Front suspension knock

[Paulie]

Evening folks, hope you've had a great Christmas. So going over speed bumps and some of the more "challenging potholes" I get a knock from the front. It can't be felt through the steering, if I drive over the speed bumps around here ( full width of the road, tarmac) with the brakes applied lightly it doesn't knock.

I've jacked through front up to check for play and can't feel anything. I should also mention that car has solid top mounts with a strut brace. Thanks

 

[MarcB]

It could be a number of things.

Steering rack bushes (Especially if they have never been changed)
Anti Roll Bar Bushes
Bearing In Soild Top Mounts

 

[Paulie]

Thanks Marc, is there anyway if testing them with the car jacked up? There's no play in anything side to side or top to bottom when grabbing the wheel.

 

[photo_ed]

Just a wild card suggestion.. it could be an engine mount creating a ‘knock’, just a thought. Good luck tracking it down.

 

[hoolio]

As breaking seems to be pre loading and cancelling the knock I would go for anti roll bar bushes but could be any of the above. Probably not something you can wiggle to occur maybe?

 

[Paulie]

As breaking seems to be pre loading and cancelling the knock I would go for anti roll bar bushes but could be any of the above. Probably not something you can wiggle to occur maybe?

I thought the same in regards to the pre loading, I'll jack it up again in the next few days. Something else I seen online whilst searching was to check the balljoint nut and bolt to see if they're tight.

 

[MarcB]

There is so many things but im guessing and its just a guess that it will be a bush of some sort.

Look at everything you have rubber bush wise as if they have never been changed or upgraded a 20 year old bush won't be good.
It would also be hard to copy it without the weight and load of the car.

If it was me I would get it as high as possible on axel stands or even a ramp and a crow bar in to check the bushes.

I know the steering rack bushes and anti roll bar bushes along with bottom arm bushes won't last forever so I would be looking at them first, I also had issues with my solid AST top mounts when the bearings seized on me, I ended up taking them off and fitting the correct OE Top mounts.

 

[Paulie]

I Managed to get the car on a 4 poster ramp today, the front anti roll bar bushes, inner and outer are shot. I'll ask my mate in the garage to see if hell swap them out as I don't fancy rolling about on the floor in this weather!

 

[hoolio]

As breaking seems to be pre loading and cancelling the knock I would go for anti roll bar bushes but could be any of the above. Probably not something you can wiggle to occur maybe?

Ding ding ding