Quinton Hazell parts?

[JimM169]

Trying to track down a knocking on the wife's Peugeot 208, despite lots of rocking and prying I haven't been able to identify it and it passed the MOT last week with no advisories so they didn't spot anything either!
I've started randomly replacing parts and next on the list is the shock absorber. PartsOnline has QH ones cheaper than anything else - are QH parts any good or do I need to splash a bit more for KYB etc?
Difference is only £30ish but as the current one may be fine I'm loath to spend more if I don't need to (I know they should be replaced in pairs and if this sorts the knocking I will do the other side)

[bangerhoarder]

As far as I’m aware, they’re just a brand on white-box parts nowadays. Cheap part shoved in a branded box. May be fine, may not.

With shocks I always go for a brand who manufacture their parts - not always with success by done okay with Monroe and KYB stuff.

[E-bmw]

JimM169 said:

Trying to track down a knocking on the wife's Peugeot 208, despite lots of rocking and prying I haven't been able to identify it and it passed the MOT last week with no advisories so they didn't spot anything either!
I've started randomly replacing parts and next on the list is the shock absorber.

Rather than randomly firing parts at the car from the parts cannon in the hope of accidentally fixing it, why not try a bit harder to find what it is?

Have you tried with the suspension loaded/unloaded, with another in the car etc?

What are the circumstances that it does it?

What does it sound like?

[steveo3002]

used to be a known reasonable brand years ago , now its just far east rubbish like most other things

[JimM169]

E-bmw said:

Rather than randomly firing parts at the car from the parts cannon in the hope of accidentally fixing it, why not try a bit harder to find what it is?

Have you tried with the suspension loaded/unloaded, with another in the car etc?

What are the circumstances that it does it?

What does it sound like?

It's a very noticable thunk\knock whilst driving over rough surfaces or when accelerating, there's also some vibration when braking


Tried with suspension loaded/unloaded, wheels on/off, pry bars, rocking, bouncing, swearing at the bloody thing but can't replicate it on the driveway

It's been there for well over a year, previous MOT failed on drop links so thought that was the issue but I've changed these out and and a top mount but still no joy. It did go in for a service about a month ago and they couldn't see anything and were a bit vague with 'it could be the shock' Was hoping this years MOT would identify it but as stated passed with no advisories so unlikely to be bushes etc (hopefully we wouldn't all miss a bad one)

Engine mounts all check out OK

Not sure what else to do other than swapping out parts

[paul_c123]

My advice is if you're thinking of replacing the struts, don't. Its a PITA job without a lift. Also there's a lot of wrong parts out there, be very careful disassembling the old one and swapping top mount parts over to the new one, if you do.

[E-bmw]

Have you checked the brake callipers aren't loose/have worn sliders?

[JimM169]

paul_c123 said:

My advice is if you're thinking of replacing the struts, don't. Its a PITA job without a lift. Also there's a lot of wrong parts out there, be very careful disassembling the old one and swapping top mount parts over to the new one, if you do.

I've already had one side off to swap out the top mount and as jobs go thought it was one of the simpler ones as the access is so easy.
If you think a strut swap is bad, try changing the alternator on a 208!

[Belle427]

I won't touch them and try to go for something like KYB or Febi Bilstein. Not sure if the latter do shocks as I didn't see any last time I searched for a car on ebay.
Monroe came up reasonably priced, not sure if they are any good these days.

[stevieturbo]

Certainly years ago, Quinton Hazell used to be decent parts. As to what they are today, not so sure, they don't seem as prevalent out there really, although if I had a choice between that brand and some other spurious name, I'd probably opt for the QH given their past.

[JimM169]

Thanks all for the replies, I've pushed the boat out and gone for the KYBs

[Fastpedeller]

Very wise to follow the above advice. I bought a QH track control arm (Escort mk2) a few years back from a trustworthy classic supplier. After 200 miles use it was scrap!