knocking driving me nuts

[silver141]

Im at my wits end over a knocking sound on my 1999 318(e46)its coming from the front passenger side wheel area mainly when I go over smaller bumps in the road.Ive replaced wishbone bushes(both sides),drop links(bothsides)and arb bushes(bothsides).Ive inspected the springs because I know this is a common fault.But still it knocks.Would the ball joints on the wishbones cause this knocking?Or could it be something else?

[obscene]

Checked the wheel bearings ? I had a funny bump sound in my E46 and it turned out to be a nackered rear wheel bearing.

[TonyRPH]

It could be the strut top bearing. But that usually only occurs at very high miles.

Could also be the UJ in the steering column.

If you sit stationary with engine running, and 'jiggle' the steering in short, sharp left to right movements, do you get the knocking noise?

[john_p]

Jack the front up and stick a lever under the front wheels, see if you can lift them up and down and if it replicates the noise, if so it could be a strut moving up and down, caused by a loose or worn top bearing.

You need a special tool to tighten them, if they are just loose.

Or control arm maybe?

Edited by john_p on Monday 19th July 19:13

[silver141]

I jacked the car up on saturday.There was loads of play in the bush on the wishbone directly behind the passenger wheel(i dont know its proper name)so it goes into the stealers tommorow.They have quoted me £208 which in all honesty isnt to bad.Just hope they find nothing else that needs doing.

[john_p]

silver141 said:

I jacked the car up on saturday.There was loads of play in the bush on the wishbone directly behind the passenger wheel(i dont know its proper name)so it goes into the stealers tommorow.They have quoted me £208 which in all honesty isnt to bad.Just hope they find nothing else that needs doing.

£208 for both arms to be done? Or just the one?

[8Tech]

HOW MUCH!!!! Ye gods, a set of Powerflex bushes for BOTH sides of the car costs £40 and if you buy them already fitted in the housings can be changed as a DIY job in 1/2 hour. Sooooo much better than the OEM rubber bushes.

8Tech.

[silver141]

Actually there has been a mix up.It turns out the whole wishbone on the passenger side needs replacing plus bushes(which come in pairs at Bmw)so Im having the other side done aswell.This comes to £410.They tried to get me to have the wheel alinement done at a further £100 but they do it at my local tyre place for £37.Anyway I pick it up this morning so hopefully its all sorted.The car is 11yrs old with 80000 on the clock so I suppose these things will start to crop up.Ive been thinking of up grading for a while now to the e90.I can honestly say that I prefer the way the e46 looks though so I just dont know.