Anoying Knocking Noise From Front

[rushy]

Hi guys,

 

My 96 V6 gal has an annoying knocking noise coming from somewhere within the front suspension/steering area.

 

The noise can be heard when going over even the slightest bump.

 

Tried, with the help of a chap at work, to locate the noise by turning the steering wheel left to right with the engine OFF, we then seemed to track it down to either Strut top mounts (Drivers side seems to move more than passengers) or knackered rack.

 

Reasons for thinking these is as he was turning steering wheel, I held onto the strut, which seemed to vibrate slightly, then grabbed track rod, which seemed to vibrate more.

 

There dosen't seem to be any play in the TRE ball joints, and I replaced the drivers side not long before Xmas as the ball joint was shot totally.

 

At first I suspected ARB links, but they seem ok.

 

Please help!!

[Guest Turbo]

ARB Links, anti-roll bar links, Drop links, whatever. It doesn`t take much for one of these to knock. Take the side you think is knocking, off the car and see if one of the joints are loose. Could be a ball joint or track rod end or even anti roll bar bushes. Ball joints easy to do as are track rod ends - just don`t forget to have the steering tracked if it`s the latter. Never done anti-roll bar bushes. If it`s a track rod end you should have play in the steering if you jack the car up and shake the road wheel front to back, not up and down.

[Guest adekeys]

got the same thing, had a look underneath and thought it might be the bottom engine cover but it was all tight. are any of the formentioned things cost a lot to do as i am going to be away for 4 months

[seatkid]

Change the ARB links - DIY- you can get them for as little as

[Guest MATT]

You need to really tug hard when checking an ARB link. Even the slightest movement in the ball joints and your car suspension will sound as if its dropping to bits.

Yes, the slightest movement, and they make a right racket!

 

MATT

[Topbloke]

you wont find any play in them if you jack the car up it has to be sitting on the ground silly comment i know but just letting you know best idea is as mentioned remove the side that is noisey and see if it go's

[rushy]

Am going to try and have a good look on Sat.

 

In the worst case, rack being caput, what sort of cost am I looking at for a replacement, and has anyone fitted one?

[seatkid]

In the worst case, rack being caput,

Your'e overeacting.

 

In the worst case your engine/gearbox/suspension is shot, budget for around

[galaxychap]

i have the same car and noticed this noise when going over humps in road if i take the humps square on it ok but if just the n/s set of wheels or o/s set go over its a right racket.

[seatkid]

i have the same car and noticed this noise when going over humps in road if i take the humps square on it ok but if just the n/s set of wheels or o/s set go over its a right racket.

Classic ARB link symptoms

[dipsomaniac]

handy previous post here seatkid has provided a useful image

[rushy]

Am going to try and have a good look at it all either later today or tomorrow.

 

The knocking noise happens over the slightest of imperfections on the road. But the reason why I suspect the rack is that with the engine OFF, when you move the steering wheel left - to - right and hold onto the track rod, a vibration can be felt.

 

Has anybody ever changed a rack?

 

Are all petrol galaxy racks the same as I've been offered a rack from a 97 2.0l petrol, will it fit a 96 2.8V6?

[seatkid]

with the engine OFF, when you move the steering wheel left - to - right and hold onto the track rod, a vibration can be felt.

I think you'll find thats normal, its because the majority of power is transmitted from the rack and pinion when the engine is off instead of the hydraulics when the engine is running.

 

 

Budget for around

[rushy]

A quick update gents.

 

Just been out in the gal quickly and decided to have a tug on the arb links, now I can't feel any play in the link rod itself, however, when having a good firm tug (ooh er) the arb moves. Am I correct in thinking that the arb bushes are gone?

 

Please don't scare me with any more of you multi thousand pound remedies!!!

[Mussey1]

Hi,

 

Just replace the ARB drop links anyway to see if the noise stops. I would be 99.9% sure that the problem will be cured.

 

When I replaced mine a few years ago it was only apparent that they were shot when they had been removed from the car.

 

There are reports of these things failing on very low mileage cars and is a common problem. They do really make a hell of a noise, in fact I thought that my car was dangerous to drive because the noise was so bad!!!

 

Mussey1.

[redstar]

Easy job

[rushy]

will remove the bars tomorrow and report back.

 

Having just fitted a rear arb to the back of a classic mini, I'm sure the arb should have a degree of side to side movement to allow for cornering and suspension travel, but my gal's front arb seems to meve quite a bit.

 

quote Mussey1

 

"I thought that my car was dangerous to drive because the noise was so bad!!!"

 

 

That's exactly how mine sounds at the mo, annoying as hell. Plus I was worried as I had to drive from Oxford to Birmingham on Thurs and Fri and was reluctant to do it in the Gal just incase I left half of her on the M40!! She made the trips though!!!