Sounds from front wheels

axbx · Post by **axbx** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 10:46 pm

Hello fellow BXers'

Im having some frail nerves at the moment, because when I turn my wheels to the right, and especially when backing up, also when I drive over speedbumps etc, my front wheels makes clunking sounds.

I have tried jacking up the car and try to pull and feel if there is any play in the wheel-mount(dont know the english words) but the wheel sits tight and solid. Could the dampers(like in the hydraulic "shock absorbers") be worn out?

thanks for any tips!

Post by **Tim Leech** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 10:54 pm

Sounds like a ball joint or drop link probably to me!

axbx · Post by **axbx** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 11:03 pm

Yeah thats what i meant by jacking up the car and pulling and twisting the wheel, that it would eliminate a worn ball joint(?)
Is this drop link easily accesable?

Thankzzzzz

KevR · Post by **KevR** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 9:29 am

It's quite hard to feel play in the drop link, but it's easy enough to get at - it's the vertical link bar between the top and bottom wishbones.
Is the clunking sound related to road speed (in which case more likely a driveshaft joint) or to impact (in which case ball joint, drop link etc is more likely)?
On bothy of mine, there's also clunk when I reverse and then brake - just the brake calipers settling back on their mountings.

Post by **Defender110** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 4:55 pm

When my TGD auto had the occasional odd clunk when turning or going over a speedbump I spent ages looking for play in ball joints and suspension without any joy. It ended up being loose anti-roll bar/sub frame bolts. they were just loose enough to allow the subframe to move slightly when pressure applied causing it to knock as it hit the bolts. From memory there are 4 shared bolts that hold the front subframe and the anti-roll bar. It was just the rear 2 that needed tightening up half a turn to stop the movement. 14mm spanner size I think. A 2 second fix once I had finally found out what it was

axbx · Post by **axbx** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 9:56 pm

Hello, sorry for long reply time, have been away, thanks for any tips!

The sounds are related to impact like speedbumps, but also comes from impacts i barely can feel...

Ill probably just change the whole shit

thanks

barry badger · Post by **barry badger** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 10:52 pm

I had a similar problem on the 4x4, it would knock over speed bumps and chatter when cornering. It turned out to be the offside front strut, I removed it and held the body in a vice I could then feel the play in it.

axbx · Post by **axbx** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 3:14 pm

I was also considering this as a possible cause.... did you remove it completely from the car to check for play? Does this have to be renewed or is it fixable? Thanks

themildbunch · Post by **themildbunch** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 3:31 pm

Worn front wishbone rubber bushes are a common problem. My drivers side rear bush is quite worn and although passed the last MOT on an advisory I do notice it clunking on larger bumps... Should do it soon - There's some good advice by JonKW on his 16v blog back in the archives somewhere about getting these off...

Eurocarparts have been doing the whole arms with new bushes in for about £30 or £40 each which seems much easier than rebushing the original arms.. Not sure of the rubber quality though..

Although as Kev said above the front brake calipers do clunk in reverse - mine do this and most of my BX's have done this to some extent