front end knock

[cri_ag]

i finaly bit the bullet and used some of my free time over the break to fix the knock that has plagued my front end for the last who knows how long. After rebuilding the steering rack, replacing the rack-ends, tie rods, lower control arm bushes and radius rod bushes i still have a knock (not as bad). this remaining knock seems to only be when i change from accelleration to breaking or go over bumps. Any idea where i should be looking for causes?

[Rallystanza]

i finaly bit the bullet and used some of my free time over the break to fix the knock that has plagued my front end for the last who knows how long. After rebuilding the steering rack, replacing the rack-ends, tie rods, lower control arm bushes and radius rod bushes i still have a knock (not as bad). this remaining knock seems to only be when i change from accelleration to breaking or go over bumps. Any idea where i should be looking for causes?

Sway bar link Bushes??

Jez

[blwnlevin]

strut towers not tight

[cri_ag]

cheers for the quick replies guys.

the sway bar bushes and the sway bar link bushes all looked to be in ok condition ie. not cracked and perished. so i dont think its coming from there. but if i exaust other avenues i might change them any way just to be sure.

when you say strut tower you mean the 3 bolts in the engine bay or the single bolt at the end of the dampner?

[Rallystanza]

cheers for the quick replies guys.

the sway bar bushes and the sway bar link bushes all looked to be in ok condition ie. not cracked and perished. so i dont think its coming from there. but if i exaust other avenues i might change them any way just to be sure.

when you say strut tower you mean the 3 bolts in the engine bay or the single bolt at the end of the dampner?

In regards to the sway bar link bushes, they might look ok but are they all there? Reason i ask is because of a problem seen where the bush breaks and falls out. Easy to do.

Check both strut sets of bolts you listed above...

I would have though if it were a loose bolt or nut, then it would have found its way out already.

Jeremy

[slide86]

How bout engine mounts? you say it happens from accel to braking, the engine would be changing position in the engine bay when this is happening.

perhaps one is split and causing the engine to move excessivly....
just a thought

[craigy]

What sought of front supension are you running?

When I converted my front struts to coilovers I had a knock in the front end and I finally narrowed it down to the main nut which holds the strut insert in.

I would assume that you could have a simalar problem with macpherson strut type suspension.

Take out both of your struts, put them in a big friggin vice, find yourself a very large shifter and a equally large piece of tubular steel and do them up at tight as you can.

seemed to do the trick for me!

[Stefan]

Perhaps balljoints?

As far as you can tell,iIs the sound from a particular side? Might help narrow it down.

[cri_ag]

im confident all the bushes are in the link rod as they should be after looking at a digram. both the strut tower bolts and the bolt ontop of the shock are tight.
engine mount, maybe dont think so, but ill have a look in the morning.
that big nut might be something to look at, check in the morning.

i realy cant determine the side that it comes from, it almost sounds like both?

i know the car came from the country so on the plus side it has hardly any rust, but on the flip side most of the steering and suspension is stuffed from crappy country roads!

cheers for all the help so far!

[cri_ag]

Perhaps balljoints?

As far as you can tell,iIs the sound from a particular side? Might help narrow it down.

i assume you mean the balljoint on the lower control arm? i read the toyota documentation on suspension in the tech docs section but it made no refernce to replacing these just regreasing?

[EldarO]

cheers for the quick replies guys.

the sway bar bushes and the sway bar link bushes all looked to be in ok condition ie. not cracked and perished. so i dont think its coming from there. but if i exaust other avenues i might change them any way just to be sure.

when you say strut tower you mean the 3 bolts in the engine bay or the single bolt at the end of the dampner?

if you value the thing sitting atop your shoulders, dont touch the damper bolt.

Somethings loose, start with all things that compress/relax when you shift the cars weight front to back.

Eldar.O.

[Stefan]

i assume you mean the balljoint on the lower control arm? i read the toyota documentation on suspension in the tech docs section but it made no refernce to replacing these just regreasing?

Yes, those ones.

Others on these forums will know more than me, but they are replaceable and as far as I know are a commonly-worn item. They were shot in my car when I bought it, and causing funny alignment issues.

[cri_ag]

Yes, those ones.

Others on these forums will know more than me, but they are replaceable and as far as I know are a commonly-worn item. They were shot in my car when I bought it, and causing funny alignment issues.

ok, well ill follow the toyota procedure outlined in the manual for checking ball joints tomorow, maybe then ill know some more.

[hi-ace]

If your getting the knock when coming off accelleration to breaking or go over bumps.
Just while your under your car, check out your engine/gearbox mounts, I had a knock in this situation and it was a engine mount that was shot.

[Selk]

hey cri_ag wat car is this