Author Topic: Knocking after strut change  (Read 801 times)

Offline Manxmann

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Knocking after strut change
« on: 03 May 2009, 21:00 »
Hi Folks,

As ever bit of advice needed. I've just changed the front two shocks/struts on my 96 valver. The usual top nut woa's but nothing too untoward.

Ok so she's all back together, bottom bolts torqued up nicely, camber alignment measures as before etc everything looks good.

No I take her for a 10mile test drive, for the first five miles everything is perfect, I'm impressed with how the Blistein gas shock improve the ride. However after about five miles I notice a 'clonking' sort of sounds like I've left a spanner on the front valance but is coming from the front.

After experimenting I find that if drop her into neutral and cost along (clutch up or down) I get the clonking however if I accelerate the noise disappears, it also disappears if I brake.

I've checked the struts bolts, all ok. Top two nuts, spring plate and top plate all ok. There is no play in the road wheels or in the coil/strut assemblies. The top mount rubbers and bearings where also replaced so don't suspect a bearing has collapsed, or has it?

Suggestions as to where I should look next please, CV joint? Drive shaft? G/Box? I'm now a bit stumped.  :embarassed:

Thanks again.

P.S. Gearbox is pretty much fooked anyway, no 1st gear and am waiting for a mate to fit another for me. Is it too much to hope that this is just a coincidence happening at the same time I change the shocks?
« Last Edit: 03 May 2009, 21:05 by Manxmann »

Offline Rmachines

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Re: Knocking after strut change
« Reply #1 on: 03 May 2009, 21:09 »
Take the caps off the top mounts under the bonnet, and spin that nut under it down!  make sure its extra tight, i fitted mine but when it went in the car and pushed down it turned out i hadnt spun it down enough,  then i just popped the cap back on and it was perfect..
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Offline Wayne

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Re: Knocking after strut change
« Reply #2 on: 03 May 2009, 23:41 »
As above, try tightening the top nuts down abit more.

Offline Manxmann

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Re: Knocking after strut change
« Reply #3 on: 04 May 2009, 11:34 »
Cheers guys,

As soon as it stops p'ing down :angry:

I'm going to strip and rebuild the new struts on each side. I'll make sure I double check the top nuts after I've got her back on her wheels.