Arrrgggg the clunk / crack noise......

[Andy SE9 V6]

Hi All,
Just read cozy's thread about his broken spring, I've been suffering with a similar problem, (but i have checked the springs with the car jacked up and can't see anything)
At low speeds normally approaching a junction or in traffic, a nasty sounding clunk / crack from the front end. I've had new bottom arms and tie-bars on it 2 weeks ago, and if anything it's worse than before. Just had it a Charlie Browns and Kwik-Fit this morning, neither could find anything wrong....

If i had to say when it's at it's worst it would be if you dip the clutch and press the brakes as you come to a stop, normally turning left, but since the arms were changed the car doesn't feel right when you make any left turn at all......

Anyone got any suggestions??? re-check them springs???

[MadOnVaux!]

What's it lke over speed-bumps etc...could possibly be a piece of gravel/chipping in the front spring cup?

This is quite common apparently, i had my 1st Calibra into Vauxhall once with this, and since we had the main road through my estate tarred and chipped (huge council cheapo bodge job) mine have been full of them...something to check anyway mate [img]/smile.gif[/img]

[dicky]

Hmmm mign also does this, and i have to fitted new lower arms, drop links, anti roll bushes.

Could be track rod ends or a broken spring i think.

[Phantom]

try the upper front suspension bearing at the top of your strut, good way to tell if these have gone is to measure the gap between the metal strut plate and the strut top on the wing

[stig0498]

Ive also got the same problem as Andy. I jacked the car up today, couldn't find anything until I put the wheel back on and started waggling it around. The wheel moved as though the strut was broken. anyone come across this?

[thegeth]

I also have clunking noise comming from the left front, started a few weeks after i had new dampers and lowering springs put on. If i wiggle the steering when wheels are turned slightly to the left the clunking noise happens but only in this position, it did for a while driving but stopped a few weeks ago.

While goin to collect the other half from work yesterday felt like i had a puncture on the front or rear right side, went and checked but tyres were fine. When turning left feels like the rim is wobbling across the tyre, couldn't work out whether it felt like front or rear as it felt like one or the other at different times.

Have had a look round the suspension, still the clunking as mentioned above, track rod arms feel a little wobbly where connected to steering rack, but bolts are tight. Was taken to a garage about a month ago had all steering and suspension checked over, they could here the noise but couldn't find anything wrong.

Have noticed alot of play where suspension is connected to the car under the bonnet i guess the top mount, correct me if im wrong, but again this was checked over when went to garage for its MOT. Is there ment to be movement here or is this mount suppost to be fairly rigid.

Any ideas would be of help.

[stig0498]

Have you checked the securing nut on the front shocks? If it is loose it will allow the shocker to pivot in the strut and cause a clunk.

That's where I am at the moment, but rain keeps on stopping play.

[thegeth]

yep they're tight had it all checked at garage, just didn't know whether they were supposed to have any movement in them.

[nige]

I have also had a knocking noise on the left front side, all started from a cracked spring, had it changed along with top mounting. It started to do it again after a few weeks took it back, and had two new springs all was fine for 6 months, then it was back. Had a new drop link ( anti roll bar had to much free play) and lower suspension arm, its back again 3 months later. I have noticed when the car is stopped and wheel turned full lock left and right there is alot of movement in the steering rack looks like it is pushing agains the bulkhead. Has anyone else got this too?

[T.F.S.]

the big clunck/donk as you pull up/drive off is the big bolt that secures the bottom wishbone to the chassis

rubber gets soft and allows movement

temp fix, get under there and pull like MAD!, tighten it up as much as poss

[LE16]

It's probably the top monts, i have just swapped mine and the noise is comming back, they were destroyed though, when i get the time to go back under the car I will be looking at the lower arms and probably replace the roller barings.

[dreamdim]

<!--QuoteBegin-thegeth+--><div class='quotetop'>(thegeth)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I also have clunking noise comming from the left front, started a few weeks after i had new dampers and lowering springs put on. If i wiggle the steering when wheels are turned slightly to the left the clunking noise happens but only in this position, it did for a while driving but stopped a few weeks ago.

While goin to collect the other half from work yesterday felt like i had a puncture on the front or rear right side, went and checked but tyres were fine. When turning left feels like the rim is wobbling across the tyre, couldn't work out whether it felt like front or rear as it felt like one or the other at different times.

Have had a look round the suspension, still the clunking as mentioned above, track rod arms feel a little wobbly where connected to steering rack, but bolts are tight. Was taken to a garage about a month ago had all steering and suspension checked over, they could here the noise but couldn't find anything wrong.

Have noticed alot of play where suspension is connected to the car under the bonnet i guess the top mount, correct me if im wrong, but again this was checked over when went to garage for its MOT. Is there ment to be movement here or is this mount suppost to be fairly rigid.

Any ideas would be of help.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<!--fonto:Times New Roman--><span style="font-family:Times New Roman"><!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->I got the same thing after lowering 35mm. The noise sounds like a wheel bearing is on a way out so I’ve changed it, but it did not help. Also when braking it makes a clunking noise. Any ideas what could be the problem?<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--></span><!--/fontc-->

[v6calibra]

try tightening up the rear inner bush on the front wish bones my cav came loose there it wasnt much but it did clunk under braking and acceleration just a good tweek and it sorted that just a thought

[dreamdim]

<!--fonto:Times New Roman--><span style="font-family:Times New Roman"><!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->I’ve put a new shocker and wheel bearing and the problem still there. I’ve tightened everything but… The noise coming from the front left and it sounds like a wheel bearing has gone + the front wobbles when doing 15 +<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--></span><!--/fontc-->

<!--fonto:Times New Roman--><span style="font-family:Times New Roman"><!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo--> <!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--></span><!--/fontc-->

<!--fonto:Times New Roman--><span style="font-family:Times New Roman"><!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->I got 215/45/17 tyres and just lowered it 35mm<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--></span><!--/fontc-->

<!--fonto:Times New Roman--><span style="font-family:Times New Roman"><!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo--> <!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--></span><!--/fontc-->

<!--fonto:Times New Roman--><span style="font-family:Times New Roman"><!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Could it be driveshft/gearbox, tyre rubbing….???<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--></span><!--/fontc-->