How does one check suspension components whilst I lay on the road?

[beko1987]

May be a silly question, but I really need to work out whats making the loud clunking noises under the ZX. When Edd Chinameowdson does it, the car is lifted up just so on the lift, then grabs the right size pry bar and just happens to wobble to fucked component and miraculously has a new one in the next shot...

 

How would I do it on the road, without a pry bar, with the car jacked up on the corner/front end on stands? Any hints and tips?

[seth]

If the suspension components are lying on the road then I'd suggest that they're no good.

 

 

(You probably need to buy a pry bar or a big old screwdriver from a car boot sale.)

[Jim Bell]

Put it on stands. Don't yank at things with the car on a jack. Crowbar or Jack handle may imitate a pry bar well enough for your needs.

[dollywobbler]

A light clonking is almost certainly anti roll bar drop links.

[castros_bro]

+1 for drop link/s and at sub £10 a pair and a HBOL one spanner rating, cause you only need one spanner, can be all done in time it takes one episode of Wankenders to putrefy peeps brains.

[beko1987]

Mmm, may grab some then, get some money from dyson work next week, if ECP do them I'll pop over with cash.

 

I say a 'light' knocking, can be bloody loud sometimes and sounds like it comes from all over the underside sometimes.

 

Dont think it's the rear though, I have to drive up a small 'step' to leave my parking spot at home and the front bangs over it and the rear doesnt make a sound (when hit square on).

 

I did try to film it once to show you all but the camera picked up on ALL the other sound in the car apart from the knocking...

[dollywobbler]

When I did the drop links on the XM, the only real clue that the old ones were knackered (apart from the rattling clonks) were that the ends were much more easy to swivel than the new ones. Can't really check that until the old ones are off.

[Junkman]

I'd have this checked properly.

I skimp on what I can, but there are more heroic ways to die than being crushed in a Shitroen wrapped around a tree.

[beko1987]

Hmmm, 2x droplinks for my car and 2x droplinks for amys comes to £30.60 with a 5% code...

 

Could get those early AM tomorrow, go see BV for a mornings tinkering, then fit 2 sets of drop links after lunch, then a mate wants help fitting an anti lift kit to his octavia.

 

Billy bonus is the child can go to aunts house in the morning and probably stay there until late PM when I can go get her anyway!

 

Could be a good day, or a shit one if this doesnt cure the noise! I did reach behind the drivers wheel the other night and wobble the droplink and it didnt move, but I suppose with the weight of the car on it it wont... Amys are both blatently shagged anyway, boots split etc so will be good to change those and tick that one off...

[beko1987]

I'd have this checked properly.

I skimp on what I can, but there are more heroic ways to die than being crushed in a Shitroen wrapped around a tree.

 

If new droplinks dont cure it I might see if I can find a tame mechanic to have a look (know a few people who should know people etc if I dig about a bit)

 

Is annoying when it could be ALL the rubbery bits wearing down at the same time, I thought it would be easy to just replace the lot but then I suppose an order of priority is needed. Plus the exhaust still remonds me it needs changing by blowing its arse off regularly.

[warren t claim]

I'm pretty sure that any suspension components lying in the road can be inspected by picking them up and checking for leaks, corrosion and perishing.

[dollywobbler]

If buying from GSF, try the checkout code GSF35 - valid all weekend. 35% they reckon.

[beko1987]

GSF wont let me change cars halfway through, the box to enter a new reg number appears then vanishes, leaving me with the wrong car chosen.

 

Plus their miles away compared with ECP, if the website worked I may have given it a go but I hate broken websites so I'll stick with ECP for now!

[castros_bro]

GSF ZX drop links were just under £12 each  so 2 * 12 - 35% = about £16 a pair with the discount included.    I just them sub £10 a pair from Sleasybay and fit at some random time/public carpark then any further clonking can be found easier.  Make sure you know if it's from the back  clonking or clonking front or clonking both.

[SambaS]

The answer is pry bar.

 

Sometimes rocking the wheel when jacked up from top to bottom, then from left to right will out play in various things.

