hi all

 

Thanks for all the replies, they are very helpful. Changed the droplinks, no difference. I had replaced all the suspension arms last year, so I know what the noises are like. I had a good look round the arms, all the bushes are ok. I used my breaker bar to get some leverage on them, also cheked exhaust, top mounts, springs, and all the bolts in the engine/gearbox mounts.  It seems as tho its the coming from the gearbox, so to rule out driveshafts I swapped out mine with my brothers who owns Alhambra also, this made no difference. I have no trouble selecting gears, so could it be the dif ? its the ony thing left.

Thanks for all your help

 

 

 

Chips

[mo1681]

Just wondered does this noise come about when you push your clutch in? Or just everytime driving over uneven ground...

[seatkid]

As earlier mentioned its most likely the roll restrictor bar fixing bolt has sheared. It will still appear as if its in place but the bar will move  with engine acceleration/decelleration and make a loud bang. Roll restrictor is mounted under the car between the gearbox and subframe.

 

Another thing to check is the rollbar mounts/bushes.