Creaky clunky front end

[OllieWinchester]

My '91 Eunos has got a really annoying creaky, clunky noise coming from what apears to be the N/S front wheel area, not really noticeable in a straight line or when turning left, but when turning right it sounds awful. I can sort of feel it through the steering wheel too, its mainly noticeable at >30mph and its starting to drive me mad. The bushes on the end of the track rod are pretty shot, most of the other ones look ok-ish. Anyone had this problem before and care to hazard a guess as to what it is likely to be? I don't really want to start ploughing my way through MX5parts, or all my cash trying to resolve it. Cheers guys.

Ollie

[tuttle]

Try giving the drop links a good tug for any wear/ play.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Could well be a wheel bearing. Jack that corner up and see if you can feel any play in it. If it's bad you might well feel roughness when spinning the wheel too (especially spinning it backwards).

[GravelBen]

How are your tyres? I had a similar noise which I thought was a wheel bearing, turned out an old knackered tyre was so far out of round and flat-spotted that it had a similar effect.

Edited by GravelBen on Tuesday 30th June 12:21

[MX-5 Lazza]

GravelBen said:

How are your tyres? I had a similar noise which I thought was a wheel bearing, turned out an old knackered tyre was so far out of round and flat-spotted that it had a similar effect.

Edited by GravelBen on Tuesday 30th June 12:21

But to be fair, you are sideways more than most .

[OllieWinchester]

Gave the wheel a good wobble when jacked yesterday, didn't feel any play in the bearing or notice any grinding, and the droplink bushes looked good, but I'll jack it back up and have another go. I'll also try swapping the tyres front to back, as the fronts are nearing replacement and see if that solves it. I just hope its not something chunky like a steering rack replacement or something.

[MX-5 Lazza]

You do need to give it a very solid shake to feel anything. Remember it usually has a ton of car on it and even then it only makes a noise on cornering If you feel any movement at all or the slightest of clunks it will be a problem when driving.

[mgrays]

If it creaks on potholes and you have uprated anti roll bars then cracked mounts likely - very hard to see somtimes but put creaking wheel up on curb and it opens up a little sometimes.

[bluetone]

OllieWinchester said:

I'll also try swapping the tyres front to back, as the fronts are nearing replacement and see if that solves it.

Be extra careful exiting wet roundabouts etc; worn rear tyres have a habit of spinning-up....

[GravelBen]

MX-5 Lazza said:

GravelBen said:

How are your tyres? I had a similar noise which I thought was a wheel bearing, turned out an old knackered tyre was so far out of round and flat-spotted that it had a similar effect.

But to be fair, you are sideways more than most .

Believe it or not the tyres in question were in that condition on the 15"s when I bought them! I suspect they'd been stored resting on the same spot for quite some time. I keep telling myself to replace them but they're just so much cheap immature fun in the wet...

Edited by GravelBen on Wednesday 1st July 13:54

[Munter]

It's not the brake pads clonking around as they don't have a shim in there is it?

[OllieWinchester]

I'm not sure, I'm just confused because the clonking is only apparent when turning right and absent when turning left.

[tuttle]

OllieWinchester said:

I'm just confused because the clonking is only apparent when turning right and absent when turning left.

.....It's really hard not to make any childish Zoolander comments here

[OllieWinchester]

Not seen it, so have no idea what you're talking about, sorry.