[alf892]

As well as drop links don't forget the ones that hold the arb onto the car......they tend to wear the bar (behind bush obvs so not visible till stripped) nearly as much as themselves but can be packed out with insulation tape as a temp repair to see if the noise goes.

[Bren]

"Suspension components lying in the road"

 

Why are they lying? Why do they speak untruths?

[beko1987]

hehe, changed the title, now all the smart arse (and funny) comments look stupid...

 

2 drop links reserved at ECP for collection tomorrow morning. Was going to do the Meriva's ones too, but cash is tight atm and it needs oil more urgently (light flickered on yesterday and I have no spare, the lights means it's 1l emptier than it should be... got a bottle of 10w40 synthetic as recommended by some vauxhall forum post somewhere!

 

Will have a look at the ARB bushes too if I can, and will pack them out initially if it looks like that may help. If they look crusty but not too worn I'll get the mchanged asap at the end of the month

[Andrew353w]

A light clonking is almost certainly anti roll bar drop links.

Agreed. Just done them on my Xantia. measure the diameter of the threads before ordering new ones; there are two sizes.....

[anonymous user]

I'm surprised no one has suggested that you lie down in the road, whilst Mrs Beko drives that car over you, so you can listen out for the clonky component.

 

Just make sure that you fit between the wheels, don't lie across the road by mistake and make sure you breathe in as the car goes over you. I'm sure* it will be fine*

[twosmoke300]

You can't test anti roll bar links with the car jacked up , not unless they are hanging off fucked. When you jack a car up the suspension moves to a point in the ball joints where there is no wear . You need the car on its wheels as this is the position where wear occurs

[robinmasters]

You can reach the drop links with the steering on full lock. When they got clonky on my ZX you could grab them and shake them 1/4". Mine took A LOT of heat/banging/swearing to get the top end off.

[twosmoke300]

Introduce them to mr makita first as last

[dollywobbler]

I found a good penetrating oil and a wire brush helped a lot. But so did an angle grinder for one of the nuts.

[twosmoke300]

I find another good technique is to use a pair of adjustables to pop the socket part off the ball and then get the holey molies out on the remaining ball

[beko1987]

Oooh this does all sound fun!

 

Ecp only have one type I think, place bets now as to the correct one being supplied.

 

I did have a wiggle of one of the droplinks the other night, but whilst in my work clobber trying not to get filthy so prob didnt do it very well.

 

Tomorrows plan is...

 

Up at 7, euro car parts for 8.30.

 

Back to boots for paramol as my tooth is killing

Buggar about with swmbo whwn she gets back from work

Go see bv

Come back, fit an anti lift kit to an octavia

Drop links on my car

Top up oil on meriva

 

Sounds like an alright day!

[Guest Breadvan72]

In return for you helping me with the Dolly, it seems that the least I can do is volunteer to run you over a few times while you lie in the road so you can tell whether the suspension feels right as it crushes your nadgers.  

 

Can we do this with metric tools?

[sierraman]

I've got a similar problem with the focus. With drop links being a pair for £10 I didn't think twice, chucked a pair on, took 30 minutes. Done these about a million times. Anyway this hadn't cured it it was still doing it. With the wheel off the ground I detected play side to side at the 3 o clock position so the track rod ends had some play.

 

£9.00 later returned, swatted a new one on. No play but the noise remains. It's a clunk over minor road imperfections. I'm sincerely hoping its not the shocker, as that's a PITA. Can't see any play from the bottom arm swivel joint. What am I missing here? I've no doubt the MOT man will tell me as it goes for test in a fortnight

[twosmoke300]

Inner rack joints can rattle like buggery over bumps on some cars . Focus not usually too bad tho . More likely to be the anti roll bar d bushes . A twat of a job on some fords ( old fiesta and escort ) as you have to lower the subframe to get to the rearmost bolt

[sierraman]

Inner rack joints can rattle like buggery over bumps on some cars . Focus not usually too bad tho . More likely to be the anti roll bar d bushes . A twat of a job on some fords ( old fiesta and escort ) as you have to lower the subframe to get to the rearmost bolt

I've been there with an old fiesta. It felt like the arb was about to crash through the floor