Please, I really need help.

[John Gordon]

I have a knock on front left (lhd car) when going round right hand bends i get, thud thud thud. When i brake the car steers left and when i accelerate you literally feel the geometry re settle in a different position. I grabbed the left front drivers wheel when stationary the side by side play has gone, however when i pull on the wheel from the top it comes towards me and stops with a thud as if loose (aprox 3-5mm). Wheel is tight.


Replaced following.
Inner and outer track rod ends.
Steering rack bushes (still moves, on the rubber so to speak, was bad wear on the pins due to long period driven on fucked bushes)
Bottom ball joints
Powerflex wishbone bushes (slight oval not too much play)
Tracking (6 times)

I am lost, I'm pouring cash into this car now and am feeling the pain, i don't want to give up, but i could have an amazing car with what i have already spent. Steering has amazing weight and feel now all this is done, but it literally feels like all the suspension is falling over on the left under braking and moving back under acceleration. Sorry for long post, im desperate now though.

 

[pupster92]

have you checked the top mounts? may be them or the springs. Could even be the damper, does it look like its leaking fluid?

 

[Poopensharten]

What condition are the top mounts in?

 

[John Gordon]

Solid topmounts. Ktec gold. Fitted about 3 months ago after buying them of a forum user. How can i test them for play on the ball. Dampers are vmaxx from same user, came ready built up off his car.

 

[Poopensharten]

Hmm, drive shaft? But then i suppose it would knock/vibrate throughout rotation rather than when turning right?

 

[John Gordon]

Knocking was there pre topmounts/dampers, braking play not. I know the camber adjusters on the dampers were pretty crappy, wandering if that could be a cause. Knocking as said was there before.

 

[pupster92]

saying that, who fitted the track rod ends? I remember a similar noise on a 106 and the end had come really loose. have a check of that

 

[Poopensharten]

Aye as above, i'd get the wheels off and have a pull at everything and make sure its all tight!

 

[John Gordon]

Would a wheel bearing constantly whine? The wheel felt weirdly solid but loose when i pulled it. Can the nut on the shaft cause this? Could the shaft be coming in and out under acceleration and engine breaking? That's kinda how it feels through the steering wheel. Somethings pushing the geometry out when i brake, i feel it then the car physically steers left, when moving off again you literally feel the car re settle into its proper geometry

 

[John Gordon]

saying that, who fitted the track rod ends? I remember a similar noise on a 106 and the end had come really loose. have a check of that

Renault, hence the coin. I dont trust anyone else over here yet.

 

[Rob]

Shame you're in another damn country or someone could take a look...

Why not send to Renault to diagnose??

My suggestions are the three following:

Top Mounts - Got a picture of exactly what you have??? Solid top mounts of certain designs can knock as they're pony.
Driveshaft - The outer CV joint can cause knocking when you add pressure to it, so a right side wearing would notice when turning left.
Coilovers - Have you done the top bolts up tight enough? If they're camber adjustable, and are even a little loose, they'll knock back and forth under the pressure of the car.

 

[John Gordon]

You know, sounds stupid but i have never checked the topnuts. As i say top mounts came pre built with the coilovers. I never checked the nuts.

Top bolts on coilovers were adjustable with a washer, s**t design and was worn, the bolts were tight, i have a feeling it could be this that moves when cornering. If this is loose it explains the knocking being louder as it would put more strain on the shaft right?

 

[Rob]

I wasn't talking about the nuts on the top mounts, the top nuts where the coilover strut meets the hub. There's two bit thick nuts and bolts that hold the coilover to the hub, the top one is loosened to adjust camber, check it's tight.

Got a photo of the coilovers and top mounts?

It's hard to say a lot without seeing the car though, even if you could take a video on your phone of you replicating the knocking like you said you could.

 

[Tunst]

As rob says check the bolts holding the coilover to the hub.. Sounds a little like they could be loose

 

[John Gordon]

Yeah, realised you ment that and think you could be right. Will check it first thing.

 

[Rob]

Doesn't explain the rotational knock though. CV joint has gone too maybe? (easier to just buy a second hand shaft and fit)

 

[John Gordon]

It knocked before however quieter and less frequent. I'm guessing it was on its way out and the camber from the coilover (especially if loose and self adjusting) is making it sound worse. Also if it is that causing the geometry upset, that would explain Renault not finding it, as they wont touch the coilovers.

And cheers for the help, lets hope it is that.

 

[Rob]

It wouldn't be unheard of for all this shifting around to have finally finished off the CV joint. When it's very bad it'll click whilst driving along, and then click louder when you put pressure on it.

 

[Thrill]

Ball joomts, cv joints, anti roll bar droppings, tie rods

 

[John Gordon]

It wouldn't be unheard of for all this shifting around to have finally finished off the CV joint. When it's very bad it'll click whilst driving along, and then click louder when you put pressure on it.

On one of the tracking reports it was running 2.6 deg neg camber on one of the front wheels. Would this not put pressure on the joint? its lower now too.

 

[John Gordon]

Ok, so it was not the bolts that hold the damper to the hub.

Starting to think its best to just sell the thing now.

 

[Tony Hunter]

Get it on a ramp (even if you have to pay), one that the weight of the car is on the wheels, one person underneath, and another pulling the wheel backwards and forwards, you should soon find the problem.

Have you checked the front hub nut torque? 285n

 

[John Gordon]

No tony, I shall check this though. I am getting it into a garage again on Friday. I think i will record the sound tonight so you guys can hear the sound, as for the wheel movement I am stuck scratching my head again.

 

[Rob]

Record it, also, if possible, jack it up and replicate this movement you're on about.

There are some clever f*****s on here so someone'll know.

 

[John Gordon]

Record it, also, if possible, jack it up and replicate this movement you're on about.

There are some clever f**kers on here so someone'll know.

Yeah, will get a vid up tonight and try and show the play. Could move the wheel when the car was stationary on the ground. I pulled the top of the wheel with two hands, came towards me like 5mm then stopped with a thud.

 

[Rob]

That really does sound like top mounts to me.

 

[5678]

Yeah, will get a vid up tonight and try and show the play. Could move the wheel when the car was stationary on the ground. I pulled the top of the wheel with two hands, came towards me like 5mm then stopped with a thud.

That sounds like the bottom strut bolts aren't tight enough.

 

[Rob]

I already pointed this out and he checked them. I'd say that's the top mount moving about myself though.

One other thing to check is that some plum hasn't copper greased the two strut bolts or something....?

 

[Tony Hunter]

If it's moving that much, should be easy to find.

 

[John Gordon]

Its fixed! it was the camber adjuster on the drivers side wheel. there was actually aprox 10mm of play. The adjuster got chewed up. Thanks all for all the advice. Trackday now to restore my faith in this little fucker.

 

[Tony Hunter]

Good.