Author Topic: play in front wheel  (Read 1667 times)

Offline oakgreengolf

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play in front wheel
« on: 07 February 2009, 19:01 »
I'm getting a knock when i pull off in first from the drivers side. ive jacked the car up today and the wheel has movement side to side. Would this be the track control arm? 

Offline Benrevs

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Re: play in front wheel
« Reply #1 on: 07 February 2009, 19:10 »
If it does it over bumps at slow speed I would check the shocker and all associated parts also. Ben

Offline oakgreengolf

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Re: play in front wheel
« Reply #2 on: 07 February 2009, 19:20 »
The shockers are new and are the top mounts

Offline richard s

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Re: play in front wheel
« Reply #3 on: 07 February 2009, 19:57 »
jack car up and rock wheel and if its a ball joint you should see it rocking about

Offline Ben Lessani

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Re: play in front wheel
« Reply #4 on: 07 February 2009, 20:00 »
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?

Offline nealey

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Re: play in front wheel
« Reply #5 on: 07 February 2009, 20:03 »
Play side to side will most likely be either track control arm or track rod end, best to get someone to give it a wiggle and see where the movement is

Offline Dolly

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Re: play in front wheel
« Reply #6 on: 07 February 2009, 23:02 »
i had a knocking noise a few years ago, was the front lower control arm, the bolt through the rear bush was only nipped and was allowing the who arm to move! airgun later and it was sorted. so id first just double check everything is tight and that the rubber bushes on the control arm havent fallen apart.

Offline oakgreengolf

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Re: play in front wheel
« Reply #7 on: 08 February 2009, 14:46 »
jacked the car up and the top mount has play, I only did these about 1000miles ago  :sad:. Only problem is I can't get the nut off with my socket, it has the alen key in the middle. Is there a special tool I can buy.

The track control arm also seems to be moving what are these like to change?

Offline JC

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Re: play in front wheel
« Reply #8 on: 08 February 2009, 14:49 »
i had this, top mount hadnt seated right on the top of the shock  - big hammer - Sorted :wink:

as for the NUT, i bought a 24v cordless Impact wrench. Job done :afro:

Offline OakeyDoak16v

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Re: play in front wheel
« Reply #9 on: 08 February 2009, 15:15 »
jacked the car up and the top mount has play, I only did these about 1000miles ago  :sad:. Only problem is I can't get the nut off with my socket, it has the alen key in the middle. Is there a special tool I can buy.

The track control arm also seems to be moving what are these like to change?
Just out of interest, are you experiencing any pull to one side whilst driving?
« Last Edit: 08 February 2009, 15:23 by OakeyDoak16v »