AE92 knocking - front suspension

[Grega]

Folks,

After being thru replacing my struts due to them being stuffed, I have a knock in my front end of the AE92.

I'm guessing its lower control arm bushes by the sound (and placement) - it only happens when going over bumps (so down gutters, driveways ect)

Any thoughts to what it may be? Balljoints? LCA bushes (front or rear)

[-GT-]

Those symptoms sound like a problem i had, specifically over bumps. Mine was after installing aftermarket strut tops and missing a spacer. This caused freeplay under the full weight of the car and certain oscillations, but not noticable with the strut at full extension.

My guess (if my symptoms sound the same, thread is here) is what people were suggesting to me, that the nut has not been tightened down enough. There were suggestions on how to tighten it with the strut in the car, but the best bet is to pull them out again and check/tighten them properly. (It's not hard or time consuming on an AE92)

[rob20v]

GT hit the nail on the head. You could also try to sit in the car and have someone bounce the car on each side suspension and determine which side the noise is from. I had a simular problem in my AE82 clubby which turned out to be a loose insert retaining nut.

[-GT-]

Yep, i did this, didn't have to sit in the car though, it was pretty apparent. I mention in that thread how it behaved, don't remember exactly now.

[The Witzl]

I have the same noise on my girlfriend's AE92 SX seca.... it's the bushes, cos they are well flogged.

[rob20v]

I f you can bounce the car or somehow reproduce the noise you can locate it by feel by putting your hand on the different components.It is usually quite obvious. Don't jam your fingers though.

[-GT-]

Actually, i had a well shagged driver's side engine mount that make a similar noise over bumps, but it's obviously pretty unlikely that's your problem.

[Grega]

I have the same noise on my girlfriend's AE92 SX seca.... it's the bushes, cos they are well flogged.

thats my vote

and yeah - the suspension bolt at the top - rattle gun took care of that.
it *was* loose and i know the noise u mean, but its not that
my top bearing plates were pretty cool actually, rubber insulator on one was WAY shagged but i had a spare (nickel you rock)

my vote is the rear bushes on the lower control arms, as, i feel the knock at my feet

i'll let you know how it goes, gunna do lower arm bushes and balljoints while all the shite is out.

[Grega]

definately bushes
got under and hand a gander this morning
its the bushes (forward) in the LCA's that are fuxored in this case.
the left hand side (passenger) has completely split!
so yeah while i'm at it the whole lot is being nolathaned and balljoints replaced too.

[Bobomacho]

i hate finding knocks in front ends, i guess most of the time you really have to just 'know' the sound of the knock and you can pick it straight away.

i've had a car in a work with a hideous knock/clunk sound as if something was not tightened at all. turned out to be the aftermarket strut inserts the customer had put in were too short. after diagnosing noise from the new shocker, even with the retaining nut tightened all the way it just required a few spacers. an easy mistake to make.

if all else fails look for the simple human assembly errors. its quite funny things people do

[Grega]

helps having a bit of experience bob aye

i hate vibrations moreover knocks... i spent $$$ on an old commodore trying to find a vibration (even a full rebuild of the motor including a balance) only to find it was the torque convertor!!!!!!!

simple human errors. like tower bearings put on the wrong way? lol.