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[JamesV6CDX]

The Jag (S type - later suspension setup) has always driven quite well and is an 'unmolested' version, squeaky clean underneith etc.

When I first picked her up there was a very slight knock over bumps, which I knew about. Very slight. I drove the car to Amsterdam, and various places around the UK, no problem, knock always there though. In recent weeks, it's got worse. Much worse. Over normal medium quality roads, at around 20mph, it's a "clonk clonk clonk" from underneith.

I (or more accurately, my friend, as I'm not strong enough) jacked up the car onto axle stands and started tugging and prying things to see if could see anything. The droplinks felt like they had too much give, (anti rollbar links) and the noise sounded just like failed Omega droplinks. So changed these. Absolutely no change at all, noise still there.

I tightened up the 4 nuts on top of each strut, which felt a bit loose, and there is a SMALL amount of play where the steering rack bushes join the car. tightened these, but it made next to no difference to the play. The noise may be a tiny, tiny bit less, but it's definitely still there.

The noise can be heard if you shake the steering wheel quickly left to right at 20mph

As I couldn't find anything, I went to my local garage. They had it on a 4 poster, with the weight on the wheels - hoping the weight on the wheels might reveal the fault better. They used their "shaker plates" and I was looking with them. All of the balljoints and bushes appeared fine, no play could be found anywhere. They said they would easily pass it through an MOT, suspension wise. They spent an hour with me, (at no charge!) and weren't just trying to get me out the door - our family have used this garage for decades, and they do genuinely care and help.

So, I'm at a loss. They did mention it might be "undetectable" play in the steering rack... but they couldn't be certain.

Yet, the knock is loud and clear (and really annoying!)

As anyone will know me, will be aware, suspension is something I will do but don't enjoy or find particularly interesting - so I'd really appreciate any views. I think it's going to be off to WIM.

Car is correct wheel drive, no uneven tyre wear, handling fine. no play shaking the roadwheels in any direction.

Cheers!
James

[Taxi_Driver]

Anti roll bar bushes? My old skudo suffered quite a loud knock when the bushes were worn tho you couldn't really tell as the roll bar hardly moved when levered

[Manual Elite V6]

Front ARB bushes are all to common on these and if it is the later suspension type you will have to bottom arms, the front one sometimes wheres out the bush that connects to the hub and and sometimes the large round bush towards the engine side tends to split and sometimes makes a knocking noise, we have also had problems like this where the shock has been at fault.

Also when checking for play did you pull hard diagonally on the rear wheels as this is how you check for play in the rear lower suspension arm inner bushes, rear ARB links are also common and sometimes hard to detect any play.

Forgot to mention the only way to check for play in front upper balljoint is to get a prybar under it and pry at it to check for play, these are often missed when trying to diagnose a knock.

[iainb]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7vfyR22SWU Some idea's on this video

[Manual Elite V6]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7vfyR22SWU Some idea's on this video

Though that video is useful that is the early suspension setup so does not show how to properly check the later suspension, though the only difference is the front bottom arm is now two pieces and the shock absorber bush is incorporated into the lower arm.

[JamesV6CDX]

Thanks for all suggestions.

Taxi Driver nailed it.

Although there was no play in the ARB bushes with the droplinks attached, with them removed there is a LOAD of movement and you can see the bushes are shot to bits.

Think I'll have to poly them