Help with knocking noise please

[elisepilot]

wierd clunk noise when i pull away sometimes?? and then it wont happen again until i reverse and then again when I pull forward???

its like something moves a bit by the forward motion and then back a inch or so by the backwards motion causing a single bang or clunk??

anyone have any ideas? someone mentioned brakes but im not sure?

any help wil be greatly apprieciated

Regards

Lee

[cuzza]

Where's it coming from??

[elisepilot]

seems to be front maybe a bit left..... harder to tell now I have an exhaust!!!

have now spoken to bell and colvil who say they think it is brake calipers??

thanks

Lee

[Badapple]

Have you taken the rear screen out recently & put it back in wrong?

[elisepilot]

no have never taken it out, dont know how?!?

[cuzza]

Could be if the car has been standing in the wet and the pads have bound slightly to the disks because of the dampness - is the noise consistent with braking?

[DustyC]

Sounds like a CV joint if its the front. Whats it like on full lock?

[elisepilot]

I havent notice anything? its an 03 plate so still under warranty!

[elisepilot]

the noise will happen when i pull away (clunk!) and then wont happen again till I have used the brakes, stopped and then pull away again?? or stop and reverse and it will sort of clunk the opposite direction if reversing???

[adrianr]

DustyC said:

Sounds like a CV joint if its the front. Whats it like on full lock?

On a FWD car maybe!

It's probably the brake pads rattling about in the calipers. Nothing to worry about unless it winds you up, in which case there are rubber 'buffers' you can fit in between the pad and caliper to take up the slack.

AdrianR

[DustyC]

Point taken adrian

Perhaps it could be a slightly seized caliper, but highly unlikely on such a new car.
Adrian is probably right. See if there is a little play in the pads.

[elisepilot]

thanks guys, i will check!

regards

Lee

[shangani]

Hi there

I have a similar problem with a 53 reg elise 111s. If you are referring to a sort of rattle / knock, it may relate to a loose bit of epoxy in the chassis. The chassis is epoxy bonded aluminium and extra blobs that cling to the aluminium break off after assembly and can rattle about. How and when they do it depends on where the piece is. My noise is only on pulling away after parking, and only happens if I have reversed quickly before parking. Mildly annoying but totally harmless. Apparently the bits are nearly impossible to find, but lotus admits it is a common problem. I hope this helps

Regards

[elisepilot]

Thanks for the reply,

It sounds very similar!

I will hopefully get the dealership to confirm something when they service.

Regards

Lee