Front end suspesion knock

[ripp]

Hi guys,
So I have this thing for years - there are audible knocks coming from the front - nothing really loud but drives me bonkers as I went to different garrages and all semms good:
Bushes are powerflex purple on the ARB, lower arm bushes are ok, ball joints ok, rack bushes ok, no other play detected upon inspections
I'm running GAZ gha at the moment with k tec solid mounts (front coilies are in good condition- i use coilover shocks- no leaks etc)
Changed the bearings in the solid mounts last year but the knock is still there. It's mostly present when driving on smaller bumps.
Brake calipers also checked as I heard of potential knock if the caliper carrier and guide pins are damaged but I also refreshed those recently.
The car has this even before I was running the current suspension setup so couldn't blame this on the shocks or the solid mounts (which I consider a very nice thing to have btw )
Am I missing something?

 

[JamesBryan]

Check your subframe bolts.

@Niall had a slight knock on his and we couldn't trace it for ages until we tried the subframe bolts. The rear one on the driver's side was a bit loose.

This seems to have cured it.

 

[Niall]

As James says, we were chasing the same thing on mine.

Found that the rear right subframe bolt could be tightened up a turn or so, also just about squeezed a spanner in to get to the nut on the other side to stop it spinning and make sure it was tight.

Knock has disappeared, much more pleasant to drive, used to drive me up the wall!

 

[ripp]

Just changed the sump gasket so subframe went off so that's checked and it also was on previous occasions.
So yeah..

 

[grmatthews87]

@ripp, did you ever get to the bottom of this? Similar issue on mine and despite many hours crawling around under the b**stard and numerous garage trips I'm none the wiser.

 

[ripp]

Yeah and you won't believe it- it was the coilovers themselves. I changed the GAZ GHA that I had with a set of B14's and now it is PERFECT. I still can't believe that I struggled for 10+years with this. I went through 2 sets of GHA's but even when new the noise was still there.
Plus the car rides WAY WAY better and even on the track is spot on. The best money spent on the car really. GAZ have an excellent customer service though

 

[grmatthews87]

Glad you got to the bottom of it. Standard suspension on mine though so can't be the same!

 

[ripp]

well good luck then, you'll need someone dedicated to solve your issue

 

[JamesBryan]

Glad you got to the bottom of it. Standard suspension on mine though so can't be the same!

Standard suspension, i'm guessing you've checked/replaced the top mounts?

 

[grmatthews87]

Standard suspension, i'm guessing you've checked/replaced the top mounts?

Yup, brand spanking ones fitted this winter.

 

[Mr Underhill]

Ball joints ok? Nipped up tight?

Personally, I'd strip it all down, clean everything up, replace anything that looks worn and if it's still knocking, drive it in the knowledge that nothing is going to fall off.

 

[grmatthews87]

Ball joints are next port of call.

 

[Advikaz]

When is it knocking?

 

[grmatthews87]

When is it knocking?

Intermittent when setting off and during slow speed manoeuvring. More prevalent when turning right.

 

[Sunglasses_Ron]

Intermittent when setting off and during slow speed manoeuvring. More prevalent when turning right.

On my mk4 trophy a knock that was occurring when pulling away turned out the be the steering rack mount bolts. Tightened it up and all good now.

 

[grmatthews87]

On my mk4 trophy a knock that was occurring when pulling away turned out the be the steering rack mount bolts. Tightened it up and all good now.

Will check them too

 

[grmatthews87]

Ball joints done, no improvement, steering rack mounts tight. Thinking is has to be a CV joint on the way out.

 

[Robbie Corbett]

There isn't really that much it can be as they are pretty simple little things!

Worth having a bar on the lower arms, the bushes can wear and move about on the bolt which would clonk well. Could certainly be a driveshaft. On other cars (never the clio) I've fixed unfindable clunks by retorquing subframe bolts.

Also worth checking engine mounts.

 

[Daz...]

Intermittent when setting off and during slow speed manoeuvring. More prevalent when turning right.

Is it a knock or a clicking sound?

Mine used to click when setting off and turning right, changed the drivers side driveshaft and it sorted it.

 

[16v_paddy]

Ball joints done, no improvement, steering rack mounts tight. Thinking is has to be a CV joint on the way out.

Go back & have a look at the holes in the hub where the ball joint goes into it, I had a similar issue, fired the parts cannon at it with no success but eventually found the problem.
I had the passenger side of the car jacked up (noise was coming from there) & was underneath with a prybar and was able to spot a really tiny amount of movement in the hub on the ball joint (I couldn't see the movement when I had the car on a 2 post and 4 post ramp) took the hub off & was able to see that the bottom part of the hole was ever so slightly out of shape which was allowing the ball joint to move under certain loads/positions.
Replaced the hub with a used one & it cured the problem

 

[grmatthews87]

Is it a knock or a clicking sound?

Mine used to click when setting off and turning right, changed the drivers side driveshaft and it sorted it.

Definitely a knock. Most noticeable if I come on and off the power at low speed.

 

[grmatthews87]

Go back & have a look at the holes in the hub where the ball joint goes into it, I had a similar issue, fired the parts cannon at it with no success but eventually found the problem.
I had the passenger side of the car jacked up (noise was coming from there) & was underneath with a prybar and was able to spot a really tiny amount of movement in the hub on the ball joint (I couldn't see the movement when I had the car on a 2 post and 4 post ramp) took the hub off & was able to see that the bottom part of the hole was ever so slightly out of shape which was allowing the ball joint to move under certain loads/positions.
Replaced the hub with a used one & it cured the problem

Thanks for the input, definitely a possibility. Have the car booked in at a garage that I know is mega thorough so hoping to get to the bottom of it all.