front suspension rattle

steve-45 · 12th April 2016, 22:55

I have a rattle from the front offside suspension when going over bad road surfaces.

I've found that if I drive the same bit of road with the brakes gently applied - its an auto so easy to do - there is no rattle !!!

Would I be right in assuming that I should start looking in the brake pad area ?

Darcydog · 13th April 2016, 09:17

I would start with looking at the drop links.

I replaced mine last year (nice DMGS items - not cheapo flea bay items

) and the knock went away - but now I have it back again

- I doubt it is the drop links as they have not been on 10 months! and a good inspection shows nothing untoward.

So I shall be replacing the lower arm ball joints ASAP.

Both relatively easy jobs.

Apparently - if you get the "Knock" though the steering wheel then it is likely to be the suspension arm top mount bearing. I don't get this - hence my plan to replace the ball joints first.

Lots of good techy info on this available at DGMS.

samIam78 · 13th April 2016, 09:40

Right, you should check the brake system/ brake pad first. There are pressure plates, which may cause the rattle.

steve-45 · 13th April 2016, 10:42

Will start investigating over the weekend.

Is it obvious if the drop link has gone ?

polinsteve · 13th April 2016, 11:14

Sounds like drop links. If you find replacements that last a decent time, give me a shout. It doesn't seem to matter where I get them from (even DGMS) or which brand, 15000 miles seems to be the limit.

Darcydog · 13th April 2016, 14:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by polinsteve

Sounds like drop links. If you find replacements that last a decent time, give me a shout. It doesn't seem to matter where I get them from (even DGMS) or which brand, 15000 miles seems to be the limit.

Really? - I have not done 15000 - more like just over half that - but that makes me wonder - because the handling/steering etc is perfect and the knock is exactly what I had before.

trikey · 13th April 2016, 14:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by polinsteve

Sounds like drop links. If you find replacements that last a decent time, give me a shout. It doesn't seem to matter where I get them from (even DGMS) or which brand, 15000 miles seems to be the limit.

I have seen them fail at 5000 ish miles, blame the state of our roads.

Darcydog · 13th April 2016, 14:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by trikey

I have seen them fail at 5000 ish miles, blame the state of our roads.

I did wonder as a lot of my driving is on appalling surfaces. And this winter has been especially bad with the **** holes being filled with water so you don't know they are there until you have crashed through them

SCP440 · 14th April 2016, 18:12

One of my customers had a similar problem recently and it turned out to be a broken spring, just a couple of inches had broken off the end and it was sitting in the bottom of the spring seat.

I have also heard of stones sitting in the spring seat causing this so well worth jacking it up and having a probe around.

Steve

steve-45 · 17th April 2016, 12:01

OK, found it .....

One of the anti-rattle springs had broken, allowing the caliper to move up and down on the carrier.

Fitted new springs both side - took car for run along my favourite bit of bumpy road and NO RATTLES !!!

12th April 2016, 22:55	#1
steve-45 This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon CDTi Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Belvedere Posts: 4,076 Thanks: 108 Thanked 1,089 Times in 774 Posts	front suspension rattle I have a rattle from the front offside suspension when going over bad road surfaces. I've found that if I drive the same bit of road with the brakes gently applied - its an auto so easy to do - there is no rattle !!! Would I be right in assuming that I should start looking in the brake pad area ?

13th April 2016, 09:17	#2
Darcydog This is my second home Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 5,428 Thanks: 3,123 Thanked 3,170 Times in 2,096 Posts	I would start with looking at the drop links. I replaced mine last year (nice DMGS items - not cheapo flea bay items ) and the knock went away - but now I have it back again - I doubt it is the drop links as they have not been on 10 months! and a good inspection shows nothing untoward. So I shall be replacing the lower arm ball joints ASAP. Both relatively easy jobs. Apparently - if you get the "Knock" though the steering wheel then it is likely to be the suspension arm top mount bearing. I don't get this - hence my plan to replace the ball joints first. Lots of good techy info on this available at DGMS.

13th April 2016, 09:40	#3
samIam78 Newbie Rover 75 Tourer Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: London Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Right, you should check the brake system/ brake pad first. There are pressure plates, which may cause the rattle.

13th April 2016, 10:42	#4
steve-45 This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon CDTi Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Belvedere Posts: 4,076 Thanks: 108 Thanked 1,089 Times in 774 Posts	Will start investigating over the weekend. Is it obvious if the drop link has gone ?

13th April 2016, 11:14	#5
polinsteve Gets stuck in 75 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: UCKFIELD Posts: 502 Thanks: 35 Thanked 122 Times in 85 Posts	Sounds like drop links. If you find replacements that last a decent time, give me a shout. It doesn't seem to matter where I get them from (even DGMS) or which brand, 15000 miles seems to be the limit.

14th April 2016, 18:12	#9
SCP440 I really should get out more....... MG ZT-T 260 Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Witney Posts: 2,504 Thanks: 6 Thanked 910 Times in 571 Posts	One of my customers had a similar problem recently and it turned out to be a broken spring, just a couple of inches had broken off the end and it was sitting in the bottom of the spring seat. I have also heard of stones sitting in the spring seat causing this so well worth jacking it up and having a probe around. Steve

17th April 2016, 12:01	#10
steve-45 This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon CDTi Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Belvedere Posts: 4,076 Thanks: 108 Thanked 1,089 Times in 774 Posts	OK, found it ..... One of the anti-rattle springs had broken, allowing the caliper to move up and down on the carrier. Fitted new springs both side - took car for run along my favourite bit of bumpy road and NO RATTLES !!!