Strange Noises

[pwd95]

Last few days I've bin getting some very strange noises from the front end of the car. Some startling clonking, knocking & squeaking. Mainly at low speed from walking pace upwards & when turning. I've been under the car & had a very close look at the chassis at the front end and all seems to be well. The only thing I noticed was there was no 'packing' where the body sits on the chassis just above the strut tops. Question I have is, where are all the body locating bolts and packing points? It sounds to me as if the chassis is flexing independantly of the body as if something has come loose or mooved. I've had a good look for cracks & all seems solid enough.
Ta in advance.

P.S. Where can I get or what can I use for packing?

Edited by pwd95 on Monday 5th November 11:30

[wee man]

Wyn,

Suggest you check the anti-roll bar brackets. Mine made similar noises when the then loose arb was banging against the chassis.

Wee man.

[pwd95]

The ARB brackets look ok but I didn't check them for tightness, I'll do that later.

[adam quantrill]

pwd95 said:

P.S. Where can I get or what can I use for packing?

When I found some had disappeared at the rear, I got an old tyre, and cut that up.

If the tyre is well worn down, it won't be too thick, and you can double it up for extra height.

I used an angle grinder to cut the tyre, which works, but it's bloody smelly! There's probably a better way....

[jeff m]

You need to get it up in the air, that's on a lift, not too quick over a bridge, and get a bar and start moving stuff about.

Don't forget to include the steering bits.

[pwd95]

This has now turned in to the most annoying jiggly squeak at low/medium speed you've ever heared in your life. With the odd 'clonk' thrown in. Sounds like its coming from just in front of the pedals/behind the dash position. I'm convinced it's something to do with how the body sits on the chassis. Where are the contact/bolt positions? anyone know?

Checked the ARB brackets & steering rack mounts last night.

Edited by pwd95 on Wednesday 7th November 09:56

[.Woody]

Its not the battery moving around is it? I had that on my super duper lightweight small battery, until I binned it and got a new proper sized one that worked properly! Or has anyone mentioned the exhaust manifiold maybe touching the chassis?

[combine]

Good excuse to drive over here , put her on my lift , soon have her right ! Tvr meet this weekend too .

[pwd95]

Very kind of you Steve, thank you. My mate runs an MOT garage so me thinks I'll be over his place on the weekend jumping up and down on it

I had a look at it last night again & I'm beginning to 'home in' on it. When the noise occurs I can feel vibration in the top rail of the chassis, the one that goes close to the O/S manifold. So it looks like something's mooving or rubbing very near the bulkhead area.

Edited by pwd95 on Thursday 8th November 09:07

[jeff m]

Engine mounts ?
Do you see anything as the clutch bites?
Use reliable assistant !

[combine]

Had a horrible noise like that with the seac , turned out it was the exhaust pipes too near the chassis , put a couple of pieces of packing ( non combustable mind ) in between , sorted !

[pwd95]

OK, get this, on the way to work this morning it's squeaking like a barsteward. On the way home........not a sound

The only difference being the weather. Dry this morning, wet this evening.
Time to get the grease out me thinks

[Wedg1e]

Yes, my car does it too. It is the shell moving on the chassis. There are two bolts through the chassis right at the front by the radiator. My car also has two half-hearted ones by the suspension towers but they don't do much.

[Andy390]

Agreed wedg1e. there's the two mounts on the front by the rad, two half hearted efforts near the top of the shock towers. the next mounts are under the seating areas,and the forward & rear outrigger mountings(almost vertical ), then IIRC just the large under-boot mount. the insulating material is nothing more than reinforced rubber sheet of various thickness to suitably
fill the gap. i got some rubber stuff from C.O.H.Baines in tunbridge wells, kent
HTH
Andy

[pwd95]

Well it looks like the driver side outrigger has cracked through and is creaking like a goodun. So, anyone fancy a hobble. Beer tokens and refreshments provided.

Richo, does your welder chap do them one at a time over a weekend?