Suspension Knock, not the usual culprits...

[malcster]

Hi Guys,

I have a light knocking noise from the front end. Seems to be when I go over bumps.

For example, over a speedbump, it will knock once when climbing up the bump (i.e. when the wheels first touch it), then knock again when at the bottom of the bump (i.e. wheels back on the road).

No knocking when cornering.
Only knocks at the front end (passenger side only I think).

I have now replaced Droplinks, Top Mounts, and Dampers, and the knock remains! Grrrr

Any ideas?

Cheers in advance!

Malc

[Dale_V]

could well be the anti roll bar bushes

[malcster]

Anyway to tes the ARB bushes out?

Disconnect the roll-bar from the droplinks, then take it for a drive?

[Dale_V]

Could do that I suppose, also have a good pry around with a bar. Replacements are cheap enough at Toyota, around £20 for the pair

[Marf]

Check the strut-topmount nut is tight.

I had a knocking noise which eluded me. Replaced ball joints and drop links hoping to cure it, still knocked. Turned out the strut top nut was loose. Tightened it up and bingo, no more knocking.

[Slarty]

Removing the drop links and going for a drive is a good test to rule the ARB/bushes out as well as the drop links (I know you've said you've replaced them).

Other than what Marf suggested to check, the lower ball joints would be my next port of call.

[sjm1984]

i had the same thing

Go over a speed hump "knock". Always came from the front passenger side.

I recently got all my bushes changed to polybush items and installed New whiteline ARB's by Pacific works. Now there is no knocks at all.

[MID LIFE CRISIS]

Had a knock on the rear of my n/a and turned out to be the o/s ball joint, worth a look

[platmatt8]

Drop links

[malcster]

Well guys,

I have now replaced the following:

Droplinks
Top Mount
Damper
Spring
Ball Joint

I have also removed my droplinks (to rule out them and ARB) and still I get the knock!!

What now!?
Any simple way to test the bushes on the bottom arm and the strut bar?

[Phill P]

I have a sinilar problem,my top mounts are new,as are drop links and ball joints,removing the toolkit helped a little.

Going to take a look around underside area for anything loose when I do arb's

Paul

[dazzz]

Steering Rack maybe??

[foxy-stoat]

Can you not jack up that side, get a long piece of wood under the wheel, get somone to raise and lower it and have a poke around and listen of the knock. You should be able to find it.

[s2thoudriver]

Not sure if these have them but if it's not ARB bushes or droplinks, it could be the chicken drumsticks, or track rod ends.

The shift from the speed bump is enough to make them knock if they are a bit worn.

Again, this is only from experience of other cars, i do not have an MR2 at the moment to look underneath.

Thought i'd suggest it for you though.

[malcster]

I'll try and get it jecked up, then get the jack handle under the wheel, and try and re-create it this weekend sometime.

I have changed the inner steering rack joints (drumsticks) earlier, forgot to add that.

Haven't looked at track-rod ends yet though... would they knock?

Cheers,

Malc

[foxy-stoat]

Doubt that would cause the knocking you describe unless you felt the steering wheel was loose.

Try the long piece of wood trick and report back.

[going4the1]

I had this problem and fixed it with a bit of ingenuity and string!

See my entry here:

http://www.imoc.co.uk/forums/viewtopic. ... ght=string