I think I might have a problem starting

[Sohlman]

Parking up today and steering went slightly heavy followed by a boing knock sound from the left hand side of the car. I thought I had run over something and saw a drain cover so thought that was it. Then on the way home at two junctions I had the same sensation of heavy steering for a second and the boing, knock sound. Anyone had this or such like?

Thanks in advance

[mik_ok]

Suspension spring winding up? Top mount bearing not turning at the front?

[ARAF]

Or the belt jumping, losing power steering?

[Sohlman]

Had new top mounts about 4 months ago at monkfish. Did sound a bit spring like.

Thought it might be the rack?

[VinceM]

Not totally sure but it might be the spring getting stuck in the strut then snap releasing - had this on mine once or twice but not often. Sounds dreadful (not to mention expensive) but nothing needed doing.

[Sohlman]

Best part of 100 miles travelled today mainly in town and it has not happened again. Fingers crossed it's the spring as suggested. Thanks for the feedback chaps and chappets

[jet_noise]

Sticky break caliper?

Mine had APs and only did it once on the first brake from high speed after a winter layup.
Symptoms of brief heavy steering + front boing exactly the same,

regards,
Jet

[Windy Miller]

Have just returned from the second trip in a few months to Monkfish to try and have something similar sorted. Alas, even after the second trip it persists.....

There are a number of issues that they cannot seem to resolve, and it looks like I will have to get stuck into it myself. I too have a heavy knock coming from the front left on turning. This has gradually drowned out the top strut creaking that they were also supposed to resolve. The knock is quite loud and distinct, but doesn't have the "boing" preceding it. But you can feel it all through the car as well as hearing it, and it startles passengers.

On the first trip to Monkfish, they said they drove it round the car park and couldn't hear anything. On the second trip, I got their man to give us a lift in it to Bletchley train station so he too could hear it. It banged and creaked before we even got out of the "Monkfish Road" and Neil agreed that needed seeing to. On picking it up yesterday, it was banging and creaking before we got to Milton Keynes. But with a tight schedule to get home by tonight, we didn't have the time to go back with it. Monkfish said they found a "loose nut" and tightened it, so that should be it. But with Monkfish being a very long way from Orkney, we cant really justify a 3rd trip back down there this year, so DIY it will have to be!

So, on the basis that the suspension is coming to bits, whats the prescription for creaking top struts (sounds like a job for lots of lubricant!) and any suggestions on how to look for and eliminate this ever increasing bang that comes from the front left on tight turns? Its as bad in reverse as going forwards, and happens on turns up to about 30 mph. Milton Keynes's roundabouts was enough to have it banging like a set of bongoes!

[Sohlman]

I had a problem where I had a knocking from the front left prior to the boing of late. I thought it was a top mount. Monkfish assured me they collapse and mine had not. I asked them to check and when they took it off it fell apart. This I had them changed. Problem solved. If you have not changed this check it out. The only reason I diagnosed as I had exact same sound from our mini, and in 8 years we had three top mount failures.

[Windy Miller]

Monkfish have now suggested (from afar) that the knocking sound on turning could be a failed shock absorber. This is very disappointing, as the car has been to them twice this year, for about 2 days and 6 days at each time, and they haven't been able to resolve most of the issues that the car went there in the first place for. 2 x round trips of 1300 miles each and a not inconsiderable sum of money spent, and still we have the knock, the creak and the water leak.

Before I get stuck into it myself, are there any recommendations for others that might be expert in Monaro suspension? Otherwise I might just have to get the sleeves rolled up and get in there myself, in conjunction with a local garage that can do wheel alignments.