Another holiday, another knock from underneath!

[sgould]

In May we got the knock at the back, which turned out to be a worn ARB bush.

Today on the drive across Germany a loud knock is coming from the front, drivers side.  It's not apparent when driving on the autobahn and bouncing up and down, so I don't think it's the drop links or shock absorber.  Both were replaced last month.

The noise only appears with a short sharp shock to the suspension.  So the one or two pavé roads we came across were a nightmare!!

Had a quick look under and nothing obvious, no bits of rubber sticking out of bushes, etc.  But it's still hot under there. More investigation tomorrow...

While I was playing in the hotel car park, I was accosted by the man next door who drives a VW Passat, but desperately wants to own a Saab, preferably a convertible 9-3, but a 9-5 Aero is a second choice.  Tomorrow he may get more or less jealous, depending on whether my car is broken, or when he finds out that SWMBO has a V6 XWD!! 

[mikeloadsasaabs]

When the passenger side front subframe bush on our car was worn, a deflection of the driver's side front wheel cause a knock. It could be proven by lifting the car on a hoist and dropping the weight from the suspension, then simply hitting the tyre with a fist. There was a clear knock from the aforementioned bush, which I was there to witness at first hand. And this might explain why you weren't hearing it in the UK - while you are driving on the right hand side of the road, it's the driver's side wheel which catches all the drain covers etc. Just a thought.

[sgould]

I think you might be right.  I've had a crawl underneath this morning and nothing seems loose.  I was suspecting the subframe mounting.  It doesn't look quite right.  I tried to compare it with the other side, but the car is not symmetrical. Forgot that bit! 

We will just keep going until we get home, or something breaks and we call the rescue services!!

Off for a tour of Dessau.  Junkers Museum, Kurt Weill house. Bauhaus.  Then if there's time the Schloss Wörlitz which apparently has the second biggest collection of Wedgewood pottery in the world....

[mikeloadsasaabs]

If it's any consolation, mine was making a noise for around 18 months before it was properly diagnosed and fixed  You won't feel any play until you crowbar it with all the weight off the suspension.

[sgould]

It does need to last. I have 1500 miles to go before I get home!!

If it is the subframe, I'll be a bit peeved. I decided to get a garage to change the front springs and shock absorbers, so that they could check all the front end bushes at the same time and change them if necessary. I mentioned subframe, suspension and engine mountings. That was just over a month ago.

[Audax]

If it is the subframe, I'll be a bit peeved.

To be fair I've known suspension work on a car to cause an unrelated knock suddenly appear on a part that wasn't touched. It sometimes results in lots of confusion as you're looking at your work not the other bits of the car. As Mike said, he had a weird one which I know wouldn't be immediately obvious to find. Obviously once you do find something like that it's easy to reproduce and you feel stupid. 

[phoenix]

If it's any consolation (and I should probably start a new thread) I've had a small knock since removing the subframe completely last year and changing the bushes. Fed up with this, I re-tightened all the subframe bolts the other weekend and now it's much worse! 

[sgould]

Arrrgh!     That sort of thing is annoying!

I read somewhere that the subframe needs aligning with a jig of some sort, but I may have mis-remembered.

I have decided to leave mine alone.  The noise is very loud at times, but so was the noise we had from the back in May and that turned out to be the bracket holding the rear ARB which was barely moving, but just enough to click, which was amplified many times.

The suspension is still silent on the autobahn and the steering is central and secure.  The car steers well at 90 mph.  And all the bits of bush that I can see look OK.  After this hotel it's mostly motorway all the way home!

Fingers are crossed.  Only 900 miles to go!!

[David]

Hope you made it back OK, Will.

[stevetreacy]

hi,

In my experience its the rubbers that work the most that fail or begin to breakdown first, for me droplinks went first, then front ARB,s, rear trailing arm bush and now I think I have another to fix. Its in garage tomorrow so will see what they can find. its only occasional but usually at the brow of hill at speed .Are all you engine and gearbox mounts ok?. I thought had suspension trouble and turned out to be front gearbox mount.

steve

[sgould]

Heading to Calais tomorrow.  Car is still moving!!

All shock absorbers new in last two months, along with drop links.  Lower suspension bushes seem central.  Newly fitted items have been checked for tightness.  Fingers crossed!  Home on Wednesday.

[stevetreacy]

Hi,

I am sure everything will be fine. Had mine looked at today and all they could find was the other rear trailing arm link had slight movement, nothing at the front where all the noise appears to be, but like you it's driving and handling ok. Can't wait for you to get to the bottom of it, it will give me somewhere to look next. Good bits, new stepper motor has sorted 08 issue with heater, new heater bypass valve cured coolant leak, engine n gearbox oils changed, ready for winter.

Steve

[sgould]

Well, we made it home without anything actually falling off!

I'll do some investigation tomorrow, if the weather is fine.  I only did a visual check while we were away.  Tomorrow I may undo some bolts and see what happens.

[sgould]

Any thoughts on this comment from the WIS?

[Geoff1951]

That raises more questions than it answers!