Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: amba on 26 November 2010, 17:11:39

Title: Suspension Noise..When Cold !!
Post by: amba on 26 November 2010, 17:11:39
Both yesterday and today when I have gone to work after car has been stood outside on driveway all night I get a knocking/clonking sound from the nearside front suspension area.

This does go after about a mile or so of driving and I dont hear it at all all day even if car has been stood idle for several hours.

From memory I think it did this last year and on advise I replaced both droplinks and gave all wishbone bushes a good twist/n/pull but found no play.

It has only done this since we have had the last few very cold nights so am sure it is temperature related but what would this be and is it something I should try and correct or just accept its joints are now old ..like it owners and creak abit first thing.
Title: Re: Suspension Noise..When Cold !!
Post by: hotel21 on 26 November 2010, 17:24:51
The normal suspect is the drop links and play is in the ball joint, not the actual bolt onto the housing. 

Not dear, available from factors and the bay of E and, for their relative cheapness and straightforward fitting, worth changing.   :)
Title: Re: Suspension Noise..When Cold !!
Post by: amba on 26 November 2010, 18:12:27
Noise was there last winter and in an attempt to cure I replaced both droplinks with new around March  of this year.

Have had no noise since then or infact since the last 2 very cold morning and only does it for a few miles and then goes away.

Would have expected noise to be constant with any failing joint or bush,so my assumption is temperature related but is this grease/or lubricant struggling in low temperatures.
Title: Re: Suspension Noise..When Cold !!
Post by: the alarming man on 26 November 2010, 18:56:04
are all your rubber bushes all ok,could be one of them becoming brittle over night??    :y
Title: Re: Suspension Noise..When Cold !!
Post by: Debs. on 26 November 2010, 19:01:41
Quote
Noise was there last winter and in an attempt to cure I replaced both droplinks with new around March  of this year.

Have had no noise since then or infact since the last 2 very cold morning and only does it for a few miles and then goes away.

Would have expected noise to be constant with any failing joint or bush,so my assumption is temperature related but is this grease/or lubricant struggling in low temperatures.

My Miggy`s front suspension makes an odd 'squelching' sound (which I always assumed to be coming from the front shock absorber damper-fluid?) when starting off out on my very bumpy farm track, but only when it`s very-very cold....`no sounds at all after a mile or so, or in less cold weather.:-/
Title: Re: Suspension Noise..When Cold !!
Post by: Omega 37 on 26 November 2010, 19:27:36
Had the same with mine, clonked, crunched going over speed bumps when cold.
It was the steering idler. The car handled so much better when I changed it. Easy job if you can break the taper to get it off!!!
Title: Re: Suspension Noise..When Cold !!
Post by: amba on 26 November 2010, 19:52:40
Steering idler is a thought,so will have a look when it gets a bit warmer to crawl under car.

Debs...the sound I get is not a squelch,much more of a metal /metal noise but only in the mornings when car stood over night.

Must be cars way of telling me its cold.
Title: Re: Suspension Noise..When Cold !!
Post by: amba on 27 November 2010, 19:46:51
For the 3rd morning in a row the noise has been there.

I have now discovered if I drive the bumpy way to the motorway,the noise will only do it a few times from cold then it seems to stop.If I drive the long way which is a much smoother road the noise  is less prononuced and again is not evident after a few miles.

So my conclusion is the movement of the nearside suspension or associated area is the culprit and if given more movement from cold it goes quicker than less movement if that makes sense,so must something being caused by temperature change.

Would the inside of the suspension strut /suspension spring or the steering idler be the most likely culprit?

I did have a look at the idler for movement but it seemed fine,but that was after it had been driven most of the day without evidence of the noise.