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[terry paget]

2.2 petrol manual
This car passd MOT last week. I have just changed the radiator. Took it for a test run his morning, and I heard a clonking noise, nearside front. Son complained of this before, but I could not find it. It's still there. I have just removed n/s front wheel, all looks well, wheel was not loose. First MOT failure did advise 'slight wear in drop links', I changed o/s but not n/s, but it was quiet enough then. Any ideas?

[terry paget]

Wife has just appeared. She said she noticed it when Ben drove the car in, it was quite loud.

[Jimbob]

Wishbone ball joint?  I had this once, chased it for ages before it was identified

[TheBoy]

Number of things can cause it - front forward wishbone bush, wishbone balljoint, and slop in brakes give loud metallic clonks.  Loose strut seems to give a deeper, softer thunk.  Droplinks give a "rattle" over uneven roads.

[terry paget]

Wishbone ball joint?  I had this once, chased it for ages before it was identified

Thanks for suggestion. Car is currently jacked up RHS front, wheel off. wishbone bottom ball joint looks OK, I have tried prising it apart with a tyre lever, no obvious play. I would have thought the MOT would have picked up a loose joint.

[TheBoy]

I would have thought the MOT would have picked up a loose joint.

Depends on the tester, and the machinery they have (singleton testers are supposed to have a shake machine for example, which would probably highlight this, whereas those without (and supposed to have a helper) will be reliant on them prying the right area).


Is it over bumps, under braking, etc?

[terry paget]

I would have thought the MOT would have picked up a loose joint.

Depends on the tester, and the machinery they have (singleton testers are supposed to have a shake machine for example, which would probably highlight this, whereas those without (and supposed to have a helper) will be reliant on them prying the right area).


Is it over bumps, under braking, etc?

Thanks for the thoughts, TB. The tester is a man who has tested my Omegas for the last 10 years. On this occasion he had me sit in the to rock the steering, foot on the brakes, etc.
At time of MOT 20 June 2018 it was fine. I drove the car there and back, no clonking. This noise is a sudden occurence. It seems to be front right, and does not occur at any particular time, can occur as I am cruising along. If you can suggest any test I could make I should be grateful. RH front wishbone bush has  some lateral play, but it does not seem excessive. The MOT did advise both front bushes worn but not resulting in excessive movement. In the 2 years I have owned this car I have not changed the wishbones.
Front RH brake looks fine, as does the track rod.
I am beginniing to suspect the RH wishbone front joint, though it doesn't seem bad and I can see no sign of metal to metal contact.

[cam.in.head]

Check also bottom of sprng is not broken and rattling round

[terry paget]

Check also bottom of sprng is not broken and rattling round

Great suggestion, that would explain the fault's sudden appearance. Sadly, front RH spring is intact.

[terry paget]

RH wishbone front mounting don't look too bad:

Nor does the rear bush:

[Doctor Gollum]

Rear bush is clearly knackered...

Shiny patch shouldn't be there

[terry paget]

Rear bush is clearly knackered...

Shiny patch shouldn't be there

I wish you were right, Doc, but I don't think you are. Here's a better shot of it.

[Nick W]

So you don't think the tearing around the central sleeve is a bad sign then Terry?


The crusty appearance of the wishbone suggests it has been on the car for some considerable time, unless you subscribe to the rebushing a oppsed pair of original wishbones is better than just buying new ones school of thought?


Macpherson strut front suspensions are all subject to wishbone(TCA, front links, lower arms, brake reaction arms - whatever the manufacturer calls them) bushes deteriorating rapidly. That's just a function of the design.

[terry paget]

So you don't think the tearing around the central sleeve is a bad sign then Terry?


The crusty appearance of the wishbone suggests it has been on the car for some considerable time, unless you subscribe to the rebushing a oppsed pair of original wishbones is better than just buying new ones school of thought?


Macpherson strut front suspensions are all subject to wishbone(TCA, front links, lower arms, brake reaction arms - whatever the manufacturer calls them) bushes deteriorating rapidly. That's just a function of the design.

Thank you for your opinion, Nick. I was expecting the shiny metal pin with the rubber torn away. If you agree with Doc G that the rear bush is knackered, I gladly accept your ruling. I can think of nothing else that explains my problem.The noise is not one I have heard before, I have known other wishbone rear bushes fail, but never with this alarming noise, and never so soon after passing an MOT test. I stock spare ATP wishbones, but dare not fit one at the moment for medical reasons.

[LC0112G]

If it's not that wishbone rear bush, then have you checked the anti-roll bar drop links are done up properly - the one in the photo appears to have been greased recently, and it much newer than the rest of the suspension. I'd back both top and bottom nuts off a few turns then re-tighten to the correct torque (400Nm + 180 degrees  ). I had one work lose on the Carlton and the banging it made sounded like the front end was about to fall off.