Knocking

[Breaker]

How do you tell if the ball joints or top mounts are gone?
My front ends make a knock if i lift off the throttle.
i have changed the engine mounts recently as the gearbox one was not attached anymore.

Thanks!
 

[DarnPB]

Get a screw driver into the balljoint and try to twist it. If it is worn, you should see it move indepentantly of the bearing. For the top mounts, no real way of telling, (Correct me if I'm wrong someone ) but lift off the top mount cover and see what kind of gap you have between the plate and mount. If you can get your little finger in there, then it's passed its sell by date.

[Breaker]

Kool I check the ball joints and if they are ok i'll do the top mounts.

Are g60 top mounts best for a 16v?

[cняis]

Kool I check the ball joints and if they are ok i'll do the top mounts.

Are g60 top mounts best for a 16v?

yes, they're heavier duty and not that much more expensive.

[Ben Lessani]

Knocking at the front could be a few things. Make sure the suspension strut bolts are tight, all 4 ball joint bolts, wheel nuts and hub nut.

Track rod ends
When you hear a knock when wiggling the steering wheel when stationary. If the car is jacked up, its not as obvious to find.

Wheel bearing
Turn a corner at speed (40 mph), if you are turning left and you hear a noise - its the right wheel bearing, turning right and its your left wheel bearing.

Jack the car up, grab it left and right and wiggle it and check for play. If there's play and a noise as above, odds are its a wheel bearing.


Ball Joint
Grab the wheel top and bottom and wiggle, have a friend with a torch look at the ball joint when wiggling and the play is pretty obvious.

CV Joint
Knocking/grinding at low speeds

Top Mounts
No idea, I guess I'd find out by process of elimination from the above?

[Breaker]

Mine is just when you lift of the accelerator.
like it moves something under tourqe and then it settles back down.
Did the steering rack 6 months ago so thats all good 

[Ben Lessani]

Engine mounts? Front most likely.

Get a mate, open the bonnet, stick it in first with the handbrake on and raise the clutch sharply. Look for movement in the engine. Repeat again this time raising it slowly.

Some movement is okay, excessive is obviously a sign of wear. If you can rock the engine forward and back by hand, the mounts are shagged.

[Breaker]

i have changed the engine mounts recently as the gearbox one was not attached anymore.

[Ben Lessani]

You changed all three?

Also, the front engine mount relies on good condition cross member rubbers, if those 4 rubbers are worn, you are going to get the exact same effect.

[Breaker]

cross member rubbers eh?
Looks like I have a few things to check out!